Ben Simmons is back in the league, but one new prediction about his Sacramento run is already turning heads for all the wrong reasons.
After signing a one-year deal with the Kings this summer, the former 76ers star now has to earn his place in training camp. His contract is non-guaranteed for next season, which makes this comeback bid feel like a real proving ground. Still, Richard Jefferson went a step further and said Simmons could make the All-Star team next season.
That’s a lot to unpack for a player coming off a full-season sabbatical, carrying injury concerns, and working his way back on a deal that doesn’t even guarantee him a roster spot. Yet Jefferson’s view is exactly what has been making the rounds.
The case for Simmons in Sacramento starts with the setting. The Kings are in a spot where he can be more of himself again, and the team does not appear to have playoff expectations next season. With a youth movement already pushing forward, Simmons may not have the kind of pressure cooker he faced elsewhere.
Jefferson’s argument leans heavily on Simmons’ defense, with the idea that he can still be an all-around force on that end. Even so, that alone doesn’t make the All-Star leap any less of a stretch, especially in the loaded Western Conference.
There’s also the matter of role. Sacramento drafted Darius Acuff Jr. this offseason, and he is expected to handle the point guard duties going forward. That leaves Simmons looking more like a second-string option, which makes the All-Star projection even harder to buy.
For Simmons, the more realistic goal is simply getting his footing back. The All-Star talk feels miles ahead of where he is right now. What matters most is showing he can still affect winning without needing to be carefully managed every step of the way.
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