Ben Simmons has a new NBA home, and it’s a landing spot that makes more sense than it first sounds.
The former Philadelphia 76ers star is set to continue his comeback with the Sacramento Kings, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Simmons is signing a one-year deal worth $3.5 million for the upcoming season.
Sacramento wasn’t one of the teams Simmons initially pointed to when he talked about his return months ago. In an exclusive interview, he said he had his eye on the 76ers and the Miami Heat.
Philadelphia was the eyebrow-raising choice, especially after Simmons forced his way out of town in 2022. But the landscape in Philly changed over time, including the firings of Doc Rivers and Daryl Morey, and that may have altered how Simmons viewed things.
Still, the Sixers had moved on to other priorities. They traded for Jaylen Brown and signed LeBron James, while their 14th roster spot went to veteran Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as they looked for a backup center or a wing option.
Miami, meanwhile, never looked like a natural fit for Simmons. The Heat need shooting, and that has never been his calling card. Across seven NBA seasons, Simmons has taken only 34 shots from beyond the arc.
That’s part of why Sacramento could actually be the cleaner fit. The Kings are in a rebuilding situation, not a win-now race, and that gives Simmons room to ease back in without the kind of immediate pressure he would face on a contender. There’s no playoff expectation hanging over the 2026-2027 season, and that matters for a player trying to rebuild his NBA image.
He also steps into a roster that should give him a defined role. Sacramento is expected to lean on rookie Darius Acuff, with Simmons positioned to back him up and become the team’s most experienced ball-handler.
Before everything unraveled in Philadelphia, Simmons was operating as a star-level point guard. Even without a jumper, he averaged 15.9 points, 7.7 assists and 8.1 rebounds per game with the Sixers. He also built a résumé that included Rookie of the Year, three All-Star selections, All-NBA honors and a place in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year.
Things never fully came together after that. Simmons had trouble staying healthy and keeping his rhythm with the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers. Now, after a year away, the 30-year-old is healthy again and trying to get his career moving in the right direction with Sacramento.
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