17
Oct
Aussies in the NBA
'Not cocky': Ben's back is back and he's 'ready to go'
Sacramento Kings’ Ben Simmons shoots over San Antonio Spurs’ Devin Vassell during the first half of their NBA preseason game at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on October 17, 2026 (AEDT). Photo: Ronald Cortes/Getty Images.
Highlights
Simmons led the Kings with seven assists in their finale after a year away he called his best move.
- Simmons had 14 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in 26 minutes at San Antonio
- He told NBC Sports California taking 2025-26 off was the best thing he had done
- Sacramento finished the preseason 0-5 after a 126-97 loss to the Spurs
Ben Simmons' back is back – and so is the three-time NBA All-Star and 2018 Rookie of the Year.
The 30-year-old Melbourne-born point-forward scored 14 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and added a team-high seven assists in 26 minutes in his final preseason game, a 126-97 loss to the San Antonio Spurs in San Antonio on Saturday, October 17 (AEDT).
For the first time since leaving the Philadelphia 76ers less than acrimoniously, he looked physically unrestricted.
"People can say what they want about, you know, not wanting to play, this and that and the third, but I needed to get away from the game," Simmons said in an interview with NBC Sports California.
"I needed to get my back right to be able to play this game at a high level.
"And I think the one thing people kept saying to me was, 'It's going to be hard to get back.'
"And I was fine with that, but I also know what I'm able to give the game.
"And so taking that year off was the best thing I've done in my career."
His return drew breathless hyperbole from ESPN "commentator" Stephen A. Smith back in early September.
"I seen one of the great, great talents at, at, at – I'm talking about a dude at 6'10", y'all," Smith said.
"He should be paying them to let him play. He should be paying them to let him play. It should be in reverse.
"He should be the first player in the NBA that actually pays the team to let him play in an NBA uniform, considering the thievery he engaged in for a few years, disguised as an NBA player, where he was scared of his own damn shadow but never scared to pick up the check to get the money.
"He should be paying them."
Simmons sat out the entire 2025-26 season, bought into a professional fishing team, and then started his comeback, including flying himself to a players-only Boomers minicamp mid-year.
Potential Boomers teammates Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels both praised Simmons, and he knew he was ready to work out for NBA general managers.
"Yeah, for me, I said it, it's not in a cocky way or anything," Simmons said.
"For me, I knew the first team, whoever came to see me and to see where I was at physically and on the court, they were going to sign me.
"And that's how I felt from the moment Scott came down and saw me.
"That was the main thing. I had a bunch of teams that wanted me to come to camps and play for a spot and things like that, which is, you know, that's fine.
"I think they would have had different decisions if they would have seen me.
"But I think, you know, I'm right where I need to be at the right time."
The Kings open the 2026-27 season, and word is Simmons will keep his starting spot for the season opener against his former club, the Los Angeles Clippers, on Thursday, October 22, 2026 1.30 pm (AEDT).
"I'm just excited," Simmons added.
"I'm excited to get going and to be able to do it healthy, like with nothing in the back of my mind where I can – am I hesitant with certain things or anything like that?
"I'm just ready to go. I've taken a few hits already in practice, and it felt great.
"I feel great. I'm ready to go."
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