- Former No. 1 pick opens up about highs, lows and his attempt to reclaim his place in basketball
- Being Ben debuts Sunday, Oct. 18, at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN
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.
About E60:
E60, founded in 2007, is ESPN’s highly decorated sports storytelling brand. E60 has received 118 Sports Emmy nominations with 23 wins, scoring eight nominations in 2026 including its sixth nomination and second consecutive win for “Outstanding Hosted Edited Series.” E60 also has won two Peabody Awards. E60 has won accolades for its mix of revealing profiles, hard-hitting investigations and exclusive interviews delivered with innovative production techniques, top-notch journalism with unrivaled storytelling. While E60 has taken on several formats during its lifespan, its current format of a single-story documentary program for linear television and streaming has been in place since 2020.
About Andscape
Andscape is a Black content studio that explores the depth of Black identity through its power in sports and culture. Magnified by the power and reach of The Walt Disney Company, the Andscape umbrella includes daily journalism, film, television, book publishing and music.
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Media contact: andy.hall@espn.com