Kings coaches give Simmons simple message: 'Be me'

• Ben Simmons says Kings coaches want him to 'be me' at camp
• He is running with the second unit and helping the young Kings
• The Kings host the Lakers in pre-season on Tuesday, October 6 AEDT

Australian point-forward Ben Simmons revealed that Sacramento Kings coaches have told him one thing during the first few days of NBA training camp: "Be me. Be me, literally. Literally, that's it. Be me."

Three-time NBA All-Star Simmons is back in the NBA after sitting out the 2025-26 season, buying into a professional fishing team in Florida, flying himself to a Boomers players-only mini camp in Melbourne at the end of August and then signing a veteran league-minimum deal with the Kings for the 2026-27 season.

"It's been great," Simmons said of training camp.

"Obviously, we have a young team, so it's all about learning and making the most out of these days and these sessions that we have before we get started.

"The best part is I've just got normal soreness now, which is the best feeling in the world.

"Just being able to come out here and compete every day and have that general soreness is a good thing. But I feel great."

Simmons' last three seasons in the NBA before missing last season were mired in injury and battered by criticism, a lot of criticism.

He said at his media day interview: "Given that I took a year off, I didn't know if I was going to have an opportunity to get back in the league. That was a chance I took.

"I bet on myself, and I'm here today.

"I believe in my game and what I can contribute to this team, so I'm looking forward to showing that."

The 2.08m Melbourne-born 30-year-old had already embraced the sweat and grind of his first camp back.

"I love it. There's nothing like it," he declared.

"We have 82 games. We're going to spend a lot of time with each other, probably more than we get to with our family during the season.

"This is our family right here, and it's important.

"Just being here, coming into work every day, doing what I love and being able to play the game with these guys.

"I think I've been through a lot, but I get to come in and compete now, so I'm just grateful to be here."

Vision of Simmons working out has swept across social media, and of course, his critics zoomed in on his shooting.

"Repetition," he added.

"I mean, I airballed one and one of y'all posted it, and that was the one that goes viral.

"But sh*t happens. It's basketball. I get my shots up, put work in. It is what it is."

Between 2017 and 2021, Simmons was a three-time NBA All-Star (2019-2021), made the All-NBA Third Team (2020) and the NBA All-Defensive First Team twice (2020, 2021), was NBA Rookie of the Year and named to the All-Rookie First Team (2018), and led the NBA in steals (2020).

In the past few days, he has been running with the second unit and was determined to help the young group's development.

"If I see things on the court or I can help guys out, just the details of the game," he said.

"There are a lot of things that, when you come in as a rookie or a younger guy, you just don't know.

"It's just trying to expedite the younger guys' learning and decision-making."

In the meantime, Simmons said he had one goal.

"I'm just going to come in and do my job, play hard and do what I need to do," he said.

"Everything else will handle itself."

The Sacramento Kings play their first pre-season game against Matisse Thybulle's Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at 1pm (AEDT) and open their season against Simmons' former club, the Los Angeles Clippers, on Thursday, October 22, 2026 at 1.30pm (AEDT).