Ben Simmons signs with Sacramento Kings following NBA hiatus

Ben Simmons has returned to the NBA after a year-long hiatus, signing a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Sacramento Kings. Reports from the team's training camp suggest the 30-year-old Australian has made a strong impression, with ESPN's Marc J. Spears noting that Simmons has had an “outstanding camp” and could potentially earn a starting position within the first month of the season.

Simmons addressed recent rumors regarding his absence from the league, dismissing claims that he had lost interest in basketball to focus on his fishing hobby. He stated that he used the time off to focus on his physical conditioning and characterized the speculation as mere talk intended to generate clicks and podcast content.