By Alex Molina / amolina@eurohoops.net
Three-time NBA All-Star Ben Simmons has agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Sacramento Kings, marking his return to the league after sitting out the entire 2025-26 season.
As Shams Charania announced, Simmons, 30, is set to begin his 10th NBA season with Sacramento after reaching an agreement with the Kings, according to his agents Max Wiepking, Sean Tribe and Ryan Arney.
The former All-NBA selection has spent the past several months focused on getting his health and game back on track. His return to Sacramento comes after a series of evaluations and workouts designed to assess both his physical condition and his ability to contribute on the court.
Simmons traveled to Sacramento on Monday, where he underwent extensive medical examinations, participated in an on-court workout and met with head coach Doug Christie and other members of the Kings’ coaching and basketball operations staff.
The Kings had already been monitoring Simmons closely. In late August, he worked out for general manager Scott Perry and subsequently met with Perry for approximately an hour, according to sources familiar with the situation.
The feedback surrounding Simmons has been encouraging. People within the Kings organization, as well as officials with Team Australia, have reported that the veteran guard has looked strong physically and feels healthy.
Simmons also participated in a players-only minicamp with Team Australia last month, providing another opportunity to demonstrate his current fitness and basketball readiness.
Once regarded as one of the NBA’s most versatile young stars, Simmons was selected first overall in the 2016 NBA Draft and quickly established himself as an elite defender and playmaker. He earned three All-Star selections and was named to an All-NBA team during his time with the Philadelphia 76ers.
His career, however, has been disrupted in recent years by injuries and other health issues, limiting him to just 15 games during the 2024-25 season before he remained sidelined throughout the 2025-26 campaign.
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