Ben Simmons sheds light on why he signed with Kings, what he can bring to team

Ben Simmons sheds light on why he signed with Kings, what he can bring to team originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Ben Simmons had a simple theory about where he would end up this offseason. Whichever team actually showed up to see him in person, rather than just offering a camp invite, would be the one that signed him for real.

That is exactly how his story with the Kings played out.

Speaking at Media Day with NBC Sports California’s Deuce Mason and Morgan Ragan, Simmons explained his thinking when asked why Sacramento made sense as his landing spot.

“It’s not in the cocky way or anything, but for me, I knew the first team that came to see me, to see where I was at physically and on the court, they were going to sign me,” Simmons said. “That’s how I felt from the moment [general manager] Scott [Perry] came down and saw me.”

Perry traveled to Florida in late August specifically to watch Simmons work out, which was followed by an hour-long meeting between the two. Simmons later visited Sacramento for in-depth medical exams, an on-court workout and meetings with coach Doug Christie and other staffers before signing a one-year, $3.5 million contract.

Several other teams expressed interest, but mostly in the form of training camp invitations rather than a guaranteed roster spot.

“I had a bunch of teams that wanted me to come to camps and play for a spot and things like that, which is fine,” Simmons said. “I think they would have had different decisions if they had seen me. But I think I’m right where I need to be at the right time.”

That confidence comes after Simmons sat out the entire 2025-26 NBA season without appearing in a single game, following years of recurring injury issues dating back to his time in Philadelphia and Brooklyn. Asked about his emotional state heading into training camp, Simmons pointed directly to his health.

“I’m just excited to get going and be able to do it healthy — with nothing in the back of my mind where I can be hesitant with certain things,” Simmons said. “I’m taking a few hits already in practice and it felt great. I’m ready to go.”

For a Kings team that signed Simmons specifically to add size, playmaking and defensive versatility behind rookie point guard Darius Acuff Jr., a healthy, confident version of Simmons — even in a reduced offensive role — represents exactly the value they bet on when Perry made that trip to Florida.

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