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The Draymond Green Show: Draymond reacts to Ben Simmons returning to the NBA and signing with the Kings "He got off to a very promising start and then a lot of people tried to blame his game and not his injuries... when I look at this signing, I think this is great for Darius Acuff, let's face it, Ben Simmons is Ben Simmons, this will take some of the pressure off Darius Acuff... for a GM that knows as much as Scott Perry does, that's one of the deciding factor, if not THE deciding factor behind this move."
He argued that players who struggle with pressure, poor form, criticism from fans and media, or the general stress of the game should not simply be able to leave and return when circumstances improve. The comments were reshares by the IG Leaguealerts, and Simmons responded directly in the comments with a blunt defense of his absence. “Walk away….?? I played two years not physically right.This ain’t no hand out. I worked my as- off to be in this position…. And I’m very grateful to even be in position to play the game I fucking love! Yall will continue to make up stories for your own benefits and that’s more telling about who yall are.”
"What should our expectations be for Ben Simmons?" Richard Jefferson: "I think you should have no expectations. There are certain basketball, just like many other sports, as much as it is physical, it is mental. Ben's always have the talent. Ben has the talent to be an All-Star this year. If Ben goes and has the best season, he's healthy, his back is right, he has the talent to be an all-defensive player, to be a defensive player of the year level talent because he can guard one through five positions."
Patrick Beverley: "I don't think it's fair that you can quit the game of basketball and come back. You can quit when not having a ton of success. You can quit because the game is hard and it's stressful when you're not playing well and the fans are on you and the media is on you, you can quit and have an opportunity to come back. When we've been looking at Victor Oladipo, who's been competing, who's been degrading himself, went to the G League, we witnessed Victor Oladipo work out in front of a ton of coaches and GMs and writing letters. This is the guy you pick? No disrespect from Ben Simmons, you feel me? Like I'm not with quitting the game of basketball because it's hard at the time and because I'm not playing right, I don't feel right. Everywhere I go, it's an issue and an excuse. I'm injured, and I understand injury, but to quit the game of basketball and to come back to get an opportunity, and you got Cam Thomas who don't have a job, who like putting in that work year after year and like a guy can just quit and come back anytime. I don't I don't like that at all."
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Michael Scotto: Update: Ben Simmons has signed a one-year, non-guaranteed deal worth up to $3.5 million with the Sacramento Kings, per sources. If he makes the opening night roster, he’ll earn $1 million. The 30-year-old, 3-time All-Star is making an NBA comeback. ESPN was first on an agreement.
Marc Stein: The Kings today officially signed Ben Simmons to a one-year deal. The Kings, per their official press release, are listing the three-time NBA All-Star as a 6-foot-10 guard.
David Patrick on Ben Simmons: "Being off a year and a half gives you a new lease on life so to speak. It also takes less miles off your body, so he's 30, but he's basically a year and a half off in terms of the pounding of the NBA, and I think his hunger for the game is back. It's easy when you've been the number one pick, you've been a multi-time All-Star, you've been a defensive player, you get all those accolades quick and you think it comes easy, and I think like any young man or woman, you take some things for granted, so I think he's in a different space."
David Patrick: "People thought Ben Simmons was going to be the next LeBron, on Magic, or whatever the case may be, and I think that's where their frustration comes. I always say, if you told me this kid would be a one-time All-Star and a number one pick, that's success, and to do that and make the money he's got and to continue to want to play basketball, I think speaks volumes to him as a kid and a competitor."
According to his godfather, David Patrick, who currently serves as an associate head coach at Arizona State, Simmons' hunger for basketball appears to be returning to the level it was during his best years with the Philadelphia 76ers. Patrick also suggested that Simmons has become much more comfortable shooting from deep, confidently taking threes in live situations without worrying about whether they go in. "His hunger for the game is back," Patrick said on the Matt & Kayla Show on Sactown Sports 1140. "He comes to camp, he's shooting threes in live play, doesn't care whether they make or miss… That swagger, that confidence that he once had, is back," he added.
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Legion Hoops: REPORT: Ben Simmons is open to a long-term stay with the Kings, per @MarcJSpears. “One thing he likes about Sacramento is… he’s never played in a small market and sometimes that’s a safer haven. You go to Sacramento, it’s about basketball. I’d put their fans up there with anyone in the world.” (via @Sactown1140)
The Kings, who took Acuff at No. 7 out of Arkansas in the June draft, were reportedly interested in veterans such as Russell Westbrook (who opted to retire) and Victor Oladipo before opting for Simmons. And so the latest Simmons experiment begins — again. The Kings weren’t the only team considering Simmons, as league sources say the Knicks and Warriors were also in the mix.
Simmons, the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, missed three full seasons for both physical and mental health reasons and was sidelined for more than half of his 10 years in the league (383 regular-season games played in all). He is expected to offer depth at point guard for the rebuilding Kings behind rookie Darius Acuff Jr.
Shams Charania: Just in: Three-time All-Star Ben Simmons has agreed on a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Sacramento Kings, his agents Max Wiepking, Sean Tribe and Ryan Arney tell me and @MarcJSpears . The one-time All-NBA star is back in the NBA for a 10th season after sitting out 2025-26.
