The Sacramento Kings head into next season with few expectations, leaving plenty of room for an unexpected turnaround.
After winning just 22 games last season, even a .500 record would represent a major improvement. But if Sacramento can somehow climb out of the Western Conference basement, several players could find themselves in the conversation for individual honours — including Ben Simmons.
Ben Simmons’ All-Star Comeback
Admittedly, Simmons returning to All-Star form may seem like a long shot. The former No. 1 overall pick is back in the NBA after missing the entire 2025-26 season and has not played anywhere close to his best level in recent years.
Simmons last made the All-Star team during the 2020-21 season with the Philadelphia 76ers, averaging 14.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists while shooting 55.7% from the field.
That means six years will have passed since his most recent All-Star appearance by the time the 2026-27 season gets underway — an eternity in the NBA.
However, history shows that long All-Star droughts do not always mark the end of a player’s chances.
Historic All-Star Returns
Since the 2000-01 season, only three players have made an All-Star team, gone at least five seasons without another selection and then returned to the All-Star roster.
The most recent example came last season, when Brandon Ingram earned his first All-Star selection since the 2019-20 campaign, this time representing the Toronto Raptors.
Ingram averaged 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 47.7% from the field and 38.2% from three-point range. More importantly, he stayed healthy enough to play 77 games.
If Simmons were somehow able to earn an All-Star selection this season, his six-year gap would match Ingram’s drought.
The circumstances are different, with Simmons carrying a much more significant injury history, but Ingram’s comeback provides at least some evidence that an extended absence from the All-Star stage does not necessarily mean a player is finished at that level.
For Simmons, the challenge will be turning that possibility into reality with Sacramento.
