Stephen A. Smith hits Ben Simmons with a hilarious joke about returning to the NBA

Stephen A. Smith never misses the mark, this time too Ben Simmons he was right in the crosshairs.

Back in December 2025, Andscape detailed Simmons’ next chapter, one that has nothing to do with the NBA hardwood. Former All-Star free agent took control of the South Florida sailsfranchise in the Sport Fishing Championship, a growing offshore saltwater league established in 2021. The circuit features 16 professional fishing clubs across states from Texas to Massachusetts, competing in 16 tournaments for the season title.

Simmons sounded energized by the occasion.

“The way I see it, it’s like the new F1 for fishing. The new LIV Golf for fishing,” he told Andscape. He described a points system built around white marlin, blue marlin, sailfish and striped marlin, with each catch having a different value. He presented it as competitive, broad and serious.

That context made what happened even louder.

Stephen A. Smith delivers a brutal punchline

On ESPN’s First Take, Stephen A. Smith built on the moment with his trademark intensity.

“As long as there’s a First Take, Ben Simmons will be catching stragglers,” Smith said. He didn’t stop there. “There is no bigger thief in the history of the NBA than that man. If Ben Simmons is running near a basketball arena, he should be arrested.”

– Stephen A. Smith 👀

(via @FirstTake)pic.twitter.com/JmjS68KukV

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 17, 2026

The studio broke out. Social networks followed.

Smith delivered the lines with a smile, but the edge was real. He has been critical of Simmons for years, often pointing to unmet expectations and max-level contracts that never translated into consistent production. The joke worked because it mirrored the narrative that has followed Simmons since his exit from Philly.

However, context matters.

Injuries disrupted Simmons’ rhythm and confidence. When he was healthy, critics claimed that hesitancy crept into his game. Giving up open looks, resisting perimeter development and struggling under playoff pressure have become part of the public discourse. Fans voiced their frustration. Analysts have amplified it.

Now Simmons is standing on the dock instead of the baseline, building something new in competitive fishing. Smith stands in the studio, still firing verbal fastballs.

It remains unclear if Simmons will ever return to the NBA. What is certain is this, if he does, he will hear about it. And if he doesn’t, Stephen A. will still have a punchline ready.