Ben Simmons signs one-year deal with Kings

Ben Simmons is returning to the NBA after agreeing to a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Sacramento Kings, the team announced on September 4, 2026. The deal brings the former No. 1 overall pick and three-time All-Star back to the league after he spent the entire 2025-26 season away from basketball, rehabilitating chronic back and leg injuries. Simmons, who is 30 years old, last played during the 2024-25 season, splitting time between the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers. He averaged 5.0 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game across 51 appearances, all career lows. After that season, he did not receive an offer and chose to sit out the following year to focus on his health. During his time away, Simmons also pursued a passion for sport fishing, becoming a co-owner and angler for the South Florida Sails Angling Club. His comeback gained momentum in August 2026 when he participated in a player-led training camp for the Australian national team in Melbourne. The camp, which included NBA players like Josh Giddey and Patty Mills, allowed Simmons to showcase his improved fitness to league personnel.