‘Being Ben’: ‘E60′ and Andscape explore Ben Simmons’ road back to the NBA

With his NBA career getting a restart this season with the Sacramento Kings, former No. 1 draft pick Ben Simmons opens up in a new ESPN E60 documentary about the highs and lows of his extraordinary career, his attempt to reclaim his place in the game – and his lifelong passion for fishing.

Being Ben, produced in association with Andscape, debuts Sunday, Oct. 18, at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN, streaming afterward on the ESPN App.

From the basketball courts of Australia to the top of the NBA Draft, Simmons’ rise was as sudden as it was spectacular. Once an unknown young player in Melbourne, Simmons became the No. 1 overall pick and quickly emerged as one of the league’s most dynamic talents as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers – the centerpiece of a franchise with championship expectations.

But in Game 7 of the 2021 Eastern Conference semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks, Simmons passed up an open dunk in a defining moment that became a symbol of his unraveling—and sent his career on a dramatic downward turn. As Andscape Senior NBA Writer Marc Spears reports for E60, injuries, scrutiny, and public doubt reshaped Simmons’ career.

Now, as Simmons attempts to re-establish himself in the NBA, he has discovered another competitive outlet: fishing. As the owner of South Florida Sails, Simmons is immersed in a world that demands the same patience, preparation, and instincts that once made him a basketball star. Spears spent time on the water with Simmons in the Florida Keys and conducted extensive interviews with him and others.

In addition to Simmons, among those interviewed in the documentary are former 76ers head coach Doc Rivers and Simmons’ Philadelphia teammate Danny Green; Trae Young, who competed against Simmons while a member of the Atlanta Hawks; former 76ers assistant coach Lloyd Pierce; Simmons’ godfather and former coach David Patrick; Scott Perry, general manager of the Kings; and Adam Caporn, head coach of the Australian men’s national basketball team.

Keith Pompey, a longtime 76ers beat writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer who covered Simmons’ time with the team, also is interviewed in the documentary as is longtime New York Post sportswriter Brian Lewis.

Being Ben was produced and directed by Julian Gooden.