New Ben Simmons Rumors on Knicks, Warriors, T-Wolves Interest Before Kings Contract

Ben Simmons reportedly had interest from a handful of teams before signing with the Sacramento Kings on Friday.

According to The Athletic's Sam Amick , the reigning champion New York Knicks were "in the mix," as were the Golden State Warriors. ESPN's Marc J. Spears noted that the Minnesota Timberwolves had interest as well.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania , Simmons visited with the Kings on Monday, undergoing an "in-depth medical exam" and working out with head coach Doug Christie. Charania also noted that Simmons previously visited the team in late August.

He agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million deal with Sacramento on Friday.

It marks a return to the court for Simmons, who went unsigned during the 2025-26 campaign. The former All-Star put up 5.0 points, 5.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds during the 2024-25 season, which he spent with the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers.

He told The Athletic's Sam Jane in December that he didn't want to return to the court until he felt "bulletproof," so he clearly is confident in where he's at heading into the 2026-27 season.

Early in his career, Simmons was a walking triple-double who appeared on his way to greatness, but his career took a sharp turn as injuries piled up. Now, he's looking to prove that he can still hold his own against NBA talent and perhaps turn things around.

Sacramento could be the perfect place for Simmons to get a fresh start.

The Kings are in the midst of a rebuild and likely don't have championship hopes this season, which will give Simmons the chance to return to the court in a pressure-free environment.

Had he joined the Knicks, Warriors or Timberwolves, much more would have been expected from him, and it perhaps would have made for a difficult transition back to the league.