Ben Simmons arrived at Sacramento Kings media day with a simple message for the people who read his year away from the NBA as a lack of commitment: they have it wrong.
The 30-year-old Australian guard said his absence was a necessary reset after persistent back and leg problems had worn down both his body and his mental health. Simmons, now on a one-year deal worth $US3.5 million ($A4.9 million), said the time off was about restoring himself for another NBA run, not stepping away from the game he has played since childhood.
“It wasn’t about whether I wanted to play,” Simmons said at Sacramento’s preseason media availability Tuesday, AEST. “People saying I don’t love the game — that’s bull—-. I love this game. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have taken that year to work on myself and get back to this point.”
Simmons did not play after his Los Angeles Clippers stint ended in April 2025. During the layoff, he bought a controlling interest in a professional sport-fishing team and did not pick up a basketball, decisions that fed outside skepticism about his desire to return.
But Simmons said he is not interested in the noise around his name, including what he sees as criticism designed to attract attention. He said the chance to create, compete and test himself against NBA talent remains central to who he is.
“I get to be out there, play creatively, play hard and compete against so many talented players,” Simmons said. “It’s in my blood. I’ve been doing this since I was a baby.”
A return built around health
The former No. 1 overall pick, Rookie of the Year and three-time All-Star said the player he had been at his best began to re-emerge during the rehabilitation process. His target for the season is not subtle.
“Dominate,” Simmons said. “Every time I’m on the floor, dominate.”
Simmons began making a serious push toward his comeback in August, when he traveled to Melbourne for a player-led Australian Boomers camp. NBA scouts were impressed by his work there, and Sacramento moved to bring him in on a veteran-minimum contract for the season.
“I’m exactly where I need to be,” Simmons said. “I spent a lot of time over the season focusing on my body, and I think it was the best decision I could have made for my career. I’m excited to get started. I feel great. I’m ready. No limitations.”
Kings see room to surprise
Simmons joins a Sacramento club coming off a 22-60 season. The Kings have made the playoffs only once since 2006, but Simmons said that backdrop can work in the group’s favor rather than against it.
“It’s very positive. There’s no pressure,” he said. “Nobody expects anything from us. We can go out and show we can win games and be a good team. That’s possible. Looking at this roster, I believe we can do it.”
The Kings open their preseason schedule at home against the Los Angeles Lakers on October 5. Their regular season begins October 21 on the road against the Clippers, giving Simmons an immediate trip back to the team for which he last played.
A healthy Sacramento season could also reopen Simmons’ path with Australia. His NBA return puts him back in the frame for the Boomers’ 2027 FIBA World Cup campaign in Qatar and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
