Ben Simmons Back in the NBA? Kings GM Personally Travels to Watch His Workout

Ben Simmons may finally have a legitimate path back to the NBA. Sacramento Kings general manager Scott Perry traveled to Florida to watch the former No. 1 overall pick work out as Sacramento continues evaluating veteran options for the final spots on its roster. The workout does not mean Simmons has been offered a contract, but having the team’s general manager evaluate him in person makes the possibility of an NBA comeback more concrete than another offseason rumor.

Simmons, 30, sat out the entire 2025-26 season while focusing on his health after years of back problems and other injuries. Sacramento currently has 13 players on standard contracts and has been searching for another veteran ball-handler behind rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr. The Kings have reportedly considered multiple options, so Simmons is competing for an opportunity rather than walking into a guaranteed roster spot.

That might actually make this stage of Simmons’ career more interesting. Nobody is asking him to return as the three-time All-Star version Philadelphia once built around. If healthy, his size, defense, rebounding and passing could still help an NBA rotation at the right price. The question now is whether Sacramento saw enough in Florida to take that gamble.