Ben Simmons is pushing back hard against the idea that his time away from the NBA meant he had fallen out of love with the game.
The Sacramento Kings guard addressed the criticism Monday, making it clear that his year away was about his body, not his desire to play. “I think that was moreso just my body.
It wasn't about if I wanted to play,” Simmons said, per ESPN. “All these people talked about (how) I don't love the game.
That's bullshit.
“I love this game. If I didn't, I wouldn't have taken that year to focus on myself and get back to where I'm at.”
Simmons entered the league with huge expectations as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 draft, and early on he looked every bit like a franchise cornerstone. At 6-foot-10, his passing and defensive range helped make him a central piece of the Philadelphia 76ers’ core.
His first four seasons brought a strong run of accolades: Rookie of the Year, three All-Star selections and two All-Defensive first-team honors. But back problems started to chip away at that momentum, and over the next four seasons he was limited to 51 games or fewer each year.
Most recently, Simmons averaged five points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 51 games split between the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers in the 2024-25 season.
He sat out all of last season while recovering, and now says he’s finally in a place where he can return. “I'm right where I need to be,” Simmons told reporters at Kings media day, including James Ham of ESPN 1320 Sacramento. “I took a lot of time to focus on my body over the season, and I think it was the best ... decision I've made for my career.
In Other News...
Kings Interest In Jalen Duren Just Got A Lot More Serious
Jalen Durens contract situation in Detroit has suddenly become one of the more interesting plot lines on Sacramentos radar. After declining a five-year offer from the Pistons, he is now in a stalemate with the team as Thursdays deadline to accept a one-year qualifying offer approaches. For the Kings, that only sharpens the appeal of a big man who has already drawn mutual interest from Sacramento, whether through a trade or a future free-agent pursuit.
The catch is the same one that has shadowed Sacramentos pursuit from the start: the Kings do not have the cap room to sign Duren to a max deal right now. So the focus has turned to creating a path, and that has reportedly included exploring a Domantas Sabonis trade to clear the necessary space. If Sacramento can get that flexibility, Duren becomes a much more realistic target either before or during the 2026 season, or when he reaches free agency in 2027. [Read more 🡒]
Kings New-Look Roster Is Already Fueling A Brutal 2026-27 Debate
On The Matt George Podcast, Josh Lloyd of Locked On Fantasy Basketball took a long look at where the Kings could be headed in 2026-27, and his read was not exactly comforting. He pointed to the possibility of defensive issues lingering on a roster that is still trying to sort out its identity, even as the front office adds new pieces and hopes the fit improves.
Lloyd also raised questions about whether newcomers Darius Acuff Jr. and DeAndre Hunter will live up to the expectations attached to them, which only adds to the uncertainty around Sacramentos next step. And if the Kings do decide Domantas Sabonis is part of the answer they want to move off of, Lloyd suggested they may have to be more realistic about the trade return than they would like. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Final Two-Way Spot May Be Down To One Young Guard
The Kings have brought Tristen Newton into 2024 training camp, putting the former UConn guard squarely in the mix for one of the team's two-way openings. Newton arrives with a G League-heavy resume and some real pedigree, since he was a 2024 second-round pick by the Pacers before Sacramento picked up his rights in a trade involving the Stockton Kings.
For a roster still sorting out its final developmental spot, Newton is the kind of player worth a long look: young, experienced in the G League grind, and familiar enough to the organization through the Stockton connection. He also went on to earn All-NBA G League First Team honors in 2026, which only adds to the intrigue around whether the Kings see him as the right fit for that last two-way slot. [Read more 🡒]