The Sacramento Kings have reportedly worked out Ben Simmons as they explore their options for a potential veteran minimum signing. According to Sactown Sports 1140’s Carmichael Dave, one of his sources was impressed enough to text him that the three-time All-Star “looked fantastic.”
That assessment, however, was met with plenty of skepticism from an NBA community that has heard similar reports about Simmons during previous offseasons.
Kings Show Interest in Ben Simmons After Private Workout, But NBA Fans Aren’t Buying the Hype
Simmons did not play during the 2025-26 season, but the former No. 1 overall pick has been preparing for another NBA comeback for months.
In late June, he told Clay Skipper of Men’s Health that he believed he could “compete with any of these guys” in the 2026 playoffs. At the same time, Simmons stressed that healing his body and mind were his primary concerns.
The three-time All-Star shared glimpses of that determination on Instagram about two weeks ago, posting a photo of himself looking ready to resume his professional career. Simmons wrote that he “wouldn’t change the story” and was “ready for wherever this goes.”
Back issues and mental health struggles have disrupted his career since 2021. He missed the entire 2021-22 season, and from 2022-23 through 2024-25, he appeared in only 108 of 246 (43.9%) games.
That history is a big reason why the latest workout report failed to convince everyone.
Offseason clips and reports about Simmons looking sharp have become almost an annual occurrence. The difference this time is that he needs to turn those encouraging workouts into something tangible once the season begins.
Ben Simmons reportedly ‘looked fantastic’ in a private workout for the Kings, per @Sactown1140 🔥
Which team should sign Ben Simmons before the season? 👀🤔 pic.twitter.com/eeMe9BX4St
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 27, 2026
Unsurprisingly, NBA fans wasted little time revisiting that pattern.
“Here we go again. What injury will be fake this season?” a non-basketball fan couldn’t help but wonder.
Here we go again. What injury will be fake this season
— Richard Hardwood (@FreepinkBurgers) August 27, 2026
“Ben Simmons just ‘looked fantastic’ in a private workout. Of course he did. He’s been looking fantastic in empty gyms since 2018. The man is the NBA’s premier practice player. Put five actual defenders and a crowd in front of him, and he turns into a 6 ’10 traffic cone,” an NBA observer added.
“Even after a few years away, the Ben Simmons Cycle stays true,” Onyx Odds posted.
Even after a few years away, the Ben Simmons Cycle stays true pic.twitter.com/OIhIxcOxZT
— Onyx Odds (@OnyxOdds) August 27, 2026
“Isn’t this a storyline like every year that Ben Simmons looked good in workout and then he ends up never playing,” another non-basketball follower noticed.
The Kings also took some heat for bringing Simmons in.
“The Kings organization don’t know how NBA players look like, very normal,” a basketball supporter reacted.
The Kings organization dont know how nba players look like, very normal
— Janjic (@GetOut225) August 27, 2026
“Did they just ask him to pass the ball around?” Betropolis EV asked.
“Kings organization gotta be a fool if they give this fraud a guaranteed contract knowing what type of timing he be on when the season starts,” a basketball enthusiast tweeted.
Kings organization gotta be a fool if they give this fraud a guaranteed contract knowing what type of timing he be on when the season starts😂
— skiii (@signedintial) August 27, 2026
Brutal jokes aside, Simmons still has a chance to change the conversation. He was once one of the NBA’s most versatile young players, earning LeBron James comparisons before his career stuttered.
A workout can reopen the door, but can’t undo the past struggles that made him a popular NBA punchline.
If the 2018 Rookie of the Year gets another NBA opportunity, the real test will come when the lights are on and the games begin. That is where he will have to prove that this comeback is more than another offseason story.
