Ben Simmons and Rich Paul’s Klutch Sports have decided to go their separate ways.
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reports Simmons and Klutch, which has overseen the Brooklyn Nets guard’s career since he was drafted No. 1 overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2016 NBA draft, “have mutually decided to part ways.”
In 2019, Klutch negotiated Simmons’ five-year, $177 million contract extension with the Sixers.
Brooklyn Nets forward Ben Simmons and Klutch Sports have mutually decided to part ways, sources told ESPN. Simmons had been represented by Klutch since he came into the NBA as the No. 1 pick in 2016. The agency negotiated his five-year $177 million extension in 2019.
The news arrives a day after Nets head coach Jacque Vahn answered questions regarding whether Simmons, who hasn’t played since Feb. 15 due to knee and back issues, will be shut down for the rest of the season.
“There’s zero discussions about him not playing,” Vahn told reporters. “We expect him to be back, waiting for him to be back, watching the last Sacramento game, it was great to see him and his physicality versus [Kings All-Star Domantas] Sabonis last time, so looking forward to seeing that again, for sure.”
Simmons’ split from Klutch Sports is the latest speed bump in the 26-year-old’s tumultuous career.
Over his first five seasons in the NBA, Simmons established himself as a perennial All-Star, making three All-Star teams (2019-21), as well as one All-NBA Third Team (2020), and two All-Defensive First Team selections (2020, 2021). However, it’s all been down hill from there.
In February 2022, the Sixers traded Simmons, along with Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and two future first-round picks, to Brooklyn in exchange for James Harden and Paul Millsap. After sitting out the entire 2021-22 season with a back injury, Simmons has played in just 42 of Brooklyn’s 70 games this season, averaging 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game.
