Ben Simmons returns with a promise: “I want to dominate”

“He’s awake.” Ben Simmons doesn’t mince words when asked whether he can get back to his best. After an entire year away from the NBA, the new Sacramento Kings player says he finally feels good and, above all, ready to put himself back out there.

Simmons missed the entire 2025/26 season, taking the time he needed to get his body and mind right. It was a long break, but one he says he would make again without much hesitation.

I’m exactly where I need to be. I spent a lot of time working on my body, and it was probably the best decision I could have made for my career. I feel great, I have no limitations and I’m ready

Ben Simmons

Now he starts again in Sacramento, without too many expectations and perhaps, because of that, with less pressure. The Kings enter the season away from the spotlight, and Simmons doesn’t mind that at all.

Nobody expects anything from us and there’s no pressure. It’s up to us to go out there and prove that we can win games and be a good team. Looking at the roster, I think we can do that

Ben Simmons

“I don’t love basketball? That’s bullshit”

The past year inevitably revived an old narrative surrounding Simmons: that he no longer has the same desire to play basketball. It’s an interpretation the Australian rejected in no uncertain terms.

Everybody talks about how I don’t love basketball. That’s bullshit. I love this game. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have taken a year to work on myself and get back to where I am now

Ben Simmons

For Simmons, the problem wasn’t losing the desire to play, but simply not feeling physically capable of doing what he wanted to do on the court.

Basketball is my art. I can be creative, play hard and compete against so many talented players. It’s in my blood, I’ve been doing it since I was a kid. But it’s hard to enjoy yourself when you don’t feel right physically

Ben Simmons

Now that feeling seems to have changed. And when he’s asked whether the Ben Simmons from his best years is still inside him, the answer comes immediately.

He’s there. He’s still here. He’s awake

Ben Simmons

The reference is obviously to the Simmons who became a three-time All-Star, an All-NBA selection and a two-time All-Defensive First Team selection in Philadelphia, before physical issues and a severe lack of continuity completely changed the course of his career.

Expecting to see him immediately return to that level would be asking a lot, especially after a year without playing an NBA game. Simmons, however, doesn’t seem interested in easing his way back in. When he’s asked what he wants to bring to the Kings and what he expects from his season, the answer is even simpler.

Dominate. Every time I step on the court, I want to dominate

Ben Simmons

In short, Ben didn’t come back just to make up the numbers. After a year away from the NBA, the first thing to understand will be how much he can play and how consistently. Then we’ll see whether that old Simmons has really woken up. Sacramento, in the meantime, is ready to find out.