Knicks' Ben Simmons Saga Ends As It Should Have

The New York Knicks didn't want to bet on this former Net.

A recent slew of signings for the Knicks, featuring backcourt depth stars Malcolm Brogdon, Garrison Mathews, and Landry Shamet, likely serves as the unofficial end to Manhattan's Ben Simmons saga.

Simmons reportedly lingered on the Knicks' late offseason radar for quite some time but, barring a large trade, the embattled top pick's quest to reclaim the narrative on his NBA career will continue elsewhere, if it continues at all.

Mar 26, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Tyler Kolek (13) looks to drive past LA Clippers guard Ben Simmons (25) in the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

The Simmons Saga Shows How Quickly the Knicks' Reputation Has Changed

Simmons carries a complicated hardwood legacy: he was the original endgame of the Philadelphia 76ers' famed "Process" and lived up to that hype to the early stages of that tenure as a two-way breakout. Injuries, however, have defined the modern stages of his career, to the point he played but 90 games in three seasons with the Knicks' crosstown rivals in Brooklyn.

While it's hard to place a bust label on a player for committing the crime of getting hurt while engaging in a physical game (the same logic could well apply to Grant Hill, Derrick Rose, Brandon Roy, and many more), the aftermath of the ailments (such as a dreary buyout process that sent him from Philadelphia to Brooklyn) has generated a negative reputation that starkly contrasts the hype that followed him out of Kansas.

In spite of all that, Simmons is still talented enough, particularly on the defensive end, to build a sizable NBA career. He certainly wouldn't be the first presumed washout to find a second wind.

The Knicks, for example, hosted part of Tyson Chandler's revival that saw him make the All-Star Game in 2013 and, more recently, enjoyed Julius Randle's breakout before exchanging him for Karl-Anthony Towns.

Time is a flat circle on the hardwood, so they've also been on the other side of the trend, the perfect evidence residing in Obi Toppin's newfound reputation as a Indianapolis depth star — one that helped end each of the last two Knicks seasons — after he was dealt away for draft peanuts less than three years after his metropolitan arrival.

But times have changed in New York.

Malcolm Brogdon, Landry Shamet — Dec 30, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards guard Malcolm Brogdon (15) drives to the basket as New York Knicks guard Landry Shamet (44) defends during the third quarter at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images | Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images

Too often have the Knicks resembled an island of the draft's misfit toys, with the enjoyment of many a new-century date at Madison Square Garden hinging on hoping that the likes of Andrea Bargnani, Michael Beasley and Nerlens Noel would rediscover their prospect potential.

Now, the Knicks are in a place where elite depth talent like Brogdon and Shamet are willing to throw themselves into a potential battle for the final roster spot to partake in what Leon Rose and Co. have built. Simmons, on the other hand, could reportedly be considering walking away from the game entirely, as the last thing the Knicks needs is someone questioning his own buy-in, especially with the Larry O'Brien Trophy looking closer than ever.

Simmons has the skillset to write his redemption story. The Knicks, at this point, have no ink to spare.

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