Explosive! The 76ers might sign Simmons back! It's been four full years since they parted ways.

What?

The 76ers are considering signing Simmons with a one-year veteran minimum contract to fill the last roster spot...

According to reports, LeBron James is one of the key factors that could help Simmons return to the 76ers. The two are close friends and both belong to the Klutch Sports agency founded by Rich Paul.

In a recent interview, Simmons said he has been working hard to return to the NBA, and the Heat and the 76ers are both teams he likes.

Born on July 20, 1996, he just turned 30 years old, stands 2.08m tall with a 2.14m wingspan. He is a versatile point forward who can even play all five positions. The No.1 pick of the 2016 NBA draft, he gave his impressive debut and peak years to the 76ers, during which he made three All-Star appearances and All-NBA selections, etc. He was once hailed as the next LeBron James.

U.S. media StatMuse compiled Simmons' rookie season stats: he was the only rookie in NBA history to average 15+8+8+1, with specific numbers of 15.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, 8.2 assists, and 1.7 steals per game, shooting 54.5% from the field, with zero three-point attempts and makes.

In the summer of 2021, due to various reasons, the conflict between Simmons and the 76ers completely escalated. He requested a trade in September of that year and was sent to the Nets in early 2022, missing the entire 2021-22 season.

After leaving the 76ers, Simmons experienced a sharp decline due to injuries and mental health issues. Over the three seasons from 2022 to 2025, he played only 108 regular-season games total, with mediocre performance, especially losing all his offensive skills. His average scoring was in single digits, and his presence on the court meant the team was playing 4-on-5.

After the 2024-25 season, Simmons paused his basketball career and left the NBA, turning to his true passion: fishing. This past May, the South Florida Sailing Fishing Club he belongs to won the Walker's Cay Blue Marlin Open.

As for why Simmons now wants to return to the NBA? Some speculate he's running out of money, but by incomplete statistics, his total salary income from his NBA career is as high as $203 million, so it's unlikely he blew through all of it in just one year.