At just 29 years old, Ben Simmons should be dominating NBA courts at his peak. Instead, he’s unsigned, reportedly contemplating retirement, and facing harsh criticism from former players who question whether his injuries are even real. The latest blow comes from Jeff Teague, who didn’t just criticize Simmons’ play but accused him of faking his chronic back problems entirely.
Why Is Jeff Teague Calling Out Ben Simmons So Harshly?
Simmons has dealt with a great number of setbacks over the past few seasons and appears to be a shell of himself. As a result, reports have revealed Simmons might even be contemplating retirement, a possibility given that he is estimated to have a net worth of around $80 million.
While some of his devout fans still believe he deserves another chance to prove himself, a large portion of the NBA world seems to be against Simmons.
Jeff Teague is a former NBA star and champion. Although he retired after the 2020-21 NBA season, Teague has remained associated with league activities. He recently discussed Simmons and shared quite a critical stance that shocked the basketball world.
Sometimes it’s best to keep things real, and Teague did his best to do just that. After underperforming in the second round of the 2021 Eastern Conference semifinals, Simmons appeared to face an inexplicable barrier in terms of returning to his former self.
Jeff Teague calls for Ben Simmons to retire:
“We’d love you to come sit down and talk cause it’s over… he can’t move no more, he running like people on 2K… he legit hurt.”
(via @club520podcast, h/t @Fullcourtpass)pic.twitter.com/lVID4zdAiO
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) September 5, 2025
While it’s possible to blame the Philadelphia 76ers fans or his strong critics, the fact remains that Simmons stopped establishing himself as a valuable asset on the offensive end of the court. It was soon reported that he was dealing with chronic back issues, which continued to hamper his productivity after Simmons returned to the court.
Teague played in the NBA for 12 seasons and managed to win a championship toward the very end alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks. During a recent episode of the Club 520 podcast, Teague weighed in when asked about Simmons’ future as an unsigned player.
“We love for you come sit down with us and talk because yeah, it’s over. Yeah, it’s over bro. Y’all seen him when he was playing. He can’t move no more bro. He run like people on 2K…He aint even legit hurt.”
How Does Simmons’ Situation Compare to Other NBA Stars?
Teague attempted to compare Simmons to Kawhi Leonard by jokingly pointing out that both of them “pretend” to have back issues all the time. While the comparison might make sense on the surface, the circumstances couldn’t be more different.
Leonard is an accomplished multiple-time NBA champion at the back end of his career who has earned the benefit of the doubt through years of elite performance. On the other hand, Simmons is contemplating retirement with no team committed to signing him and a reputation that has taken a massive hit since his Philadelphia days.
The reality is harsh for Simmons. Fans should wonder if his being unsigned even gives him a real choice in “considering” retirement. After all, he has no choice but to retire or stick around waiting for a team to give him a chance. This ongoing offseason will reveal more about Simmons’ future in the NBA, but Teague’s brutal assessment suggests the former All-Star’s time might already be up.
