Sacramento Kings general manager Scott Perry says Ben Simmons is healthy and motivated to return to the NBA because he misses competing and being part of a team.
Simmons signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with Sacramento after sitting out the entire 2025-26 season. The three-time All-Star is now preparing for a comeback with the Kings, who plan to use him as the backup to rookie point guard Darius Acuff Jr., according to Marc Spears.
Perry recently explained what convinced Sacramento to pursue Simmons and what the veteran guard told him about his motivation to return.
“Ben Simmons is healthy now and he is really looking to make a comeback in the game. It is really interesting, just looking for the right place,” Perry said on Sactown Sports 1140, via HoopsHype.
After connecting with Simmons, Perry traveled to Miami to watch him work out and spend time with him away from the court.
“This is important, watching him work out, getting a chance to spend an hour or so with him just talking and hearing from him about his journey, also asking him why, what is his why now?” Perry said.
According to Perry, Simmons emphasized that his health and desire to play again were the primary reasons behind his comeback attempt.
“A couple of things that came out right away from him is that, hey, Scott, this is the first time I have been healthy in two years,” Perry said. “And secondly, and probably most importantly, obviously the health being very important, but his mental, he said, I just miss playing basketball.”
Perry added that Simmons wants to compete again and contribute to an NBA team.
“I miss competing, I miss being part of a team and I just want to be able to contribute to a team and get back to playing basketball,” Perry said.
Simmons, 30, last played during the 2024-25 season, appearing in 51 games between the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers. He averaged 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 22.0 minutes per game while shooting 52.0% from the field.
His most productive seasons came with the Philadelphia 76ers. In 2019-20, he averaged 16.4 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.8 assists and 2.1 steals in 57 games. The following season, he posted 14.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.6 steals in 58 games.
Simmons was selected to three All-Star teams and two All-Defensive First Teams. He finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2020-21.
Across 383 NBA games, Simmons has averaged 13.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.2 assists while shooting 55.8% from the field.
