NBA Republic
Ben Simmons is a name that has been making waves in the world of basketball. With his impressive skills on the court, it’s no surprise that people are curious about his net worth, girlfriend, salary, and even his age. But did you know that behind every successful athlete is a supportive family? In this article, we’ll take a closer look at Ben Simmons parents and how they have played a role in shaping him into the superstar he is today.
So grab your popcorn and get ready to learn more about one of the most exciting players in the game!
Meet Ben Simmons parent
Ben Simmons was born to Julie Simmons, his mother, and David Simmons, his father. The professional basketball player was born in Fitzroy, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia.
One fascinating thing about his parents is that they were both athletes. As a result, Ben picked interest in sports and began playing basketball at a very young age.
His father, Dave, was a professional basketball player who played in the Australian National Basketball League for the Melbourne Tigers in the late 1980s and 1990s. He also played for the Australian national basketball team. Even though he couldn’t play in the American basketball league, the NBA, his son is doing that as he plays for the Brooklyn Nets. And of course, he has the right to brag about that. In fact, Dave declared for the NBA draft in 1987 but no teams showed interest in him.
Dave Simmons played college basketball for the Oklahoma City Stars Men’s basketball
Furthermore, Ben Simmons’ mother, Julie, is also a former professional netball player and represented Australia in Commonwealth games. It is widely believed that Julie’s athleticism is what she passed on to her son, Ben who continues to shine in the NBA since he was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2016 NBA draft.
How Julie and Dave met
Julie was a divorced single mother when she met Dave Simmons in 1991. Her first marriage had yielded four children: Melissa, Emily, Liam, and Sean.
Ben Simmons parents started dating, and three years later, they married and soon welcomed Olivia and Ben.
Julie told USA Today that Ben was born at the same time as the Opening Ceremonies of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The nurses and Dave were consumed by what was happening on television as they waited for Julie to get to the point of pushing.
When the dancers on the screen held out cards asking ‘HOW Y’ALL DOIN?’ Julie belted out, “I’ll tell you how I’m doing, I’m trying to have a baby!” The yell refocused the attention of everyone in the room to Julie.
Dave and Julie raised the children as one family, which helped the siblings form a strong bond.
The children grew up athletic and super-competitive. Being the youngest made Ben a target for taunts and teases and always left him at a disadvantage when the family played games. “They helped him grow up,” Julie says of Ben’s older siblings. “He’s an easygoing, quiet kid, but he also has a cheekiness to him.”
Ben and his siblings still share a strong bond and are always in contact with one another. In an interview with The Undefeated about her bipolar diagnosis, Olivia Simmons talked about how her siblings and especially Ben, have helped her deal with the condition. “Ben’s like my best friend,” she wrote.
