Ben Simmons is getting another shot at reviving his NBA career.
The former No. 1 overall pick has agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Sacramento Kings, according to reports. The deal brings Simmons back to the NBA after he missed the entire 2025-26 season while dealing with lingering back and leg issues.
For Simmons, this could be one of the most important opportunities of his career.
The 30-year-old entered the NBA with enormous expectations after Philadelphia selected him first overall in the 2016 NBA Draft. He eventually won Rookie of the Year and became a three-time All-Star, establishing himself as one of the league’s most talented defensive and passing forwards.
However, injuries and offensive struggles have dramatically changed the trajectory of his career.
Simmons last played during the 2024-25 season, splitting time between the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers. Across 51 games that season, he averaged 5.0 points, 5.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 22 minutes per game.
Now, Sacramento is betting that Simmons still has something left in the tank.
The Kings reportedly worked Simmons out and conducted medical evaluations before agreeing to the deal. Simmons has also spent part of the offseason training with Australia’s national team setup, where he reportedly looked healthy and unrestricted.
Sacramento could use Simmons primarily as a veteran playmaker and defensive presence. His ability to handle the ball at his size and defend multiple positions gives the Kings a skill set that is difficult to find.
The bigger question is whether Simmons can stay healthy and regain the confidence that made him one of the NBA’s brightest young stars.
His career averages remain impressive: 13.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game over 383 regular-season games.
Now, Simmons has another opportunity.
After everything that has happened over the past several years, the Sacramento Kings may be giving Ben Simmons one final chance to prove that the player who once looked destined for superstardom is still in there.
The comeback officially begins in Sacramento.
