Ben Simmons finally stepped back onto the hardwood this past Saturday, making his preseason debut for the Sacramento Kings in their 111-106 loss to the Golden State Warriors. After a whole year away from the game, Simmons’ box score in his return was a wild ride: 9 minutes, 7 points, 0 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 turnovers. Yeah, you read that right: zero boards.
The “Comeback Kid’s” First Steps Were… Tentative
Look, it was preseason, and the veteran played very few minutes as he looks to get back into the swing of things. We get it. But for a player who was once an All-Star and known for his all-around game, those 0 rebounds in 9 minutes are just flat out jarring. The Kings signed him to make an impact, especially on a team “fully immersed in a rebuild,” as the source puts it. Losing a preseason game is whatever, but seeing your big offseason pickup put up a donut in the rebounding column, even in limited action, has to make you pause.
The Long, Bumpy Road Back to Relevancy
Simmons’ journey has been a tough one, no doubt. He was an All-Star back in his Philadelphia 76ers days, but injuries started to take a massive toll. He completely missed the 2021-22 campaign, then came back in 2022-23 with the Brooklyn Nets looking like a shell of his former self. The 2024-25 season saw him splitting time between the Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers, where he put up an average of 5.0 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.7 rebounds across 51 games. Then, he went unsigned for the entire 2025-26 campaign, but he always made it clear he was eyeing an eventual comeback. The New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, and Minnesota Timberwolves all reportedly showed interest, but it was the Kings who ultimately inked him to a one-year, $3.5 million deal. They’re hoping he can still make an impact, even if All-Star form isn’t immediate.
This is a fresh start on a rebuilding squad, and that’s exactly what Simmons needs. Can he get back to being a legitimate contributor? That 0-rebound line from Saturday’s preseason opener makes you wonder just how long that road back will be. We’ll be watching every minute of his journey to see if he can shake off the rust and those injury woes, or if this preseason opener was a sign of struggles to come.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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