Three-time All-Star Ben Simmons is again within the NBA after agreeing to a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Sacramento Kings on Friday, his brokers Max Wiepking, Sean Tribe and Ryan Arney advised Andscape and ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Simmons returns to the NBA after lacking the 2025-26 season to rehabilitate lingering again and leg accidents. Now wholesome, the 6-foot-10, 240-pounder impressed Kings common supervisor Scott Perry when he labored out for him in Miami and had an hourlong assembly in late August.
Simmons additionally traveled to Sacramento to go to the Kings and impressed coach Doug Christie and different members of the basketball workers on the workforce’s observe facility Monday the place he underwent an in-depth medical examination and performed an on-court exercise.
Within the following days, the Kings provided Simmons a contract with the expectation of him being a backup level guard for rookie Darius Acuff Jr. and play positions 1 by means of 5. For the Kings, Simmons serves as a high-upside reclamation challenge who nonetheless has years left in his perspective prime.
Simmons’ inventory rose after he performed effectively whereas being a full participant in a minicamp with the Australia males’s basketball nationwide workforce in early August. The Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors expressed curiosity in Simmons that might have led to a possible coaching camp invite. The Kings, nonetheless, have been the one NBA workforce to supply him contract. A supply stated Simmons is happy about enjoying for the Kings and believes the group will give him the assist and alternative he has hoped for in his return to the NBA.
The Kings completed 22-60 final season, tying for the worst report within the Western Convention. They waived DeMar DeRozan in July and did not convey again free agent Russell Westbrook, leaving them with a gap on the guard place.
Simmons was the primary total choose by the Philadelphia 76ers within the 2016 NBA draft out of LSU. The Melbourne, Australia, native gained the 2018 NBA Rookie of the 12 months award and was an NBA All-Defensive first-team choice in 2020.
The 30-year-old’s NBA profession has additionally included quite a few challenges, together with lacking the 2016-17 season with a foot harm and lacking the 2021-22 season amid a commerce holdout, psychological well being considerations and varied bodily illnesses.
Simmons has averaged 13.1 factors, 7.4 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.5 steals in 383 regular-season video games for the 76ers, Brooklyn Nets and LA Clippers. After being waived in February 2025 following a buyout with the Nets, Simmons averaged 2.9 factors, 3.8 rebounds and three.1 assists in 18 video games for the Clippers whereas enjoying restricted minutes and preventing again points. Simmons’ final NBA sport was Sport 5 of the primary spherical in opposition to the Denver Nuggets.
He advised Andscape in July that he felt as wholesome as he had in years and believed he was able to return to the NBA.
Throughout his NBA hiatus, he bought a 50% possession stake within the South Florida Sails skilled angling membership in December 2025, turning into the workforce’s controlling operator.
