Ben Simmons returning to NBA: Kings taking upside swing as former No. 1 pick tries to salvage career

The Sacramento Kings have signed former No. 1 pick Ben Simmons, the team announced Tuesday. Simmons agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million deal, ESPN reported on Friday. The three-time NBA All-Star didn't play last season as he rehabilitated from lingering back and leg injuries

Simmons, 30, had been vocal this offseason about a potential NBA comeback. Last month, Simmons traveled to Melbourne to participate in the Australian national team's player-led minicamp. Simmons hasn't played for Australia's national team since he was a teenager back in 2013 and missed the last three Olympic cycles for various reasons. The last time Simmons played in the NBA was during the 2024-25 season, when he appeared in 51 games combined for the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers. Simmons averaged 5.0 points, 5.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds that season. Read More..