According to ESPN, the Sacramento Kings have inked former All-Star guard Ben Simmons to a one-year, $3.5 million deal. After a brutal 22-60 season, the Kings lost DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook in the offseason—two guards gone. So they’re rolling the dice on Simmons, likely plugging him in as the backup point guard for rookie Darius Acuff Jr. And here’s the thing: Simmons can guard positions one through five, and at 30 years old, he’s still in his prime, at least on paper.

　　Simmons missed the entire 2025-26 season with back and leg issues. But after nearly a year of rehab, he got back on the floor. In early August, he showed up at Australia’s national team minicamp, played well, and his stock started creeping up. The Timberwolves and Warriors both kicked the tires, but the Kings were the only NBA team to actually put a contract on the table.

　　Last season, Sacramento tied for the worst record in the West. They let DeRozan go in July, didn’t re-sign Westbrook, and suddenly the guard rotation was paper-thin. So the plan is simple: let Simmons back up Acuff, and let him slide from point guard to center when needed. For the Kings, it’s a high-upside gamble—a chance to reboot a former star’s career. And honestly, 30 isn’t old in today’s league.

　　As for Simmons himself, he says he feels as healthy as he has in years. In an interview with Andscape in July, he insisted he’s ready to be back in the NBA. His last game was April 29, 2025, playing for the Clippers against the Nuggets in Game 5 of the first round. Over 383 regular-season games with the Sixers, Nets, and Clippers, he averaged 13.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 1.5 steals. After being bought out by Brooklyn in February 2025, he played 18 games for L.A., putting up 2.9 points, 3.8 boards, and 3.1 assists in limited minutes while fighting through back pain. Not great numbers, but the upside is still there.

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