Simmons gets a fresh start in Sacramento

Ben Simmons is officially back in the NBA. After spending the entire 2025/26 season away from the league, the three‑time All‑Star has agreed to a one‑year, 3.5‑million‑dollar contract with the Sacramento Kings, according to ESPN. The 30‑year‑old now prepares for his tenth NBA season, a scenario that only weeks ago seemed far from guaranteed.

Selected first overall by Philadelphia in 2016, Simmons once looked like a generational talent, winning Rookie of the Year and earning multiple All‑Star and All‑Defense selections. His decline began after the 2021 playoff collapse and continued through injuries and inconsistent stints with Brooklyn and the Clippers. His last active season, in 2024/25, produced modest numbers across both teams.

Determined to return, Simmons spent recent months training intensely and even joined an Australian minicamp. Sacramento accelerated talks after GM Scott Perry attended a workout in Florida. Now, the Kings offer him a chance to prove he still belongs.