In 2018, Colin Cowherd had mentioned on air that LeBron James could retire because the NBA already had its next big star. But that once-promising star’s career took a drastic turn as he ended up playing just 18 games in his final NBA season and spent the entire following year away from the league. He was waiting for another chance, and now finally Sacramento gave him one. 

Ben Simmons is back in the NBA. The three-time All-Star, once nicknamed, “Fresh Prince,” has agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Sacramento Kings, giving him a path back into the league after sitting out the entire 2025-26 season, as per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

ESPN reported that several teams were interested in him but only Sacramento had come forward with an offer. That is indeed a missed opportunity for Sixers. They have LeBron James for Year 24 and were looking for a low-cost, high-upside option. But more than that, this reunion meant so much more than yet another free-agent signing.

It would have been revisiting a chapter in history that ended rather poorly.

Simmons first arrived in Philadelphia as the No. 1 overall pick in 2016 and became a three-time All-Star and All-NBA selection with the Sixers. However, despite being a star player things took an ugly turn one fine day in Atlanta, after Philadelphia’s seven-game loss to the Hawks in the 2021 Eastern Conference semifinals.

After the series, Doc Rivers was asked whether Simmons could be the point guard on a championship team. Rivers replied, “I don’t know how to answer that right now.”

Joel Embiid also pointed to Simmons’ decision not to attack the basket late in Game 7 as a turning point. Simmons later requested a trade and stayed away from the team before Philadelphia sent him to Brooklyn on February 10, 2022, in the James Harden trade. But even then, Simmons seems to keep no hard feelings, and even expressed his interested to return to Sixers.

Speaking to Men’s Health in June, Simmons said he didn’t “have a plan on where” he would sign before adding, “Maybe I’ll go back to Philly. Miami would be nice.”

This could have been a relationship amended. But, instead Sacramento stepped up. Now, call it a gamble if you must. But you best be sure, that Kings didn’t go into this blind. They have very well done their homework.

Why Simmons made sense for Sacramento Kings?

Kings GM Scott Perry worked out Simmons in Miami in late August and spent about an hour in a meeting with him. Not just that, Simmons actually travelled to Sacramento, where he underwent an extensive medical examination, completed on-court workout and given the contract, clearly Kings liked what they saw. 

Also, Simmons had already made his case stronger in August by having participated in  a players-only minicamp with the Australian men’s national team. So, even though he was away for an entire season, that move showed he was physically good enough to make a return. Plus, Kings actually had a role cut out for him.

Sacramento had already moved on from De’Aaron Fox and did not bring back Westbrook. So they needed, an experience ball-handler. So, Simmons can fill that void behind rookie Darius Acuff Jr. Plus, he can also provide something more: size. 

Standing tall at 6 foot 10, he can handle the ball and defend several positions. Right now, Sacramento doesn’t need him to show the player he once was, the one who was the Rookie of the Year in 2018, the three-time All-Star and someone who earned All-NBA honors with the 76ers. They would be okay with the modest version but someone who can make plays, defend and give their roster versatility. 

For Simmons, this opportunity might be exactly what he is looking for, given he won’t carry the baggage of his past.

Why did the Sixers pass on Simmons?

The real gist is that Philadelphia had hard capped itself at the $209 million first apron through the offseason moves and was around $1.8 million below that threshold. Simmons’ veteran minimum contract carries a cap hit of about $2.4 million despite his $3.5 million salary. So that means Sixers would have needed to shed additional money to make this signing even possible. But that financial aspect is just part of the issue. 

Simmons has played just 108 games over the past five seasons. For Philadelphia, a team that’s already dealing with uncertainty given Joel Embiid’s health, using its final roster spot on another gamble, would have naturally been too much. Plus, there is also a different need in Philadelphia now. 

They no longer need a 6 foot 10 ball handler, given James is there, alongside Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. So while a Simmons reunion would have been a major storyline, it maybe was too much of a risk for Philadelphia.