The Philadelphia 76ers recently learned that their former star guard Ben Simmons is indeed going to get a chance to make his NBA comeback.
It won’t be with the Sixers, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, or the New York Knicks. Simmons is going to take on a one-year deal with a rebuilding Sacramento Kings team. Although it seemed like joining a contender was the path that Simmons was heading down, the Kings offer a much different situation.
Is Ben Simmons building value just to leave?
The Kings don’t have to hold on to seasoned veterans for long. They recently cut ties with the multi-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan, and the future of Zach LaVine remains in question due to the state of the Kings. They are simply not seen as a competitive bunch in the Western Conference at this time.
While the Kings are great for Simmons this year—as he’ll enter a low-stakes environment in a small market with less pressure than some of the clubs mentioned before—some might see Simmons’ upcoming run with the Kings as an opportunity to build on his value before searching for a more competitive situation.
But Simmons doesn’t seem to be moving with that mindset. According to the ESPN NBA insider Marc J. Spears, Simmons is open to sticking with the Kings for the long haul if the situation feels right after the 2026-2027 NBA season. Described as a loyal guy, Simmons isn’t working with the mentality of driving up his value and bouncing.
“If they gave him the opportunity and he does well and they want him back, I think he’d want to stay,” Spears said on Sactown Sports 1140. Spears also noted that playing in a small NBA market after spending time in Philadelphia, New York (Brooklyn), and Los Angeles is something that Simmons is ready to fully embrace.
The right situation
Contrary to the national media’s belief, Simmons had a lot of support in Philadelphia all the way until he declared his time there was complete. Still, there was a lot of pressure playing in the City of Brotherly Love, especially since Simmons was the No. 1 pick on a team that was turning its rebuild around.
Simmons landed on a Brooklyn team that imploded quickly, and by the time he got to join the Los Angeles Clippers, his body simply wasn’t allowing him to play at the same level he once did with the Sixers. The league is down on Simmons, but the Kings are giving him a chance to rehab his basketball image. If it ends up working out for Simmons this upcoming season, he seems to be willing to stick with the Kings as he’s feeling a new sense of loyalty for their franchise after giving him this chance.
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