Richard Jefferson believes Ben Simmons nonetheless has the expertise to develop into an All-Star subsequent season, though he cautioned towards inserting agency expectations on the brand new Sacramento Kings guard.
Discussing what the NBA ought to count on from Simmons, Jefferson emphasised the psychological facet of coming back from a troublesome stretch of accidents and restricted availability.
“I feel you shouldn’t have any expectations. There are particular basketball, identical to many different sports activities, as a lot as it’s bodily, it’s psychological,” Jefferson stated on ESPN Australia, through HoopsHype.
Jefferson however believes Simmons stays able to reaching a stage he has beforehand demonstrated within the NBA.
“Ben’s at all times have the expertise. Ben has the expertise to be an All-Star this 12 months,” Jefferson stated.
Simmons has not performed for the reason that 2024-25 season and spent the complete 2025-26 marketing campaign away from the NBA. He agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million contract with Sacramento to return for his tenth NBA season.
The 30-year-old level ahead final performed 51 video games between the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers in 2024-25, averaging 5.0 factors, 4.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 22.0 minutes per recreation whereas taking pictures 52.0% from the sphere.
His earlier peak supplies the idea for Jefferson’s evaluation. Simmons was a three-time All-Star and made the All-NBA Third Workforce in 2019-20, when he averaged 16.4 factors, 8.0 assists, 7.8 rebounds and a pair of.1 steals in 57 video games for the Philadelphia 76ers.
He adopted that with 14.3 factors, 7.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.6 steals in 58 video games in 2020-21. Simmons completed second in Defensive Participant of the 12 months voting that season and earned All-Defensive First Workforce honors.
Jefferson additionally pointed to Simmons’ defensive versatility as a possible power if he returns wholesome.
“If Ben goes and has the perfect season, he’s wholesome, his again is true, he has the expertise to be an all-defensive participant, to be a defensive participant of the 12 months stage expertise as a result of he can guard one by 5 positions,” Jefferson stated.
Simmons lately underwent an intensive analysis with the Kings that included medical examinations, an on-court exercise and conferences with head coach Doug Christie and his employees. He additionally labored out for common supervisor Scott Perry in late August and took part in an Australian players-only minicamp.
Over seven NBA seasons, Simmons has averaged 13.1 factors, 7.4 rebounds and seven.2 assists in 383 video games, taking pictures 55.8% from the sphere. He has additionally averaged 1.5 steals and 0.7 blocks.
His alternative in Sacramento comes with the Kings getting into a significant transition. Sacramento completed 22-60 in 2025-26, tied for the worst report within the Western Convention, earlier than selecting Darius Acuff Jr. No. 7 overall and adding Alex Karaban and Emanuel Sharp.
The Kings additionally waived DeMar DeRozan and lost Russell Westbrook to retirement whereas retaining Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray, Maxime Raynaud and Malik Monk.
