Ben Simmons recently opened up about a deeply challenging period in his career, revealing that he had seriously contemplated retirement while recovering from back surgery.
The Australian guard made the candid admission during an appearance on the “Young Man and the Three” podcast.
Simmons explained that the physical and mental toll of his injuries led him to question whether he could continue playing professional basketball. The 28-year-old underwent surgery to address a pinched nerve in his lower back, marking his second back surgery in three years.
“There were times last summer when I was like, ‘I don’t know if I can do this. I might have to stop playing,'” Simmons admitted.
The guard shared that the recovery process was incredibly demanding, both physically and mentally.
“Going through the process of rehabbing a second summer in a row was tough,” Simmons said. “It’s day by day. You just take it day by day.”
Despite these challenges, Simmons emphasized that quitting was never truly an option for him. His love for the game kept him motivated to push through the difficult times.
“I can’t just stop. Like, I’m not just gonna stop. I wanna compete; I’m a competitor,” he said. “I like to play basketball; I like to win.”
“There were times last summer where I was like, ‘I don’t know if I can do this, I might have to stop playing'”– Ben Simmons opening up about his experience with his injuries and surgeries the past few years… pic.twitter.com/JeUWEmq6K7
— TheYoungManAndTheThree (@OldManAndThree) January 24, 2025