Ben Simmons has played nine preseason minutes for the Kings. Doug Christie already sounds pretty sure about the fit.
“We want to defend, rebound, and run the floor and share the basketball. He does all those things,” Christie said, via Logan Struck of Sports Illustrated.
That’s the attraction with Simmons, even after he missed all of last season. Sacramento doesn’t need him to suddenly become a 3-point shooter. The Kings need defense, size, rebounding, playmaking and pace. Simmons can still provide all of that when healthy.
“Defensively, he’s as solid as they get,” Christie said. “He rebounds, he pushes the ball, he’s unselfish, he shares the ball. When you get a player like that, you have to get used to playing with a player like that.”
Simmons had seven points and one assist in nine preseason minutes against Golden State, making two of his four shots. It was his first NBA action since April 2025.
Christie called him a “special, special player,” though the Kings aren’t about to get reckless with his workload.
“We’re gonna talk about it and communicate with him,” Christie said when asked about increasing Simmons’ minutes. “We’re gonna do what’s best for Ben Simmons.”
Sacramento can be excited about what Simmons might give them without pretending nine preseason minutes erase everything that came before.
But if he can defend, rebound, push the pace and keep the ball moving, Christie doesn’t need much imagination to see where this could work.
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