Ben Simmons agrees to NBA deal with Sacramento Kings
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Former number one overall draft pick Australian Ben Simmons has agreed to a one-year, $US3.5 million ($A4.9 million) NBA deal with the Sacramento Kings, his agents confirmed to ESPN.
The three-time All-Star point guard returns after sitting out the 2025-26 campaign while recuperating from chronic back issues.
Simmons, 30, last played with the Los Angeles Clippers for 18 games in March and April in 2025.
Reports last month indicated that Simmons was healthy, practising without restrictions and eyeing an NBA comeback.
He also is looking to compete with the Australian Boomers at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Drafted No. 1 by Philadelphia in 2016 out of Louisiana State University, Simmons made his injury-delayed NBA debut a year later and won 2017-18 Rookie of the Year honours.
He was a two-time All-Defensive pick before more injuries derailed his career. He has not played more than 58 games in a season since 2018-19.
Simmons has averaged 13.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.5 steals in 383 career games (344 starts) with the 76ers (2017-21), Brooklyn Nets (2022-25) and the Clippers.
The Kings open the NBA preseason on October 5 against the visiting Los Angeles Lakers.
Sacramento visits the Los Angeles Clippers for the regular-season opener on October 21.
Reuters