Ben Simmons returns to the NBA with an unexpected signing after being left without a team

Ben Simmons is back in the NBA. The three-time All-Star has finally found a team after a season away from the courts and has reached a one-year, $3.5 million agreement with the Sacramento Kings, according to his agents Max Wiepking, Sean Tribe, and Ryan Arney, as reported by Andscape and Shams Charania of ESPN.

The Australian returns to competition after missing the 2025-26 season to recover from persistent physical issues, mainly in his back and leg. Now, the Kings offer him an opportunity to relaunch a career that has been marked by injuries and difficulties in finding continuity in recent years.

The Kings bet on Simmons' recovery

Sacramento had been looking for solutions for their point guard position after finishing last season with a record of 22-60, tied for the worst record in the Western Conference.

The franchise waived DeMar DeRozan's contract in July and chose not to re-sign Russell Westbrook, leaving a significant gap in the rotation. Simmons now appears as an experienced alternative with considerable potential if he can regain his best form.

The 2.08-meter, 109-kilo player impressed Kings general manager Scott Perry during a workout held in Miami. Subsequently, the two had a meeting of approximately an hour at the end of August.

Simmons also traveled to Sacramento to tour the franchise's facilities. There, he convinced coach Doug Christie and other members of his coaching staff during a workout held on Monday, in addition to passing a thorough medical examination.

Sacramento's response came quickly: they offered him a contract.

He will be the backup point guard for Darius Acuff Jr.

The Kings' plan for Simmons is quite clear. The franchise expects him to be the backup point guard for rookie Darius Acuff Jr., although his versatility could allow him to play practically any position on the court.

Simmons has unusual characteristics for a player of his size. His ability to handle the ball, defend, and facilitate play allows him to act in various positions, and Sacramento aims to take advantage of that versatility.

The goal is for him to be able to play from positions 1 to 5 as circumstances require.

For the Kings, therefore, this is not just about recovering a player who was once an All-Star. It also means bringing in a veteran who can help develop a young roster.

The expected role for Simmons

His performance with Australia rekindled interest

Simmons' recovery began to generate positive signals during the summer. The player participated in early August in a minicamp with the Australian men's national team, and his performance caught the attention of several franchises.

The Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors expressed interest in the player, and there was a possibility that one of them would offer him an invitation to training camp.

However, the Kings were ultimately the only team that took the definitive step and offered him a contract.

Simmons, according to a source quoted in the information, is particularly excited about the possibility of playing in Sacramento and believes that the franchise can provide him with the support and opportunity he needs to demonstrate his level again.

A return after a complicated year

The last year has been particularly important for Simmons. The player decided not to participate in the 2025-26 season to focus on recovering from his back and leg issues.

His career had already suffered several significant stops. He missed the 2016-17 season due to a foot injury and subsequently was out for the entire 2021-22 campaign due to a combination of physical problems, personal issues, and his contractual situation with Philadelphia.

Now he is trying to leave all that behind.

In July, Simmons told Andscape that he was better than ever and ready to return to the NBA. A few months later, the Kings have given him the opportunity to prove it.

From number 1 in the Draft to a new opportunity

Simmons' trajectory explains why his return generates so much excitement.

The Philadelphia 76ers selected him with the number 1 pick in the 2016 Draft after his college career at LSU. Although he had to wait until 2017-18 to compete in his first official season, he quickly demonstrated why he had been chosen at the top of the draft.

He was named Rookie of the Year in 2018 and subsequently made three All-Star selections, in addition to being included in the NBA's first defensive team in 2020.

Throughout his career, he has averaged 13.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 1.5 steals in 383 regular-season games with Philadelphia, Brooklyn, and the LA Clippers.

However, his last stretch was far from that level.

His last stint with the Clippers

After the Brooklyn Nets waived his contract in February 2025, Simmons finished the season with the LA Clippers.

In 18 games, he averaged only 2.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists, in addition to playing limited minutes while continuing to deal with back problems.

His last NBA game was the fifth game of the first round of the playoffs against the Denver Nuggets.

Since then, Simmons had not returned to compete in the league.

Simmons' numbers in the NBA

Sacramento offers him a chance to start over

Simmons' situation is very different from what he experienced during his best years in Philadelphia. He no longer arrives as a star around whom to build a franchise, but as a veteran who needs to prove that he can still be significant in the NBA.

Precisely for that reason, the agreement with Sacramento could prove beneficial for both parties.

The Kings need depth and experience at the point guard position, while Simmons needs minutes, confidence, and continuity to try to regain some of the level that made him one of the league's most promising players.

The team hopes that his experience will also help Darius Acuff Jr., who was selected seventh in the last draft, during his first professional season.

After a whole year away from the court, Ben Simmons finally has a new opportunity. Sacramento will be the stage where he tries to prove that he still has a lot of basketball to offer.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Ben Simmons vuelve a la NBA con un fichaje inesperado tras quedarse sin equipo