The Sacramento Kings are ready to throw Ben Simmons right into the fire.
Simmons is expected to be in the starting lineup for the Kings’ Oct. 21 regular season opener against the LA Clippers, Marc J. Spears of Andscape reported on Monday. Spears adds that Simmons will likely be starting alongside rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr.
The 30-year-old Simmons is making his return to the NBA this season after sitting out the entire 2025-26 campaign. He managed to land a one-year deal from the Kings over the summer with an interesting contract structure.
Still, Simmons, a three-time All-Star, was not even a starter during his most recent stint in the NBA with the LA Clippers in 2025. But Simmons has apparently impressed Sacramento enough during training camp and the early part of preseason that he has already won a starting job for them.
The move makes at least some sense on paper. Simmons is a seasoned veteran ball-handler who should be able to take some pressure off the 19-year-old lottery pick Acuff as Acuff adjusts to life in the pros.
But Simmons has also managed to produce some embarrassing moments during his first few weeks in Sacramento. Putting Simmons in the starting lineup coming off a full-year hiatus might be a mess for the Kings, but that probably does not matter at this point since they are rebuilding and are largely unserious otherwise as well.
