Ben Simmons is set to make a return to the NBA after putting his basketball career on hold for almost a year.
The divisive guard has signed a one-year, $3.5million deal with the Sacramento Kings ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season, ESPN reported on Friday.
The 30-year-old, who has battled a number of injury woes and mental health struggles throughout his career, stepped away from the sport last year.
The Australian purchased a controlling share in the South Florida Sails Angling Club, which is a part of the Sport Fishing Championship.
Now, he is poised to ditch the boat for the court and play his first game since the end of the 2024-25 season.
He last played in the NBA with the Los Angeles Clippers, appearing in 18 games for the franchise at the end of the 2024-25 season.
Ben Simmons is set to make a return to the NBA after putting his basketball career on hold
The Australian purchased a controlling share in the South Florida Sails Angling Club
He has signed a one-year, $3.5million deal with the Sacramento Kings
However, he played a limited bench role, averaging three points, four rebounds and three assists per game.
He now adds veteran experience to the Kings, who are looking to bounce back from last season when they went 22-60.
They drafted Darius Acuff Jr. out of Arkansas with the No. 7 pick in this year’s draft as they look to rebuild.
The first pick of the 2016 NBA Draft out of Louisiana State, Simmons was a three-time All-Star with the Philadelphia 76ers before injuries, shooting issues and other struggles derailed his career with the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers.
However, Simmons does not appear to have struggled with the same woes on the open waters.
‘It’s a very niche sport,’ he told Andscape of his fishing endeavors. ‘And if you don’t know, you don’t know.
‘But once you experience it and get out there and see what it’s about, you’re kind of in awe of what the sport is. And that’s just something I’ve always been interested in in terms of the sport of fishing.
‘The technique. And there’s so much to it that people just don’t understand. These guys are fishing on million-dollar vessels, and they’re out for days at a time. So, it’s tedious and gritty, but a lot of fun. It’s one of those worlds where you just got to kind of experience it, get into it and see what it’s about.’
