Ben Simmons Back in NBA with Sacramento

Ben Simmons, a three-time All-Star, has agreed to a one-year contract worth $3.5 million with the Sacramento Kings. This deal marks his return to the league after sitting out the entirety of the previous season to recover from persistent back problems. Simmons, originally the first overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, has a history of significant absences, having missed over half of his career games due to physical and mental health reasons.

He is expected to provide depth at the point guard position for the Kings, who are in a rebuilding phase. Prior to this signing, Simmons had focused on other ventures, including investing in and operating a professional deep-sea fishing team, the South Florida Sails. He described this period as a time to "find myself again."

Simmons' unofficial return to basketball activities occurred in mid-August when he participated in a private minicamp with the Australian men's national team. His performance in this camp and his upcoming season with the Kings will be closely watched, raising questions about whether this signifies a true comeback or a fleeting social media moment.