Injuries are a part of life for athletes, but they are the biggest setbacks. Former LA Clippers point guard Ben Simmons finally opened up about his path back to the NBA, addressing his recovery from back surgery.

Speaking with Men's Health from the deck of his boat off the coast of Miami, Simmons shared the difficulties he faced recovering from a back injury.

"You can't be in a state where you're in a high-stress situation all the time, especially trying to recover from a back injury. I would've rather gone through a broken foot again, 'cause it would have been clear and easy," he said.

The NBA star has laid out a straightforward path; he built it on physical readiness and had no intention of proving any point to anyone.

"I plan on getting as strong as I can physically, getting my a** on the court, and then the team realizing that my abilities will be needed," he said. "Maybe I'll go back to Philly. Miami would be nice. And not because it's Miami — I like Erik Spoelstra, I like the Heat, I like their organization, I like the culture."

It remains to be seen if he will see action on the court this upcoming season.

Ben Simmons reveals why he didn't play last season

Ben Simmons explained that his choice not to play at all in the 2025-'26 season is more of a reset for himself and not a regression.

"What if I wanna take some time for myself and put myself in the best position to play again? I was like, you know what? F**k it. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. But this is what feels right," he said.

With the surgery, the pressure he was under from the public, and even taking on a stake in a professional fishing league, Simmons surely had the opportunity to take stock and think about how a return would play out for him.

Would you want to see Ben Simmons back in an NBA uniform next season?

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Written by

Proma Chatterjee

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi