The latest Ben Simmons contract news has put the three-time NBA All-Star back in the league, with Simmons agreeing to a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Sacramento Kings. The agreement was reported Friday by ESPN’s Shams Charania and Marc J. Spears through Simmons’ representatives. The deal brings the former No. 1 overall pick back to the NBA after he sat out the entire 2025-26 season.
Simmons’ return represents another important chapter in a career that has included All-Star selections, All-NBA recognition, elite defensive performances and significant time away from the court. At 30 years old, he now has an opportunity to rebuild his NBA career in Sacramento and contribute to a Kings team preparing for the 2026-27 season.
Ben Simmons Contract With the Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings have agreed to a one-year contract worth $3.5 million with Ben Simmons, according to reports from his representatives. The agreement gives Simmons a chance to return to NBA competition after missing the 2025-26 campaign.
The contract is considerably different in scale from the massive deal Simmons previously signed during his time with the Philadelphia 76ers. His current agreement is instead a short-term opportunity for both the player and the Kings.
For Sacramento, the move provides a veteran addition without committing to a long-term contract. For Simmons, it offers a path back into the NBA and an opportunity to demonstrate that he can still make an impact at the highest level.
The reported value of the agreement also makes the signing notable from a roster-building perspective. The Kings can evaluate Simmons during the season while maintaining greater flexibility than they would have with a multiyear commitment.
As of the latest available reporting, the key details are:
- Team: Sacramento Kings
- Player: Ben Simmons
- Contract length: One year
- Reported value: $3.5 million
- NBA return: 2026-27 season
- Experience: Entering his 10th NBA season
- Previous season: Did not play in 2025-26
The agreement was reported on September 4, 2026, and represents Simmons’ first NBA contract since his time with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Why Ben Simmons Is Returning to the NBA
Simmons’ road back to the league has been unusual. After emerging as one of the NBA’s most versatile young players, injuries and extended absences significantly affected his availability.
He was selected first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2016 NBA Draft after playing one season at LSU. The 6-foot-10 guard-forward quickly established himself as a unique player because of his combination of size, ball-handling ability, passing and defensive versatility.
Simmons won Rookie of the Year after the 2017-18 season and developed into one of Philadelphia’s central players. He eventually became a three-time All-Star, earning selections in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
His best statistical season came in 2020-21, when he averaged 14.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists in 58 games. He was also selected to the All-Defensive First Team and finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
That version of Simmons was one of the NBA’s most unusual two-way players. His ability to defend multiple positions while functioning as a primary passer made him valuable even without being a high-volume scorer.
The challenge in recent years has been maintaining that level of availability.
Simmons’ Career Before the Kings
Simmons entered the NBA with enormous expectations. Philadelphia selected him with the first pick in 2016, making him the centerpiece of the franchise’s rebuilding effort.
Although a foot injury delayed his NBA debut, he made an immediate impact once he took the court. During his rookie season in 2017-18, Simmons averaged 15.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 8.2 assists and was named Rookie of the Year.
His passing was particularly important to his game. Despite being listed primarily as a forward-sized player, Simmons could initiate offense, push the ball in transition and create opportunities for teammates.
His career also produced several standout defensive seasons. In 2020-21, his combination of size, speed and anticipation helped make him one of the league’s premier perimeter defenders.
Simmons’ career numbers through his first seven seasons were substantial: 383 regular-season games, 13.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game, according to Basketball-Reference’s career data.
However, his availability became increasingly inconsistent.
The Impact of Injuries and Missed Time
Simmons did not play during the 2021-22 season while dealing with a back issue and his situation with Philadelphia. He was eventually traded to the Brooklyn Nets in the deal that sent James Harden to Philadelphia.
His time in Brooklyn was interrupted by additional physical problems. Simmons played 42 games during the 2022-23 season and only 15 games during the 2023-24 campaign.
He showed signs of returning to a more consistent role in 2024-25, playing 33 games for Brooklyn before finishing the season with the Clippers. Across 51 games that season, Simmons averaged 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists.
With Los Angeles, he appeared in 18 games and averaged 2.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 16.4 minutes per game.
Simmons then sat out the entire 2025-26 NBA season, making his agreement with Sacramento particularly significant.
What Simmons Can Bring to Sacramento
The Kings are not signing Simmons because of his scoring production alone. His greatest value historically has come from areas such as passing, transition play, rebounding and defense.
At his best, Simmons can operate as a large playmaker capable of initiating possessions without requiring the ball to be handled exclusively by a traditional point guard.
His defensive versatility could also be useful. Simmons has the physical tools to defend guards, wings and larger players, giving a coaching staff additional options when constructing defensive matchups.
His passing remains one of the strongest parts of his profile. A healthy Simmons can push the ball in transition, find teammates cutting toward the basket and create offense without relying heavily on isolation scoring.
That skill set could make his role particularly interesting in Sacramento.
The Kings’ upcoming season begins with a road game against the Clippers on October 21, followed by Sacramento’s home opener against Portland on October 23.
Why the $3.5 Million Contract Matters
The reported $3.5 million figure places the focus of the agreement on the opportunity rather than Simmons’ previous financial standing.
Earlier in his career, Simmons was viewed as a franchise-level player and eventually received a major long-term extension from Philadelphia. His current one-year agreement has a different purpose: it gives him a chance to return to NBA competition and potentially rebuild his market value.
For Sacramento, the relatively short commitment limits long-term risk. The Kings can see how Simmons performs after his extended absence before determining whether he remains part of their plans beyond the 2026-27 season.
That makes the Ben Simmons contract an important evaluation point for both sides.
If Simmons stays healthy and provides useful minutes, the arrangement could become a valuable addition for Sacramento. If his availability remains an issue, the one-year structure gives the team more flexibility than a longer commitment would have provided.
Simmons’ Role Could Be Different From His Earlier NBA Years
It would be unrealistic to assume Simmons will immediately return to the role he had during his All-Star seasons.
The NBA has changed since Simmons last played a major role for Philadelphia. His recent seasons have involved fewer minutes and substantially lower offensive production. Sacramento therefore has the opportunity to use him according to his current strengths rather than expecting him to recreate his previous statistical peak.
His potential role could include:
- Secondary playmaking
- Transition offense
- Defensive assignments against larger perimeter players
- Rebounding from the guard or forward position
- Half-court passing
- Veteran depth for the regular-season rotation
The most important factor may be availability. Simmons’ ability to stay on the floor will determine how much value the Kings ultimately receive from the contract.
Public Interest Surrounding Simmons’ NBA Return
Simmons remains one of the more recognizable names from his draft class because of how quickly he reached All-Star status and how dramatically his career trajectory later changed.
His return is therefore attracting attention beyond Sacramento.
Fans who remember Simmons as a dominant young playmaker are likely to watch closely to see how he performs after his year away from the NBA. The move also gives Kings supporters another experienced player to follow as Sacramento enters a new season.
The interest is not simply about statistics. Simmons’ return is also about whether a former All-NBA-level talent can establish a sustainable role later in his career.
His first opportunity will come during the Kings’ preseason and regular-season preparations, although his exact playing role and workload have not been officially established.
Latest Ben Simmons Contract Update
The latest confirmed development is that Simmons and Sacramento have agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million contract, according to reporting from his representatives.
Simmons is returning for his 10th NBA season after sitting out the entire 2025-26 campaign.
Reports also indicate that Simmons visited Sacramento before the agreement, completing medical examinations, an on-court workout and meetings with Kings coach Doug Christie and team personnel. He had also worked out for general manager Scott Perry in August.
Those developments indicate that Sacramento conducted a meaningful evaluation before agreeing to the deal.
There is currently no confirmed indication that Simmons will have a specific starting role, a particular minutes restriction or a guaranteed position within the regular rotation. Those details can become clearer as training camp and preseason activity progress.
What the Contract Means for Simmons’ Future
The one-year agreement gives Simmons a valuable opportunity to change the direction of his recent career.
His NBA résumé already includes significant achievements: first overall draft selection, Rookie of the Year honors, three All-Star selections and an All-NBA team selection. His defensive accomplishments are also part of his legacy.
But his most recent seasons have been defined by limited availability.
A successful season in Sacramento could therefore have consequences beyond the 2026-27 campaign. Consistent availability and productive minutes could strengthen Simmons’ position for future NBA opportunities.
At the same time, the Kings have little reason to rush his development. The organization can gradually determine how he fits into its system and how much responsibility he can handle.
For Simmons, the immediate objective is straightforward: get back on the court and establish himself as a reliable NBA contributor.
Final Thoughts on the Ben Simmons Contract
The Ben Simmons contract with Sacramento gives a former three-time All-Star another opportunity to continue his NBA career. The reported one-year, $3.5 million agreement is a relatively short commitment for the Kings and a potentially important fresh start for Simmons.
His career has already included some of the league’s highest individual honors, but injuries and missed seasons have made consistency difficult. Now, with Sacramento, he has another chance to show what he can contribute.
The upcoming season should provide the clearest indication of whether Simmons can turn this opportunity into a sustained NBA comeback.
What do you think about Ben Simmons’ return to the NBA and his new Kings contract? Share your thoughts and stay updated as his 2026-27 season develops.