Ben Simmons Report Surfaces After Knicks' Russell Westbrook Decision

Ben Simmons Report Surfaces After Knicks' Russell Westbrook Decision originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The New York Knicks have made a series of notable offseason moves as they aim to build on last season’s Eastern Conference Finals appearance. After parting ways with Tom Thibodeau in early June, the franchise hired veteran coach Mike Brown on a four-year, $40 million deal. The front office also added veteran guard Jordan Clarkson and forward Guerschon Yabusele to strengthen the rotation.

Now with a core in place, the Knicks are focused on filling their final roster spot for the 2025-26 season. The team is actively exploring the free agent market, aiming to add one more veteran presence to round out the group ahead of training camp. Among the leading candidates is former All-Star guard Ben Simmons.

Knicks Continue to Show Interest in Ben Simmons

According to SNY’s Ian Begley, “Ben Simmons is certainly a candidate for the Knicks’ final roster spot. As of earlier this week, New York continued to show strong interest in signing Simmons as teams in on Simmons await his decision. He’s garnered interest from several teams around the league.”

That update places Simmons under consideration as New York finalizes its 15-man roster.

The New York Knicks continue to show ‘strong’ interest in Ben Simmons, per @IanBegley

“Ben Simmons is certainly a candidate for the Knicks’ final roster spot. As of earlier this week, New York continued to show strong interest in signing Simmons as teams in on Simmons await his… pic.twitter.com/2XAHdQXLwn

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 31, 2025

New York Knicks Pursuing Ben Simmons Over Russell Westbrook

This latest report surfaces after it was reported earlier in free agency that New York had decided against pursuing 2017 NBA MVP Russell Westbrook (via Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints). The free agencies of Westbrook and Simmons have been linked together, with NBA insider Jake Fischer reporting last week that Simmons' impending decision is holding up the market for Westbrook.

With this latest report from Begley, it is clear the Knicks are eyeing Simmons for a reserve guard role, and have indeed decided against Westbrook in that spot.

Simmons could be a valuable fit under head coach Mike Brown, bringing size, defense, and secondary playmaking to the Knicks’ second unit. He played last season with both the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers, finishing his campaign with 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in 51 games. Though his offensive output has declined, Simmons still offers versatility on both ends of the floor and the ability to handle and distribute the ball in short spurts.

Simmons was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the No. 1 overall pick in 2016. Throughout his NBA career, he has earned individual honors, including the 2018 Rookie of the Year award, three NBA All-Star appearances, and two-time All-Defensive First Team honors.

Related: NBA Star Ben Simmons Facing Potential Change After Celtics Report

Related: New Ben Simmons, 76ers Report After Clippers Decision

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 31, 2025, where it first appeared.