Ben Simmons is getting another opportunity to prove himself in the NBA, and his comeback with the Sacramento Kings could come with a bigger role than many expected.
After missing the entire 2025-26 season, the former All-Star is reportedly in position to begin the upcoming campaign in Sacramento’s starting lineup.
According to Marc J. Spears of Andscape, Simmons is expected to start alongside rookie guard Darius Acuff when the Kings open their regular season against the Los Angeles Clippers on Oct. 21.
The development comes just days after Simmons made his return to NBA action, appearing in Sacramento’s preseason matchup against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday.
The 30-year-old finished with seven points and one assist in nine minutes during the Kings’ 111-106 loss. Although his playing time was limited, the appearance marked an important step for a player who had not competed in an NBA game since April 2025.
More importantly, Sacramento placed Simmons in the starting lineup for his first game back, offering an early indication of how the organization might use him this season. For Simmons, the opportunity represents another chapter in a career that has been filled with both impressive accomplishments and frustrating setbacks.
The former No. 1 overall pick entered the NBA with enormous expectations after being selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2016 draft.
During his early years in Philadelphia, Simmons established himself as one of the league’s most versatile players, earning three All-Star selections while becoming known for his passing, rebounding and defensive abilities.
However, injuries and inconsistent offensive production eventually changed the direction of his career. After leaving Philadelphia, Simmons struggled to regain his previous form during stops with the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers.
Recurring back and knee problems limited his availability, and he ultimately spent the entire 2025-26 season away from NBA competition.
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Now, Sacramento is giving him an opportunity to rebuild his career.
The Kings signed Simmons to a one-year, $3.5 million contract in September after general manager Scott Perry evaluated him during a workout in Miami. Sacramento is coming off a disappointing season in which it finished with a 22-60 record, leaving the organization searching for ways to become more competitive in the Western Conference.
Although Simmons may no longer be the player who once helped lead Philadelphia to the playoffs, his experience and versatility could still provide the Kings with something they have been missing.
At 6-foot-10, Simmons can handle the ball, initiate the offense and defend multiple positions. Those skills could make him especially valuable alongside Acuff, who is preparing for his first NBA season.
Rather than placing all of the playmaking responsibility on the rookie, Sacramento could use Simmons to help organize the offense while allowing Acuff to focus on scoring and developing his game.
Acuff has already expressed excitement about sharing the floor with the veteran.
“It makes it way easier for me,” Acuff told Spears when discussing playing alongside Simmons.
The rookie also praised Simmons’ speed and leadership, suggesting the former All-Star has already made a positive impression on his new teammates. Kings head coach Doug Christie has been equally encouraged by what he has seen.
“Ben can do everything,” Christie told Spears. “There’s no area that is off limits.”
Christie also highlighted Simmons’ ability to defend and play multiple positions, giving Sacramento flexibility as it experiments with different lineups during the preseason.
Still, earning a starting role is only part of the challenge.
For Simmons, the biggest question remains whether he can stay healthy and contribute consistently throughout an 82-game season. He has not appeared in more than 51 regular-season games since the 2020-21 campaign, when he played 58 games with Philadelphia.
According to Spears, Simmons hopes to play all 82 games this season, an ambitious goal considering the injuries that have interrupted his career.
The Kings are expected to gradually increase his workload during their remaining preseason games, giving the veteran an opportunity to build his conditioning before the regular season begins.
Simmons told Andscape that he felt confident after his first appearance and was encouraged by the progress he had made.
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For Sacramento, there is little doubt that a healthy Simmons could provide valuable experience to a team attempting to establish a new identity. However, whether he can maintain that level of availability and production remains to be seen.
The Kings are taking a chance on a player who was once considered one of the NBA’s brightest young stars.
And if Simmons can remain healthy and secure a consistent starting role, his return could become one of the more intriguing comeback stories of the upcoming season.