The Sacramento Kings plan to use Ben Simmons as the backup to rookie point guard Darius Acuff Jr. this season, according to Marc Spears on NBA Today.
“An excited Ben…he’s healthy. He took a year off to get healthy, and they list him at guard. They want him to back up Darius Acuff and he’s already in Sacramento getting ready for next season,” Spears said.
Simmons signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with Sacramento after sitting out the entire 2025-26 season. The agreement gives the three-time All-Star an opportunity to rebuild his NBA career while the Kings evaluate his health and fit.
Acuff was selected seventh overall by Sacramento after an impressive freshman season at Arkansas. He averaged 23.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 6.4 assists in 36 games, shooting 48.4% from the field, 44.0% from three-point range and 80.9% from the free-throw line.
The 19-year-old played 35.1 minutes per game and finished his college season with 845 points and 232 assists. His playmaking gives Sacramento a young primary ball-handler around whom the franchise can build.
Simmons, meanwhile, provides the Kings with a vastly different option at the position. Despite being listed at 6-foot-10, the 30-year-old has spent much of his career functioning as a point guard because of his passing ability, size and defensive versatility.
Simmons last played during the 2024-25 season, appearing in 51 games for the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers. He averaged 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 22.0 minutes per game while shooting 52.0% from the field.
His best NBA seasons came earlier in his career with the Philadelphia 76ers. Simmons averaged 16.4 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.8 assists and 2.1 steals in 57 games during the 2019-20 season and followed that with 14.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.6 steals in 58 games in 2020-21.
He made three All-Star teams and was twice selected to the All-Defensive First Team. In 2020-21, Simmons finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Across 383 NBA games, Simmons has averaged 13.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.2 assists while shooting 55.8% from the field.
His immediate challenge is staying healthy after missing the entire 2025-26 campaign. Spears previously reported that Simmons likes Sacramento as a potential environment for his comeback, citing the market’s focus on basketball and the support of Kings fans.
The Kings finished 22-60 last season and are entering a new phase under head coach Doug Christie. Their roster includes Malik Monk, Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, De’Andre Hunter and Keegan Murray.
