Ben Simmons Makes Kings Preseason Debut Against Warriors

Ben Simmons returned to game action for the Sacramento Kings against the Golden State Warriors in a preseason matchup after more than a year away from NBA competition. The Australian guard joined Sacramento in the offseason and was expected to begin his comeback attempt on the court. According to RotoWire, Simmons was set to play in Saturday's preseason game against Golden State, marking his first appearance since joining the Kings.

The report said his return was not related to an injury issue and that his role in the lineup remained undecided. Simmons had missed Sacramento's first two preseason games against the Los Angeles Lakers, according to BluemanHoop. The outlet reported that the Kings planned to monitor his workload after a lengthy absence from the league.

The 30-year-old last played an NBA game during the 2024-25 season with the Los Angeles Clippers, according to BluemanHoop. The report noted that Simmons appeared in only 108 games since the 2020-21 season, when he was a three-time All-Star and received MVP votes.

RotoWire reported that Simmons' return drew attention because of his previous injury history and the uncertainty surrounding his role with Sacramento. The Kings could use him as a backup point guard behind rookie Darius Acuff Jr. or in a larger role depending on team needs. According to BluemanHoop, Golden State had shown interest in bringing Simmons to training camp during the offseason before he chose Sacramento. The Warriors received an early opportunity to evaluate the player they had considered adding when the teams met in preseason.

Reports from A Royal Pain said Sacramento intended to bring Simmons back gradually because of his extended time away from competition and past injury concerns. The outlet also reported that the Kings expected him to work through minutes restrictions in the weeks ahead. A Royal Pain reported that Sacramento had discussed the possibility of Simmons eventually competing for a starting role. The team has also focused on integrating younger players while determining how Simmons fits into its roster plans.