Ben Simmons Joins Kings on $3.5 Million One-Year Deal, Perhaps Only the Beginning of His Redemption Story

Ben Simmons joining the Kings could become one of the most surprising turning points in NBA history.

Veteran guard Ben Simmons' one-year contract with the Kings may only be the beginning of his redemption story.

After completing offseason workouts with the Sacramento Kings this summer, the three-time All-Star guard returned to the NBA. Simmons signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Kings, which will take effect in the 2026-27 season. His last stint was with the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2024-25 season, where he played only 18 games after being traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the Clippers.

Simmons' form declined during his time with the Philadelphia 76ers, and he never fully returned to his previous level afterward. During his time with the 76ers, he was selected as an All-Star for three consecutive years from 2019 to 2021. The 2017 Rookie of the Year also made the All-Defensive Team twice (2020-21 season) and was named to the All-NBA Third Team in 2020. Although he missed the 2021-22 season because of a back injury, the 2021 playoffs became a turning point in his career.

In Game 7 of the 2021 Eastern Conference semifinals series between the 76ers and Atlanta Hawks, a best-of-seven series, Simmons passed up an open layup opportunity during a crucial moment in the fourth quarter, and the 76ers eventually lost 96-103, ending their season. His extremely poor free-throw shooting, going 15-for-45 from the line throughout the series, led people to speculate whether he feared being fouled and forced back to the free-throw line in the final minutes of Game 7.

To make matters worse, Rivers neither confirmed nor denied it.

“I don’t know the answer right now,” Rivers said. The remark further intensified doubts about whether Simmons could maintain a high level of performance under pressure.

Public scrutiny severely affected Simmons' confidence, and he struggled to overcome the situation, which eventually showed in his declining performance. His shooting ability then came under question. Two years after signing a five-year, $170 million maximum contract extension with the 76ers, his shooting ability drew even more criticism, along with his disappointing performance against the Hawks in the 2021 playoffs.

In his first season with the Nets (2022-23 season), Simmons averaged 6.9 points (56.6% shooting from the field and zero three-point attempts), 6.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. Two seasons later, the Nets traded him to the Clippers. Now, after missing the entire 2025-26 season, Ben Simmons is returning to the NBA.

Joining the Kings gives Ben Simmons an ideal opportunity for a comeback and a chance to prove himself. After all, who does not love an inspirational story? Especially in sports, Simmons has the opportunity to prove his doubters wrong and have the last laugh. After Russell Westbrook declined a one-year contract from the Kings and chose to retire, the Kings signed Simmons, and Sacramento NBA fans will closely watch his performance next season.

Simmons does not face tremendous pressure to prove himself. Last season, the Kings finished tied for the bottom of the Western Conference with the Utah Jazz at 22-60. They had a relatively quiet summer and eventually signed Simmons to a veteran minimum contract.

How Ben Simmons scores for the Kings in the 2026-27 season will become a major topic of discussion. However, since he decided to return to the NBA, there is reason to believe he has worked hard to address his shortcomings, especially after extensive summer training with the Kings. Assuming three-point shooting is not part of his new strategy, Simmons can still bring other abilities to the team.

He is a tall guard with excellent playmaking ability and strong defensive skills, and he has just turned 30 years old. The Kings' signing of Simmons is undoubtedly a low-risk, high-reward move that will become one of the most intriguing storylines of next season. If Simmons can return to the level of the All-Star guard he was five years ago, it would become one of the most memorable NBA comeback stories of his era.