Ben Simmons is returning to the NBA after a year away. The former top pick has signed a one-year deal with the Sacramento Kings.
This was reported by Shams Charania of ESPN. The Australian has signed a contract with the Kings for the upcoming season and will earn $3.5 million, which is the minimum salary.
Ben Simmons, who was selected first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2016, was not under contract with any NBA team last season and sat out the entire season. Most recently, he stayed in shape with the Australian national team and had announced that he would like to play for the Boomers at the 2028 Olympics.
Simmons last played for the Brooklyn Nets during the 2024–25 season and subsequently for the L.A. Clippers. In 51 games, the forward averaged 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists, but was never able to recapture the form of his best years. A persistent back injury, which plagued him throughout his entire time in Brooklyn, also played a role in this.
Kings: Rebuilding with Simmons
Simmons had his best season statistically in 2018–19, when the Australian was named an All-Star and, playing for the Philadelphia 76ers alongside Joel Embiid, narrowly missed advancing past the eventual champion from Toronto in the playoffs. During that season, Simmons averaged 16.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game.
Even back then, however, his lack of a jump shot was a problem. In his 383 NBA games, the point guard attempted only 36 three-pointers—and made just five of them. In Sacramento, Simmons now has a new opportunity; the California team is in the midst of a rebuild and won only 22 of 82 games last season. The Kings are expected to remain among the worst teams in the NBA this coming season as well, and even Simmons’ return will do little to change that.