Ben Simmons has stolen the preseason show thus far and understandably so. 2018 Rookie of the Year in the NBA and a three-time All-Star, brings with it a lot of optimism and certainly fan excitement.
After sitting out the entirety of the 2025-2026 season recovering from back problems, Simmons says he is 100% healthy and ready to prove his naysayers wrong.
Many have questioned his toughness, but two back surgeries are nothing to scoff at, and as many people can attest to, back injuries can be hard to overcome.
At 6-foot-10, Simmons represents a skyscraper of a point guard and is even taller than Hall of Famer Magic Johnson.
The apparent plan is for Simmons to back up Darius Acuff Jr., and if so, it could pay dividends.
Without question, a point guard of his size represents problems for opposing teams, so what remains to be seen is how he fits in with Scott Perry’s new-look Kings, and does he have the motor to be a game changer.
The good news as it relates to Ben Simmons is that on a team that is hungry for players with defensive qualities, Simmons has a proven history of being a top-flight defender, and although not known for being a big scorer, Simmons can certainly make his mark on the defensive end.
If, as has been expressed, the Kings intend to bring Simmons off the bench and have him back up Darius Acuff, giving him 20-25 minutes per game may be a recipe that will work for a player who has proven to be injury-prone.
Meanwhile, aside from Acuff, there are two other draft picks that need attention, and that most notably means on-court minutes.
Emanuel Sharpe is another player who comes to the Kings with a history of being a tough defender, and Kings fans got to see his defensive skills on display during the NBA Summer League.
Sharpe has a natural knack for the ball and was a Division I standout in college on the defensive end of the floor. It makes fans wonder how Simmons and Sharpe would look on the court together, as Sharpe is a natural shooting guard and Simmons plays the point. Just possible that times are changing for the better.
Trade talks continue to swirl as it relates to Domantas Sabonis, and that should not come as welcome news.
I see Sabonis as the anchor of this team, and if anyone comes with a pedigree, it is most certainly Domantas.
The Kings need this big man to have a comeback season after being limited to a career-low 19 games last year due to injuries. This stalwart has proven himself not just to the Kings organization, but to the league as well, and Sabonis has earned the respect of players throughout.
Alex Karaban, drafted 29th overall, comes to the Kings with four seasons of college ball and an NCAA title under his belt. Used to winning, Karaban should be a consistent player off the bench, and if coach Christie develops a consistent flow with minutes, Karaban can become a valuable commodity for Sacramento this season.
Much depends on how Christie develops what has now become a young team, and effective use of players like Achiuwa, Cardwell, Karaban and Sharpe will make a big difference in the win-loss record of the Kings this season.
The Kings’ young players aren’t the only ones who need to earn their stripes. It’s high time the coaching staff steps up and shows what they can do.
It is hard to measure Doug Christie after a season where his team was largely on the disabled list, but make no mistake about it, this year marks the litmus test in his young coaching career.
If the 20-25 wins that the pundits have expressed are what the Kings have to look forward to is in any way correct, look for a complete shake-up of the coaching staff.
There is way too much talent for this team to be on the south side of 30 wins, and even one more tweak could represent an acceleration of Scott Perry’s rebuilding program.
Stay tuned, Kings fans, because I believe you’re going to see a much healthier team than just a season ago!
All the best!
V.G. Harris
Vince Harris is an area resident and the author of Kings Corner, in which he contributes to Folsom Times, giving readers a look at the happenings on the court and behind the scenes of the Sacramento Kings.
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