Ben Simmons has agreed to a one-year contract with the Sacramento Kings, marking his return to the NBA after spending the 2025-26 season out of the league. The 30-year-old last played during the Los Angeles Clippers' 2025 first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, per Yahoo Sports.

Simmons' comeback represents a significant gamble for Sacramento. Yahoo Sports noted that the Kings and Simmons could be "exactly what each other need," though the outlet also cautioned that "it still might not work out." The Warriors were interested in acquiring Simmons before he signed with Sacramento, according to Yahoo Sports reporting.

One report noted that Simmons spent time away from professional basketball pursuing a fishing career, though he will now balance that interest with his NBA duties. Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel questioned whether other teams, including the Heat, should have taken a chance on the former All-Star, who has been an "unknown quantity" after injuries and ineffectiveness in previous seasons.