Ben Simmons agrees to 1-year, $3.5M deal with Kings
Ben Simmons has agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Sacramento Kings, returning to the NBA after sitting out the entire 2025-26 season, according to ESPN. The former No. 1 overall pick visited Sacramento for medical exams and workouts before finalizing the deal for 2026-27.
Per ESPN’s Shams Charania and Marc Spears, as reported by Bleacher Report, ben simmons is headed back after a full season away. The agreement gives Sacramento a versatile veteran option ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.
Key Takeaways
- Simmons agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Sacramento Kings.
- He sat out all of 2025-26 and did not sign with any team that season.
- He visited Sacramento for medical exams, an on-court workout, and meetings with coach Doug Christie.
- In late August, he also worked out for general manager Scott Perry.
- The Kings need ball-handling depth after trading De’Aaron Fox and alongside rookie Darius Acuff Jr.
What deal did Ben Simmons agree to with the Kings?
Simmons locked in a one-year contract worth $3.5 million with Sacramento. The pact is a short-term bet for both sides: the Kings get a low-cost addition with size and playmaking, while Simmons gets a path back onto an NBA roster.
Charania reported that Simmons traveled to Sacramento on Monday for in-depth medical exams, an on-court workout, and meetings with Christie and other staffers. Earlier, in late August, he worked out for GM Scott Perry and met with him for about an hour.
Why does Ben Simmons’ NBA return matter now?
Once the No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft, Simmons built All-Star-caliber momentum with Philadelphia before injuries slowed him. He has played 60 or fewer games every season since 2020-21 and missed all of 2021-22.
In 2024-25, he logged 51 games between the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers—his most since 2020-21—averaging 5.0 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.7 rebounds. He then stayed unsigned through 2025-26 while prioritizing health.
In December, he told The Athletic’s Sam Jane he would not return until he felt “bulletproof.” By June, he told Men’s Health he was working toward a comeback and floated Philadelphia and Miami as possible landing spots. Sacramento ultimately won out.
Fans tracking roster moves and where to follow Kings games can browse related coverage in our Streaming & TV Alerts hub.
How does Ben Simmons fit Sacramento’s roster?
Bleacher Report notes the Kings have been short on floor generals since trading Fox to San Antonio. Simmons can help fill that void alongside Acuff.
He is no longer an All-Star-caliber scorer, but he still offers passing, positional size, and defensive versatility. At $3.5 million for one year, Sacramento gets upside without a long-term commitment—and Simmons gets a clear stage to prove his comeback is real.