Ben Simmons Signs One-Year Deal With Sacramento Kings

Ben Simmons has signed a one-year contract with the Sacramento Kings for the 2026-27 season, according to reporting from The Guardian. The deal, valued at US$3.5 million (AU$4.9 million), marks a return to professional basketball for the Melbourne-born guard after he spent the entire 2025-26 campaign sidelined to rehabilitate leg and back injuries.

Simmons, who last appeared in an NBA game in April 2025 with the Los Angeles Clippers, is attempting to revive a career that has been heavily impacted by health issues. Since the 2018-19 season, he has not played more than 58 games in a single year. Over 383 career games with the Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers, and Philadelphia 76ers, Simmons has averaged 7.2 assists, 7.4 rebounds, 13.1 points, and 1.5 steals.

Before agreeing to terms with Sacramento, The Guardian reports that Simmons drew serious interest from the Golden State Warriors and the reigning champion New York Knicks. The move also serves as a potential pathway back to the Australian Boomers national team under coach Adam Caporn for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and next year's Fiba World Cup in Qatar.

Sacramento enters the new season following a 22-60 record last year, which placed them 14th in the Western Conference. The Kings will begin their pre-season at home against the Los Angeles Lakers on October 5, followed by a regular-season opener against the Clippers on October 21.