Ben Simmons is offering a raw look back at the inflection point of his professional career. In the new ESPN documentary Being Ben, the veteran guard addresses the fallout from the Philadelphia 76ers’ 2021 postseason exit, including his infamous decision to pass up an open dunk in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks.
The documentary, which debuts Sunday at 4 p.m. on ESPN, traces Simmons’ journey from his early basketball days in Australia through his rise as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft and the 2017-18 Rookie of the Year. It also examines his subsequent struggles with the 76ers, particularly his persistent shooting woes. Throughout seven NBA seasons, Simmons has maintained a 59.2% free-throw percentage and converted just five three-pointers.
While coaches such as Doc Rivers historically defended Simmons’ offensive limitations, former teammate Danny Green argues in the film that the lack of outside shooting hindered the guard’s overall development. “When you’re a young player, you’re a franchise guy, they’re building something around you, you gotta step outside the box and try to grow,” Green notes in the documentary.
The tension in Philadelphia reached a breaking point immediately following the Game 7 loss to Atlanta, when a reporter asked Rivers whether Simmons could remain the point guard on a championship contender. Rivers responded that he did not know the answer at the time. Five years later, Simmons reflects candidly on that public hesitation, which prompted his trade request during the ensuing offseason.
“How did I feel? I was like, ‘What a piece of ‘s—,’” Simmons, now 30, says in the film. He acknowledges the pressures of professional sports leadership while expressing frustration over how the situation unfolded. “When you have a relationship with somebody and they have your back, I think certain things are supposed to be handled certain ways. But then you also gotta look at it from the side of ‘He’s got a job.’ You know, he’s making his money. He ain’t trying to lose his job or anything like that. So, when times get tough, people start panicking. People throw people under the bus, and that’s just — it’s just what happened.”
In addition to the Philadelphia tenure, Being Ben covers the guard’s year away from the hardwood, his prolonged rehabilitation from nagging back injuries, and his pivot to competitive sports fishing. In May, the South Florida Sails—a professional fishing team owned by Simmons—secured first place at the Sports Fishing Championship league’s 2026 Walker’s Cay Open in the Bahamas, offering him a mental break from basketball.
The documentary concludes by charting Simmons’ recent return to professional basketball. In September, he signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Sacramento Kings. Following more than a year away from the league, reports indicate he is expected to step into a starting role for the Kings on opening night.
