Ben Simmons Wins First Championship as Fishing Team Owner

Ben Simmons finally has a championship ring to chase, and it smells like saltwater instead of sweat.

The former NBA number one draft pick won the Sport Fishing Championship Blue Marlin Open in the Bahamas this past Sunday. Simmons competed as both an angler and controlling owner of the South Florida Sails, a team he invested in last December.

The Sails absolutely dominated the competition. They finished with 2,925 points, nearly 1,500 points ahead of the second-place New Jersey Sea Birds.

The victory came from consistent excellence across the three-day tournament. Angler Alex Stanley delivered crucial blue marlin releases worth 450 points each, helping South Florida lead after Day 1 and never look back.

For Simmons, this win represents more than just a trophy. The three-time NBA All-Star shifted his professional focus to competitive fishing after becoming a free agent following the 2024-25 season.

"I have always believed that investing in what you love means you have a responsibility to help move it forward," Simmons said. "Sport fishing has given me incredible experiences, and SFC is creating a platform that treats offshore fishing like the elite sport it is."

Why This Inspires

Simmons' story shows that professional success doesn't follow a single path. After years of injuries and setbacks in basketball, including missing an entire NBA season due to a contract dispute and herniated disk, he found a new arena to compete and win.

He joins other professional athletes finding success in competitive fishing. Two-time Masters champion Scottie Scheffler won the Zane Grey Championship Playoffs with his Texas Lone Stars less than a year ago, proving that elite competitors can transfer their drive across different sports.

The Sport Fishing Championship treats offshore fishing with the same professional structure as traditional team sports, giving athletes like Simmons a legitimate competitive outlet beyond their primary careers.

Sometimes the biggest wins come when you're brave enough to cast your line in completely new waters.