Ben Simmons' Kings Comeback Is Really About Rookie Darius Acuff Jr.'s Future

When Ben Simmons last appeared in an NBA game, it was during the 2025 playoffs. By the time he returns for the 2026-27 season, he'll be wearing Sacramento Kings purple, signed to a one-year, $3.5 million minimum deal — the kind of contract teams offer when they want a veteran presence more than star production.

The Kings announced the addition on Sept. 4, with ESPN's Shams Charania reporting the agreement, and The Athletic noting Simmons is expected to provide depth at point guard behind rookie Darius Acuff Jr. The story here is not that a former No. 1 overall pick is attempting a comeback — it's why a rebuilding franchise chose him for this specific role.

Sacramento is coming off a rough 22-60 season in 2025-26, scoring 111 points per game while surrendering 121. The roster is in transition: veterans like Zach LaVine have uncertain futures with the team, young players are fighting for rotation spots, and the media has largely written the Kings off. ESPN projects just 19 wins, and sportsbooks have set the win total at 21.5 — expectations that say this season is about development, not contention.

Enter Simmons as a locker-room and practice-court insurance policy. The Athletic reports he will back up Acuff, and the coverage of the signing makes it clear Sacramento's motivation extends beyond Simmons himself. At $3.5 million, the Kings get a low-risk mentor who has seen the highest of highs and lowest of lows in this league.

Simmons' career résumé as a starter includes 13.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game while shooting 55 percent from the floor. He's a three-time All-Star whose court vision, passing instincts, and defensive versatility were never in question — the mental and physical hurdles are what derailed a once-promising career. That body of knowledge is exactly what a teenage rookie point guard needs to absorb.

This is the smart part of the deal: rather than pushing Acuff into the deep end with no safety net, the Kings put a former All-Star in the seat next to him — someone who can teach defensive positioning, playmaking reads, and professional habits without taking away the rookie's development minutes. The FanSided Kings coverage put it best: the signing is "bigger than Ben Simmons."

It's not a flawless fit. Malik Monk's place in the depth chart could be squeezed, and Simmons hasn't played competitive basketball in over a year, so rust is a genuine concern. There are no guarantees he stays healthy for an 82-game season. But on a minimum contract for a team that's out of the playoff picture, the downside is limited.

Sacramento opens its season Oct. 22 in Los Angeles against the Clippers, a team that will serve as a benchmark for where this rebuild stands. Simmons will return to the league on that floor, and the Kings will hope his real contribution shows up in the months that follow — not in stat sheets, but in the development of the rookie standing next to him.