Ben Simmons Signs with Kings for NBA Comeback

Ben Simmons is back in the NBA. And he’s chosen Sacramento for his return.

The former No. 1 overall pick has agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Kings, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania and Marc Spears, ending a full season on the sidelines in 2025-26 and opening a new chapter in one of the league’s most complicated careers.

A Careful Courtship in Sacramento

This wasn’t a casual flyer. Sacramento put Simmons through a thorough inspection before committing.

Charania reported that Simmons traveled to Sacramento on Monday, where he underwent extensive medical testing, an on-court workout, and sat down with head coach Doug Christie and other members of the organization. In late August, he’d already worked out for general manager Scott Perry and spent an hour in conversation with him.

For a player whose recent seasons have been defined by injuries and absences, that level of scrutiny mattered. The Kings needed to see what was left. Simmons needed to show he could still move, still defend, still make plays.

From Rising Star to Reclamation Project

Not long ago, Simmons looked like a franchise cornerstone in Philadelphia. A 6’10” playmaker with elite vision, defensive versatility and All-Star credentials, he seemed built for the modern NBA.

Then the body began to betray him.

Since the 2020-21 season, Simmons has not played more than 60 games in any year. He missed the entire 2021-22 campaign, and his availability became as big a storyline as his game. In 2024-25, split between the Nets and Clippers, he managed 51 games — his highest total since that 2020-21 season — but his production reflected a very different role: 5.0 points, 5.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game.

Those numbers told a story. The explosive, downhill star was gone. The connector, the passer, the big guard who could still see the floor and guard multiple positions remained.

Then came silence. Simmons did not sign with any team for the 2025-26 season.

“Bulletproof” or Nothing

Simmons has been open about why he stayed away.

In December, he told The Athletic’s Sam Jane that he did not want to return until he felt “bulletproof.” It wasn’t about just getting back on the court; it was about staying there.

By June, the tone had shifted. Simmons said he was officially working toward an NBA comeback and openly mentioned Miami and Philadelphia as possible destinations. In an interview with Clay Skipper of Men’s Health, he laid out his mindset:

“I plan on getting as strong as I can physically, getting my ass on the court, and then the team realizing that my abilities will be needed,” he said. “I don’t have a plan on where. ... Maybe I’ll go back to Philly. Miami would be nice. And not because it’s Miami—I like Erik Spoelstra, I like the Heat, I like their organization, I like the culture.”

The league listened. Sacramento acted.

What the Kings Are Really Buying

This is not the All-Star version of Ben Simmons walking through the door. The Kings know that.

What they are getting is a 28-year-old (age context implied by draft year) who can still handle, pass, and defend across multiple positions, at a price that barely dents the cap. At $3.5 million for one year, this is a classic low-risk, medium-upside move.

Sacramento does not need Simmons to score. They need him to organize, to defend, to push the pace, to find shooters, to make life easier for everyone else. He remains adept at reading the floor, hitting the open man, and using his size to bother ball-handlers and switch across lineups.

For a team that has been scrambling for a floor general since trading De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs, that matters.

Filling a Void, Not Chasing a Dream

The Fox trade left a gaping hole at the point of attack. Rookie Darius Acuff Jr. brings promise, but handing him the keys alone would have been a gamble.

Simmons changes that equation. He gives Christie another ball-handler, another decision-maker, someone who can initiate offense without needing shots to stay engaged. He can share the floor with Acuff, take tougher defensive assignments, and let the rookie grow without carrying the entire burden.

The move doesn’t suddenly vault Sacramento into title-favorite conversations. It doesn’t erase the uncertainty around Simmons’ health or his long-term role in the league.

What it does do is make the Kings more complete. Deeper. More flexible.

A once-elite talent trying to rebuild his career. A franchise searching for stability at guard after moving on from its star. One year, $3.5 million, and a mutual bet that there’s still something meaningful left in this partnership.

Now the question shifts from “Will Ben Simmons be back?” to something far more intriguing: how much of himself can he actually reclaim in Sacramento?