Ben Simmons’ humble response to $26m pay rise after NBA honour

Ben Simmons received some very lucrative news, but you wouldn’t know it from his first social media post after the big bonus.

Ben Simmons is doing the work.

Ben Simmons has activated a $26 million bonus in his supermax contract after he was selected for his first All-NBA team honour on Thursday.

Simmons was named in the NBA’s All Third Team for the 2019-20 season to cement his spot alongside the top 15 players in the game.

The 24-year-old Aussie was picked alongside Russell Westbrook in the All-NBA Third Team with only Luka Doncic, James Harden, Chris Paul and Damien Lillard receiving more votes in the guard category

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The award was crucial for Simmons to maximise his earning potential with the supermax extension he signed last year directly linked to his ability to sneak onto the All-NBA honours list.

It means Simmons is now guaranteed an expanded 28 per cent of the team’s total payments under the NBA’s soft cap. According to reports, the deal is now worth more than $243 million over the next five years.

It is a pay rise of more than $26 million for Simmons, who now stands to earn more than $55 million in the 2024-25 season alone.

All-NBA First Team: Luka Doncic, James Harden, LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis

All-NBA Second Team: Chris Paul, Damien Lillard, Kawhi Leonard, Pascal Siakam and Nikola Jokic

All NBA Third Team: Ben Simmons, Russell Westbrook, Jimmy Butler, Jayson Tatum and Rudy Gobert

Simmons showed the Sixers aren’t pouring money down the drain by investing in the Aussie star’s future when he took to social media following the NBA’s announcement.

Simmons posted a video to his Instagram stories showing him working out in the gym, already preparing for the 2020-21 season after missing the 76ers’ first round playoff exit with injury.

“No vacation, don’t deserve it,” Simmons captioned a video of him working out.

Ben Simmons posted on his Instagram stories that he means business.

Simmons missed the playoffs with injury. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Simmons was earlier this week named in the All-NBA First Defensive Team alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, Rudy Gobert and Marcus Smart.

Other key takeaways from the All-NBA teams:

— THE first team did not include a player listed as a point guard or a centre. James, Doncic and Harden are all the key initiators of their team’s offences but are still listed as small forwards or shooting guards. Davis has played the five spot increasingly more often for the Lakers as the playoffs continue but is listed as a power forward.

— JAMES was named All-NBA for the 16th time, breaking his tie with Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Tim Duncan. James has now been named to the first team a record 13 times.

— THE two guard positions on the third team were arguably the most hotly-contested, which made Simmons and Russell Westbrook the most controversial selections. Rookie of the Year Ja Morant questioned the absence of Bradley Beal and Trae Young. Beal is the first NBA player to average 30 points and six assists and not make All-NBA.

— SIMMONS’ teammate Joel Embiid missed selection in the All-NBA teams for the first time since 2017. Miami’s Bam Adebayo was the other big-name big who was unlucky to miss out.