Home » Sports » NBA » Sacramento Kings

Ben Simmons comeback with the Kings was quiet, but oddly poignant

The return of Ben Simmons with the Sacramento Kings was filled with twists and turns and told fans a lot about this new version of him.

By Ian Goodwillie · A Royal Pain

Published: Monday, 12 October 2026 at 6:00 PM

Key Things to Know

Writer Ian Goodwillie argues Ben Simmons made an impactful return to the Kings primarily through his veteran leadership.
Simmons played under nine minutes in his preseason debut, recording seven points and one assist against Golden State.
Kings center Maxime Raynaud suffered a right patella injury during the game and will be reevaluated in two weeks.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Ben Simmons returned to the NBA court as a starter for the Sacramento Kings in a preseason matchup against the Golden State Warriors after more than a year away from the league. Simmons delivered a quiet performance, recording seven points on 2-of-4 shooting and one assist in just under nine minutes of action.

Writer Ian Goodwillie highlights that Simmons' most significant moment came off the stat sheet when he supported injured teammate Maxime Raynaud. Raynaud suffered a right patella injury, and Goodwillie argues that Simmons immediately rushing to his side demonstrated a mature, engaged veteran presence that Sacramento needs.

Read the full article on A Royal Pain

Ben Simmons comeback with the Kings was quiet, but oddly poignant

More Sacramento Kings News

Never Miss a Sports Update