Sacramento Kings general manager Scott Perry attended a Ben Simmons workout in Florida on Tuesday as the former All-Star point guard continues his attempt to return to the NBA after missing the entire 2025-26 season.
Carmichael Dave reported that Simmons was among the players Perry planned to watch work out, giving Sacramento a direct look at a 30-year-old former No. 1 overall pick whose availability has been limited by injuries in recent years.
Simmons last played during the 2024-25 season, appearing in 51 games between the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers. He averaged 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 22.0 minutes per game, shooting 52.0% from the field.
The Australian guard’s production had declined sharply from his Philadelphia peak, but his earlier résumé shows the type of player he was before his extended injury problems. From 2017-18 through 2020-21, Simmons averaged at least 14.3 points, 6.9 assists and 7.2 rebounds in each of his four full seasons with the 76ers.
Simmons earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2018 and made three consecutive All-Star teams from 2019 through 2021. He was also a two-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection, finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2020-21.
His durability has been the central question since then. Simmons did not play in 2021-22 because of a combination of a holdout and back issues, then appeared in 42 games in 2022-23 and only 15 in 2023-24 before playing 51 games in 2024-25.
The Kings are coming off a 22-60 season, tied for the NBA’s second-worst record, and their offseason has focused on creating financial flexibility and opening opportunities for younger players. Sacramento waived DeMar DeRozan, while Russell Westbrook retired, and the team selected Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
That context makes Perry’s presence at Simmons’ workout notable, although attending a workout does not necessarily indicate that Sacramento intends to sign him. The Kings are evaluating their roster after moving on from several veterans and could be examining whether Simmons’ combination of size, playmaking and defensive versatility fits alongside their younger core.
Sacramento’s 2025-26 roster received 6.7 assists per game from Westbrook and 4.1 from DeRozan, while rookie center Maxime Raynaud emerged as a productive frontcourt piece with 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in 74 games. Acuff’s arrival also signals a long-term investment at point guard.
