NBA player Ben Simmons guest stars tonight on Happy Together on CBS in the episode called Bland Gestures. It’s uncertain what role Ben will play in the overall storyline, but he will play himself.
Cooper, played by Felix Mallard, turns to Jake and Claire, played by Damon Wayans, Jr. and Amber Stevens West respectively, and meeting Simmons could be one way for him to be romantic.
Steve-O also guest-stars during tonight’s episode as a tattoo artist named S10cil. But who is the NBA player who will appear as himself on tonight’s episode?
Simmons plays point guard for the Philadelphia 76ers. He was born in 1996 on July 20, making him 22 years old. He’s originally from Fitzroy, Australia. He was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2016, and he played his rookie year in 2017-2018.
Ben Simmons moved to the United States back in 2015 after he had played professional basketball in Australia. Simmons announced via Twitter that he was headed to Montverde Academy in Florida to play high school ball. He would be drafted to the NBA just a year later and even won NBA Rookie of the Year.
Little is known about his personal life, possibly because he wants to protect himself and his family from the fame of being an NBA player. But there are plenty of sports professionals in his family.
Simmons’ brother Liam is an assistant coach for the Southwest Baptist Bearcats men’s basketball team. His sister Emily used to be a member of the Washington State University women’s rowing team. She’s married to NFL player Michael Bush.
In 2016, Simmons was featured in the Showtime documentary film One & Done. The movie documented his journey as a one-and-done college player, and his family’s opinions on the NCAA and NBA. In the movie, Simmons slams the NCAA – National Collegiate Athletic Association – for not paying the players what they should get.
“The NCAA is really f**ked up,” Simmons said in the documentary, adding, “Everybody’s making money except the players. We’re the ones waking up early as hell to be the best teams and do everything they want us to do and then the players get nothing. They say education, but if I’m there for a year, I can’t get much education.”
Ben Simmons has previously been linked to Kendall Jenner. Their relationship supposedly fizzled in August, as Ben was headed back on the court to play for his team. However, it sounds like they are giving the relationship another shot as they were just spotted together again recently.
Kendall Jenner supposedly flew to Philadelphia for a date with Simmons after his game. She watched him play at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia to and witnesses saw Jenner and Simmons get into a van in the players’ parking lot. It’s unknown where they went, but fans believe there’s a chance for a reconciliation.
Happy Together airs Mondays at 8:30/7:30c on CBS.