Aussie basketballer Ben Simmons has signed an eye popping deal with the Philadelphia 76ers worth over $240 million — the biggest contract scored by an Australian athlete

* Basketballer Ben Simmons has signed an eye-watering contract extension with the Philadelphia 76ers for US$170 million ($A242 million). * It's the highest deal for an Australian athlete ever. * Simmons was the first Australian named to play in the NBA All-Star game and secured the 2017-2018 Rookie of the Year accolade.* * *Ben Simmons has signed a massive US$170 million ($A242 million) contract extension with his NBA team, the Philadelphia 76ers, in the most expensive deal by an Australian ever, the Sydney Morning Herald has reported, following first confirmation by US sporting website The Athletic. The team, together with Simmons’ agent Rich Paul, have been working on the details of the contract extension since July 2, with rumours of the deal making the rounds before Simmons officially signed. Simmons’ contract extension begins during the 2020-2021 season and if he makes it to the all-NBA team during the current 2019-2020 season, that salary could surpass US$200 million. Melbourne-born Simmons was the number one pick to play for the 76ers in 2016. Although he missed the 2016-2017 season due to an injury, he got straight to action the following season and was named the 2017-18 NBA Rookie of the Year, ESPN reported. The 22-year-old basketball superstar was the first Australian ever selected to play in the NBA All-Star Game in February 2019, playing alongside sporting legends LeBron James and Kevin Durant. Despite criticism of Simmons’ unreliable jumpshot, he has a strong triple double – where a player scores double digits in three of the categories – assists, steals, blocks, points and total rebounds. Simmons secured 10 triple-doubles this past season and total of 22 for his career, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. He is one of two NBA players to have at least 10 triple doubles in each of their first two seasons – the other was Oscar Robertson who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980. According to Fox Sports, Simmons’ deal goes way beyond the earnings of Simmons’ fellow NBA players Patty Mills ($A17.85m), Joe Ingles ($A15.5m), Danté Exum ($A14.2 million), and Aron Baynes ($A7.84 million) - not counting their potential endorsement deals. It also surpasses the earnings of some of Australia’s sporting greats including Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo, who signed a deal with Renault for $48.9 million or golfer Jason Day whose best year (between 2014-15) earned him nearly $US10 million, GQ reported. While Simmons might be jumping for joy at this contract extension, there is still doubt over whether he will play for Australia at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in China, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. He was set to play for the Boomers who are aiming to take home a medal in China. Nonetheless, the deal makes for a great birthday gift for Simmons as he turns 23 on Saturday.

• Basketballer Ben Simmons has signed an eye-watering contract extension with the Philadelphia 76ers for US$170 million ($A242 million).

• It's the highest deal for an Australian athlete ever.

• Simmons was the first Australian named to play in the NBA All-Star game and secured the 2017-2018 Rookie of the Year accolade.

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Ben Simmons has signed a massive US$170 million ($A242 million) contract extension with his NBA team, the Philadelphia 76ers, in the most expensive deal by an Australian ever, the Sydney Morning Herald has reported, following first confirmation by US sporting website The Athletic.

The team, together with Simmons’ agent Rich Paul, have been working on the details of the contract extension since July 2, with rumours of the deal making the rounds before Simmons officially signed.

Simmons’ contract extension begins during the 2020-2021 season and if he makes it to the all-NBA team during the current 2019-2020 season, that salary could surpass US$200 million.

Melbourne-born Simmons was the number one pick to play for the 76ers in 2016. Although he missed the 2016-2017 season due to an injury, he got straight to action the following season and was named the 2017-18 NBA Rookie of the Year, ESPN reported.

The 22-year-old basketball superstar was the first Australian ever selected to play in the NBA All-Star Game in February 2019, playing alongside sporting legends LeBron James and Kevin Durant.

Despite criticism of Simmons’ unreliable jumpshot, he has a strong triple double – where a player scores double digits in three of the categories – assists, steals, blocks, points and total rebounds. Simmons secured 10 triple-doubles this past season and total of 22 for his career, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

He is one of two NBA players to have at least 10 triple doubles in each of their first two seasons – the other was Oscar Robertson who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980.

According to Fox Sports, Simmons’ deal goes way beyond the earnings of Simmons’ fellow NBA players Patty Mills ($A17.85m), Joe Ingles ($A15.5m), Danté Exum ($A14.2 million), and Aron Baynes ($A7.84 million) - not counting their potential endorsement deals.

It also surpasses the earnings of some of Australia’s sporting greats including Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo, who signed a deal with Renault for $48.9 million or golfer Jason Day whose best year (between 2014-15) earned him nearly $US10 million, GQ reported.

While Simmons might be jumping for joy at this contract extension, there is still doubt over whether he will play for Australia at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in China, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. He was set to play for the Boomers who are aiming to take home a medal in China.

Nonetheless, the deal makes for a great birthday gift for Simmons as he turns 23 on Saturday.