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Ben Simmons appears to have rediscovered his confidence and hunger for basketball, with his godfather David Patrick saying the Sacramento Kings guard is once again shooting threes freely and playing with the swagger he showed during his Philadelphia 76ers years.
The Kings might be getting a very different version of Simmons from the one NBA fans have grown accustomed to in recent years. Offseason footage of Simmons confidently knocking down three-pointers has surfaced before, only for that willingness to shoot to vanish once the regular season tips off. This time, there are signs he could actually let it fly in games, backed by a renewed mentality.
According to Patrick, who currently serves as an associate head coach at Arizona State, Simmons’ hunger for basketball is returning to the level it reached during his best years in Philadelphia. Patrick also suggested that Simmons has become far more comfortable shooting from deep, confidently taking threes in live situations without worrying about the outcome.
“His hunger for the game is back. He comes to camp, he’s shooting threes in live play, doesn’t care whether they make or miss… That swagger, that confidence that he once had, is back.” — David Patrick, on the Matt & Kayla Show on Sactown Sports 1140
Simmons Impresses Kings, Signs One-Year Deal
Ben Simmons has joined Sacramento on a reported one-year, $3.5 million contract. The signing marks his return to the NBA after sitting out the entire 2025-26 season. He last appeared in games for the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2024-25 campaign.
Read also: 5 NBA Teams That Damaged Their Futures This Offseason
After publicly expressing his desire to play again, Simmons left a strong impression on the Kings’ leadership. Sacramento had maintained interest in signing him ever since conducting an official team workout for the former NBA star last month. Stay tuned to TipsGG for continued coverage of Simmons and the Kings heading into the new season.