Former NBA All-Star Ben Simmons has taken a controlling stake in the South Florida Sails Angling Club, a professional sport fishing team, as part of the newly announced Sport Fishing Championship. Born and raised in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, Simmons developed a passion for fishing early on.
“I believe that investing in something you love means you have a duty to help it grow,” Simmons said. “Sport fishing has been a great experience for me, and SFC is creating a platform to elevate offshore fishing into a premier competitive sport.”
The Sport Fishing Championship features 16 professional offshore saltwater fishing teams competing in 16 tournaments each year. Simmons joins other notable investors such as golfer Scottie Scheffler, Las Vegas Raiders player Raheem Mostert, and NASCAR driver Austin Dillon.
At 29, Simmons is a three-time NBA All-Star who played 51 games last season split between the Nets and Clippers. Despite showing offensive consistency with the Clippers and attracting interest from various teams, he has yet to finalize a deal and is still pursuing opportunities for this or next NBA season. Meanwhile, he is staying active by focusing on his fishing interests.
Fan Take: This move highlights Simmons’ efforts to diversify his career and passions during a challenging period in basketball. For fans, it’s a reminder that athletes often have multifaceted lives and investments outside the court, which can sometimes influence how and when they return to the game.
