Ben Simmons is starting to look like the player Sacramento hoped it was getting.
That case got stronger in the Kings’ preseason finale Friday against the San Antonio Spurs, when Simmons turned in his most complete showing of the exhibition slate. In 35 minutes across the preseason, he has flashed enough of his old edge to get people talking again - including Hall of Famer Chris Webber, who believes the 10-year veteran could win Comeback Player of the Year.
Against San Antonio, Simmons scored 14 points on 5-for-9 shooting and went 4-for-4 at the foul line. He also pulled down eight rebounds and handed out seven assists, a stat line that fit the kind of all-around impact Sacramento wants from him.
More important than the numbers was the way he played. Coach Doug Christie put him in the starting five, and Simmons attacked with purpose, looking to score by getting downhill. The Spurs had no answer for the 6-foot-10 forward’s right-handed push shot, and he also knocked down a fading mid-range jumper.
He did damage as a passer too, especially in transition. Simmons repeatedly helped push the ball quickly into Sacramento’s fast-break offense, finding Acuff and LaVine multiple times along the way. That kind of playmaking is part of why the Kings believe they have the pieces to become one of the league’s better transition teams this season.
For Simmons, this surge has been a long time coming. The 30-year-old sat out last season to focus on recovery and rebuild his confidence. Lower-back injuries had limited him severely with the Brooklyn Nets from 2022 to 2025, costing him more than half of his games over that stretch.
The version Brooklyn got was far from the one that once made him an All-Star, All-NBA and All-Defense player. He was hesitant to look for his own shot, averaging just five attempts per game, a steep drop from his Philadelphia days. The injuries clearly took a toll, and he stepped away to reset.
Simmons had said he wanted to play the game at a high level and get his back right. He used that time last season for himself, then decided he was ready to come back this offseason.
Sacramento saw enough to make a move. The Kings were interested in bringing him in on a veteran’s minimum, and last month they signed him to a one-year, $3.5 million deal.
He made an impression in camp, drawing praise from coaches and teammates, and the anticipation around him only grew as preseason neared. Christie managed his workload and rested him at times to protect his health and keep him ready for opening night.
Even with just two preseason games under his belt, Simmons has given Sacramento a real glimpse of what he can still be. He has already moved ahead of De’Andre Hunter and Precious Achiuwa for the fifth starting spot for next Wednesday’s season opener.
It’s still preseason, and the sample is small. But if this version of Simmons carries over into the regular season, the Comeback Player of the Year chatter won’t feel like a stretch at all.
In Other News...
Kings End Preseason With A Problem Fans Cant Ignore
The Kings closed preseason with another rough night, dropping a 126-97 decision to the Spurs and extending a five-game skid that leaves little question about how uneven these final tune-ups were. Sacramento opened with Darius Acuff Jr., Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray, Ben Simmons, and Domantas Sabonis, but San Antonio seized control early and never really let the Kings settle in.
The bigger concern was how one-sided the game became in the areas that usually travel well into the regular season. The Spurs owned the glass 61-38 and buried 17 three-pointers, while Sacramento managed only three, a spread that underscored how far off the Kings looked at both ends. Preseason results only matter so much, but this was the kind of finish fans notice because it exposed the same kinds of issues that can linger if they are not cleaned up quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Opening Lineup Looks Set But One Concern Still Looms
The Kings appear to be closing in on a starting group for the new season, with Darius Acuff Jr., Zach LaVine, Ben Simmons, Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis lining up as the most likely opening five. It is a look that brings more clarity than Sacramento had at times last year, when injuries and constant roster shuffling kept the team from ever settling into much of a rhythm.
Even so, there is still a layer of uncertainty hanging over the roster. Rookie center Maxime Raynaud is already dealing with a preseason injury, and at least two starters are considered possible trade candidates, which means the group the Kings open with may not be the one they carry very far into the season. For a team trying to turn stability into real traction, health and cohesion may end up mattering as much as talent. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Preseason Created A Real Rotation Debate Before Opening Night
The Kings left preseason with plenty to sort through, and not much of it was flattering on the scoreboard. Sacramento went 0-5, losing by an average of 14.8 points, but the exhibition slate still offered a clearer look at the roster battle taking shape before opening night. Darius Acuff Jr. emerged as the team's top scorer in preseason action, giving the Kings a promising glimpse at what the rookie point guard might become as the regular season approaches.
Ben Simmons also made a case for more minutes after sitting out the previous season, and Jonathan Mogbo turned heads on a two-way contract with encouraging play. The tricky part for Sacramento is figuring out where that leaves everyone else, especially De'Andre Hunter, who struggled enough that his role could shrink if the Kings lean more heavily on Simmons and the other players who outperformed him in exhibition play. [Read more 🡒]