Former NBA number one draft pick Ben Simmons has made a surprising career pivot, investing in professional sport fishing while his basketball future remains uncertain.
From the Hardwood to the High Seas
The 29-year-old Australian has purchased an ownership stake in the South Florida Sails Angling Club, a team competing in the Sport Fishing Championship (SFC). Simmons, who is currently without an NBA contract for the 2025-26 season, described the move as an investment in a passion. "I have always believed that investing in what you love means you have a responsibility to help move it forward," said Simmons in a statement. "Sportfishing has given me incredible experiences, and SFC is creating a platform that treats offshore fishing like the elite sport it is."
A Career Diverted by Injury
Simmons's journey to this point has been unconventional. Selected first overall in the 2016 NBA Draft from Louisiana State University, he became a three-time All-Star with the Philadelphia 76ers. However, his career trajectory changed dramatically due to persistent injuries, well-documented shooting struggles, and other challenges during his time with the Brooklyn Nets and a brief stint with the Los Angeles Clippers last season.
The online reaction to his fishing venture was swift and, in typical fashion, referenced his basketball woes. "Ben Simmons chose fishing instead of hunting cuz he knows he can't shoot," one fan quipped on social media. Others playfully referenced his NBA load management reputation, with one critic writing, "Load management coming to sport fishing."
Analysing the Cast: A Handedness Debate Revisited
Intriguingly, footage of Simmons fishing has reignited an old debate about his natural handedness. Basketball observers have long speculated that the left-handed shooter is naturally right-handed. Yahoo! Sports analyst Kevin O'Connor noted on X: "Ben Simmons casts right and retrieves left, a technique that allows right-handed anglers to keep their dominant hand on the rod for maximum control. The evidence is overwhelming that he shot the basketball with the wrong hand."
Simmons is not the only sports figure involved with the South Florida Sails; the team is also co-owned by Zach Smith, a former Mississippi State college football player. For now, as the NBA season approaches without him, Ben Simmons is casting his line into a new competitive arena, trading the roar of the arena for the open water.
