Ben Simmons is headed to Sacramento on a one-year deal, giving the Kings a low-cost swing on a former No. 1 pick who is trying to restart his career.
Simmons agreed to a $3.5 million contract with the Kings, his agents told ESPN on Friday. The three-time All-Star point guard is coming back after missing the 2025-26 campaign while recovering from chronic back issues.
The 30-year-old’s last action came with the Los Angeles Clippers, where he appeared in 18 games in March and April of 2025. Reports last month said Simmons was healthy, practicing without restrictions and aiming for an NBA return. He is also hoping to play for Team Australia at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Simmons entered the league as the No. 1 overall pick in 2016, taken by Philadelphia out of LSU. He did not make his NBA debut until a year later because of injury, but once he got on the floor he made an immediate impact, winning Rookie of the Year in 2017-18. He also earned two All-Defensive selections before injuries began to pile up again.
The availability has been the biggest issue. Simmons has not played more than 58 games in a season since 2018-19.
Across 383 career games, including 344 starts, Simmons has averaged 13.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.5 steals. His career has run through Philadelphia from 2017-21, Brooklyn from 2022-25 and then the Clippers.
Sacramento opens preseason on Oct. 5 against the Los Angeles Lakers at home, then starts the regular season on Oct. 21 at the Los Angeles Clippers.
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