Ben Simmons is back in the NBA, but ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith has strongly criticized his return. The former All-Star has joined the Sacramento Kings on a one-year deal worth around $3.5 million. 

On ESPN’s First Take, Smith spoke about Simmons’ career and his fall from being one of the NBA’s most talented young players. Smith said Simmons had great talent during his best years, which made his later decline and failure to reach his full potential even more disappointing. 

“What am I supposed to say that I'm happy about it? I seen one of the great talents,” Smith said.

In the same show, shared by First Take on X, Smith also praised Simmons’ rare combination of size and skills. At 6-foot-10, Simmons could handle the ball, pass, and defend very well. 

However, Smith said Simmons’ biggest problem became his unwillingness to shoot, while his mindset also seemed to change. 

“He was something special and somehow, someway, something happened to this dude's mental,” Smith added.

Smith also questioned how Simmons continued to earn a lot of money despite his performances getting worse.

“It made no sense whatsoever, it still makes no sense to me but I do know this, he never missed picking up his check,” Smith said.

Smith became even more critical while discussing Simmons’ new Kings deal, saying the situation should have been completely reversed. 

“So now that he's back in the league, here's what the problem is, it's a one year deal, what is it a three and a half million dollar? ... How come he isn't paying Sacramento? He should be paying them to let him play,” Smith said.

Smith’s comments were harsh and brutal in some way, but they came from his disappointment in Simmons. He believes Simmons had the talent to become much better, making this NBA return important. 

Ben Simmons gets another chance with Sacramento Kings 

According to Abishek Rathore’s report for HITC, Simmons missed last season because he was recovering from back and leg injuries. He has now returned to the NBA.

The 30-year-old last played in the 2024-25 season. He averaged 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in 51 regular-season games. He started 24 of those games.

His numbers became even lower after he joined the Los Angeles Clippers. He started 18 games and averaged 2.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in 16.4 minutes per game.

The same HITC article also reported that the Kings held a workout for Simmons before signing him. He did well during the workout and looked ready to return to the NBA.

This return gives Simmons a chance to change the story around his career. Smith’s criticism focused on the difference between Simmons’ huge talent and his later performances.

Because of this, the one-year deal with the Kings gives the former No. 1 pick an important chance.

Simmons now has a simple challenge, and that is to use this NBA opportunity to show that the talent Smith once called one of the great talents is still there.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Kapil Manghnani brings over 4.5 years of experience in sports journalism, covering a wide range of sports, including Soccer, NHL, Tennis, Gymnastics, NASCAR, Swimming, and more. He has written for leading sports platforms, producing everything from breaking news and features to in-depth analysis, opinion pieces, long-form stories, and short-form content. Beyond articles, he has also scripted long-form storytelling videos for YouTube channels. His work focuses on delivering well-researched, engaging, and reader-first sports content across multiple formats.

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