Ben Simmons is reportedly taking three-point makes an attempt in reside play throughout Sacramento Kings coaching camp, based on his grandfather, signaling a doubtlessly important change for a participant whose reluctance to shoot from past the arc has been a defining a part of his NBA profession.
Talking on Matt and Kayla on Sactown Sports activities 1140, Simmons’ grandfather mentioned the previous No. 1 total choose has regained his confidence and is prepared to shoot with out worrying concerning the instant outcomes.
“His starvation for the sport is again… He involves camp, he’s taking pictures threes in reside play, doesn’t care whether or not they make or miss… That swagger, that confidence that he as soon as had, is again,” he mentioned.
Simmons has tried nearly no three-pointers all through his NBA profession. Throughout 383 regular-season video games, he has averaged simply 0.1 makes an attempt from three-point vary per sport and has made solely a handful of makes an attempt, taking pictures 13.9% from past the arc.
The event would subsequently symbolize a notable shift in Simmons’ offensive strategy if it carries over into regular-season video games. His worth traditionally has come from his skill to assault the paint, create transition alternatives and facilitate with out counting on perimeter taking pictures.
Simmons has averaged 13.1 factors, 7.4 rebounds and seven.2 assists over his NBA profession whereas taking pictures 55.8% from the sphere. He has additionally averaged 1.5 steals and 0.7 blocks per sport.
His finest stretch got here early in his profession with the Philadelphia 76ers. Simmons averaged 16.4 factors, 8.0 assists, 7.8 rebounds and a couple of.1 steals in 57 video games in the course of the 2019-20 season, incomes All-Star, All-NBA Third Crew and All-Defensive First Crew honors whereas ending fourth in Defensive Participant of the Yr voting.
He adopted that with one other All-Star season in 2020-21, averaging 14.3 factors, 7.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.6 steals in 58 video games. Simmons completed second in Defensive Participant of the Yr voting and once more earned All-Defensive First Crew honors.
The 30-year-old is now making an attempt to revive his profession with Sacramento after sitting out your complete 2025-26 season. He agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Kings and is getting into his tenth NBA season.
Simmons final performed in 2024-25, showing in 51 video games between the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers. He averaged 5.0 factors, 4.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 22.0 minutes per sport whereas taking pictures 52.0% from the sphere.
Earlier than becoming a member of Sacramento, Simmons underwent medical examinations, an on-court exercise and conferences with head coach Doug Christie and the Kings’ employees. He additionally labored out for basic supervisor Scott Perry in late August and took part in an Australian players-only minicamp.
Sacramento completed 22-60 final season and subsequently reshaped its roster round Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray, Malik Monk and 2026 first-round pick Darius Acuff Jr.
