Ben Simmons Kings Contract: What His Comeback Requires
Ben Simmons is coming back to the NBA. The three-time All-Star has agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Sacramento Kings, ending a full season away from the league.
Simmons last played during the 2024-25 season, splitting time between the Brooklyn Nets and LA Clippers and averaging 5.0 points, 5.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 22.0 minutes across 51 games. He sat out all of 2025-26. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Simmons visited Sacramento for medical exams, an on-court workout and meetings with head coach Doug Christie and staff before the sides came to terms. The deal marks Simmons’ return for a 10th NBA season. As of this writing, the agreement is a reported deal pending official confirmation by the Kings.
Sacramento gives Simmons a landing spot with real short-term incentive on both sides: a one-year deal at the minimum tier lets him try to rebuild his value without committing either side beyond this season. At his best, Simmons is a 6-foot-10 forward-guard hybrid who can defend multiple positions, push the ball in transition and set up shooters, tools that translate regardless of what the rest of Sacramento’s rotation looks like on opening night.
The bigger question is how much Simmons has left after sitting out a full season. A one-year, minimum-level deal gives both sides a low-cost way to find out, with training camp opening leaguewide on Sept. 29 as the first real test.