r/nba • u/PastaCheed Spurs • 1d ago

Ben Simmons tonight: 15 points 8 rebounds 7 assists 5/10 FG

Ben Simmons tonight he looks like he's returning to form

15 points

8 rebounds

7 assists

5/10 FG

He's back

863 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

133 comments sorted by

945

u/LAMonkeyWithAShotgun Spurs 1d ago

The year is 2026 and the best player on the Kings is Ben Simmons

303

u/WantUToFly 1d ago

I mean last year the Kings best player was Russell Westbrook

20

u/Ob1toUch1ha Lakers 1d ago

Definitely not an overreaction to a pre season game

29

u/FatJuggernaut-916 1d ago

Nope, still Domas.

I don't think you understand what's happening here. You just out TWO high level defensive players on the Kangz at SF/PF. Domas doesn't have to worry about D much anymore. The SF supposedly shoots the 3, the PF is a passing genius that can run the point. If the littles remember how to fucking shoot, this team gon be gud.

179

u/altrockforlovesongs San Francisco Warriors 1d ago

i wish you the best mr kings fan. i doubt it though

45

u/Individual_Access356 1d ago

Simmons wasn't wrong Kings fans are hilarious

29

u/After-Analysis1146 1d ago

Sabonis was putrid to be fair, and surely someone can teach Lavine to be half competent on D

16

u/JaysonBrown Celtics 1d ago

Good luck trying to tell a man who’s made over 250 million to change what he’s doing…

22

u/theinterestof Pistons 1d ago

Domas doesn't have to worry about D much anymore.

That's... not how anything works. Ben Simmons is not, and has never been, a rim protector. He does nothing to hide Sabonis's massive deficiencies on that end.

And Simmons isn't a passing genius who can run the point. He is elite on the fastbreak, but very flawed when he has to create in the halfcourt. He turned the ball over repeatedly tonight when trying to run their halfcourt offense.

27

u/FatJuggernaut-916 22h ago

Bro I literally hate the Kangz like an ex-wife.

I sat through almost 40 years of their outrageous bullshit. I was down for Kangz before anyone else who wasn't an owner or exec.l, before it was even announced they were coming to SAC.

That Tyrese Haliburton trade changed everything.

For decades I was faithful in this abusive marriage. Stockholm Syndrome is real, folks. I tried to make it work, I really did. I stayed as I watched my team unsuccessfully cheat on the city multiple times in the most obvious and inept way possible(San Diego, Jim Thomas owner, 1993; Anaheim, Virginia City, Seattle, Las Vegas - Magoofs)

Rubbed our noses in poverty(2008 Financial crisis, Maloofs again)

Once had an arena so shitty that it rained and a leak appeared over the court. The referees threatened a forfeit. The owner personally went to the roof and held a banner underneath the hole to catch water. There's video. It was 1988.

Sold High draft picks for 'Cash Considerations' and nothing more(Thomas Robinson)

Ran an intentionally shitty arena to scare off fans with wooden floorboards and busted seats.

Passed on all of today's superstars to draft Tyreke Evans, Thomas Robinson, Willie Cauley-Stein, Jimmer Fredette, Sauce Castillo, and Ben McLemore.

And they lost. A lot. More than anyone else. 45% win percentage since 1979. 10 playoff appearances in 40 years. The most epic game loss in NBA history. Speaking of loss, our FRP in.1988 and the sole bright spot on that team committed suicide(RIP Ricky Berry). They lost a 1Q so badly that there are multiple videos of it on YT(40-4, no baskets made vs Lakers, 1987)

But I digress. Tyrese. If you know ball in the time he was here he was already better than Fox and futuristic at his position: a passing Reggie Miller.Trading him for Domas(that's the homie) when the whole point of getting Domas was for Haliburton was just the final fucking straw.

I can deal with maliciousness. I can deal with disappointment. can't stand incompetence for the fucking life of me and this franchise is the apotheosis of the concept.

I'm done bro. I watch because hoophead but wins don't feel good, and every loss and stupid decision they make brings out the "I tolja, ya dumb b**ch" cackling evil in me.

I've been so much more happier since I quit that team. I don't have to go searching for disappointment on God knows what fucking channel or download an app so I can hurt my own feelings for three hours. They fucking suck, it's not gonna change, and I just had to accept that.

2

u/BHPOS Kings 18h ago

Not everyone is built for a life of torture as a Kings fan. I'm 45 and 38 years deep as a fan. I'll never quit though. Can't say I blame you for giving up, but if, and it's a very big if, we pull it together and win a championship in our lifetime, don't go back to claiming to be a fan.

3

u/FatJuggernaut-916 14h ago

Why would I remarry my ex-wife???

I'm 52 TODAY. I've put in more time for Kangz than any fan whom hasn't been paid to do so. Even Carmichael Dave is near his breaking point and has said it multiple times.

Never say never, you might end up standing next to me when they trade Acuff for a handful of picks, the next a buddy Hield, or just straight up cash.

I feel for you, trauma is real and denial is an ocean in Sacramento.

1

u/dragerfroe 2h ago

Bro…stay faithful …light the beam of nothingness! No spark, no mercurial energy, no rings….just void. Let’s Goooooo!!!

5

u/Fidel_Cashflows Spurs 1d ago

Walter White purity Copium, but Kings fans deserve to hope. Sabonis is just probably one of the worst starting centers in the league at defense. He's really good at everything else, just the perfect punching bag for the Spurs who's best players are all inside scorers.

4

u/StranzVanWaldenberg Kings 1d ago

Nah, he still stinks.

2

u/Luka7Porzinwitzki Mavericks 18h ago

Idk about going to be good but they will be interesting with him and Acuff, good is a big leap tho

1

u/dragerfroe 2h ago

True still Domas but funny meme line ha ha. I mean…it’s fucking almost true.

-15

u/TiredMillennialDad Magic 1d ago

Ben Simmons makes every basketball team materially worse.

16

u/Striking_Try4684 1d ago

I still think it’s crazy to not sign him at his current salary valuation no matter who you are. Make him the 9th man if you want.

Yeah, he was a problem when he was making a billion a year, but he’s big as hell and athletic. 15/8/7 is nice in preseason minutes

5

u/After-Analysis1146 1d ago

That guy is a full blown Simmons hater. He’s posted a few times just bagging the guy like that’s not a solid game 2nd game back in 18 months from preseason mins

2

u/Striking_Try4684 1d ago

I figured. I know Simmons has a lot of haters. When I saw the Kings got him for $3.5, I wished the Pistons signed him.

Yeah he got punked by Trae, but the actual issue with Ben was the contract over output. $3.5M is a steal for him now

2

u/inefekt Australia 1d ago

When I saw the Kings got him for $3.5

they got him for tree fiddy?

1

u/Striking_Try4684 1d ago

Disappointed in myself for not realizing I typed tree fiddy and didn’t just say tree fiddy

Didn’t know y’all had South Park in ‘Stralia

3

u/After-Analysis1146 1d ago

What?… lol. He joined the worst team in the league and they won 52 games his first season. The Sixers went on a 16 game win streak with him while Embiid was out, he averaged 22-11-9.5 while being the leagues best defender. Your takes are about as good as Ben’s 3pt shooting. Low IQ bro.

1

u/Detonation Pistons 23h ago

Lack of ball knowledge is obvious with you.

1

u/BigLeagueChew4u 19h ago

LIGHT THE BEAM BEN!

111

u/Never_had_A_Snickers 1d ago

Most improved and comeback player of the year

62

u/ifmygrandmawasawheel Wizards 1d ago

You forgot rookie. Sorry Dybantsa

7

u/balsamicpork 19h ago

One of those awards doesn’t exist anymore lol

381

u/FERFreak731 Jazz 1d ago

Hey LeBron, we're good. Ben Simmons is here

Ben Simmons played better than LeBron James Sr today

74

u/ajteitel Suns 1d ago

Jr too

72

u/whythehellknot 1d ago

You're telling me Ben Simmons is better than even 2 LeBron's put together?

17

u/notmoleliza Warriors 1d ago

Ben Simmons is two Lebron James in a trench coat

2

u/Ok_Turn6757 Lakers 20h ago

Lebron James Sr is just 2 Lebron James Jrs in a trench coat

2

u/pssiraj Lakers 18h ago

The absolute disrespect

He's 3 Jrs at least

12

u/guacdoc24 Lakers 1d ago

Whoa he hasn’t played yet could drop 2/2/2 game today

9

u/ajteitel Suns 1d ago

0/1/1 lamo

5

u/guacdoc24 Lakers 1d ago

Im impressed

5

u/FERFreak731 Jazz 1d ago

You never know, his game doesn't begin until a half an hour. Who knows, he might have a 20 point game today

13

u/ajteitel Suns 1d ago

Look in my eyes and say that again with a straight face

1

u/SongMundane3514 16h ago

He may have a 20 point game, grandpa

1

u/Final_Garlic2067 76ers 1d ago

Kiss

0

u/inefekt Australia 1d ago

a WNBA bench warmer could play better than Bronny

-10

u/TiredMillennialDad Magic 1d ago

No the fuck he didn't. Lol. Ben's empty ass stat line and -21 +/-

5

u/After-Analysis1146 1d ago

Ben had the best +/- of all the Kings starters though.

They also played one of the top sides and championship favourites while the Kings played a first time starting 5 together who played 0, 0, 38, 19 and 23 games all season last year. Haha they were likely fairly rusty compared to the Spurs bud.

166

u/heat_fan_ Raptors 1d ago

Simmons is back 

44

u/No_Nefariousness6385 Kings 1d ago

What about Simmon's back?

43

u/Im_a_Knob [WAS] John Wall 1d ago

“preseason” simmons is back

6

u/SiphenPrax Knicks 1d ago

Kings are winning the NBA Championship!

2

u/Yellowperil123 1d ago

Best I can do is round 2 of the NBA cup

-1

u/believeit0itsbutter 1d ago

Damn I get scared everytime I see this quote cause it’s like as soon as he realizes he’s still good he just disappears again.

-2

u/gedbybee Spurs 20h ago

To losing by 30?

58

u/Brabochokemightwork Knicks 1d ago

maybe Giddy/Daniels was right about Simmons when they were back in Melbourne few months ago

11

u/so-cal_kid Lakers 1d ago

What did they say?

63

u/After-Analysis1146 1d ago

He trained with the Australian team, they said he was moving great and dominated. The entire Aussie squad met up and Giddey’s Hoop City and trained and scrimmaged.

2

u/dragonk30 [PHI] Kyle Korver 11h ago

He actually wants to play for Australia now? I remember hearing rumbles about how much they felt they were spiting him when they won bronze in the Olympics after he opted not to play. 

16

u/78ks70aks7to8days 1d ago

That this is the year Colin Cowherd will be proven right.

15

u/imezaps 1d ago

we're good lebron, ben simmons is back

14

u/AFC-Wimbledon-Stan Timberwolves 1d ago

This man looks good

31

u/Fit_Commercial_9438 1d ago

That’s actually insane for being out over a year. Said he didn’t touch a ball til summer

51

u/ICouldEvenBeYou Spurs 1d ago

Earlier, I checked the score in this game and the Spurs were up 71-37. Currently up 107-76. This is a non-competitive game.

34

u/After-Analysis1146 1d ago

This is a Spurs going full dress rehearsal vs Kings using a starting 5 taking the floor for the first time ever together.

Last season the Kings starters played 0, 0, 19, 38 and 23 NBA games…. It’s likely they were a bit rusty.

9

u/trav-senpai Kings 1d ago

You didn’t have to look up the score to confirm that, you just had to check what team he plays for.

12

u/MELOFINANCE 1d ago

All he has to do is maintain these averages for the rest of the season, and it will be an easy 80 to 110 million

4

u/porncollecter69 Mavericks 17h ago

Nobody is giving him that at that age when he’s got a track record of basically disappearing after getting paid.

0

u/Notcousingreg 20h ago

Over 10 years sure 

11

u/codelyoko_x Magic 1d ago

League’s fucked

7

u/Kertia 1d ago

Floater game looks good. Did he have that or is it new?

3

u/GyattLuvr69 1d ago

A loong time ago

1

u/Mukbeth [PHI] Joel Embiid 12h ago

He has a floater and a hook

1

u/dragerfroe 2h ago

Honestly man….it looked really freggin good. Almost like Joker. If they play him as the point forward….and he has his head in the game…he will be really good.

17

u/the-mongoose- 1d ago

100% of assists were made within two feet of the rim.

Kidding but it’s possible.

22

u/Yellowperil123 1d ago

His passing was the most impressive part of his game.

Kangz playrs looked SHOCKED when they were passed the ball for an open shot

5

u/Huckleberry_Sin 1d ago

My man single-handedly improving morale

6

u/Yellowperil123 21h ago

All the way from suicidal to clinically depressed

1

u/lexington59 19h ago

That's something he's always had he's always had great passes that give him magic lite comparisons

17

u/TheMoorNextDoor Nets 1d ago

So just fuck the Nets huh

8

u/tpc143 Nets 22h ago

At least he also sucked on the clippers

7

u/Sudden_Diamond5501 23h ago

you’re starting to get it!

4

u/GyattLuvr69 1d ago

Bro was broken mentally and had a nagging back injury. I don’t think he’s good with the spotlight so Sacramento is perfect lol

2

u/stopmyhamster Raptors 19h ago

“Fuck Brooklyn”

- Masai Ujiri

4

u/gedbybee Spurs 20h ago

They lost by 30 ish. You aren’t missing anything.

1

u/Luka7Porzinwitzki Mavericks 18h ago

That’s not really the point tho lol

-3

u/gedbybee Spurs 17h ago

Is it? Cuz cam Thomas could walk in there and score 20 plus, but his team will always lose.

The game isn’t: can one player score some points or get some stats.

It’s: can your team outscore the other one.

Ben Simmons putting up stats in a blowout doesn’t mean anything.

3

u/Luka7Porzinwitzki Mavericks 16h ago

Without context yes it doesn’t matter, but when the question is does Simmons have anything left? Then it means something.

-4

u/gedbybee Spurs 14h ago

No. Cam Thomas can do a version of this and isn’t in the league. That’s why this doesn’t matter.

0

u/Luka7Porzinwitzki Mavericks 12h ago

You keep saying the same thing so I feel like I have to explain to you why what you’re saying lacks context and is ultimately not an effective argument. You keep making the point about Cam Thomas scoring 20 points in a loss, which is a valid point because his 20 points is not really contributing to winning because of
His lack of defense.

But does that mean that every 20 point game in a loss was meaningless or a bad game because they didn’t win? of course not. See my point?

1

u/gedbybee Spurs 8h ago

No, but it’s why westbricks triple double year was dumb: it didn’t contribute to wins, and especially not in the post season.

But it’s really about: can this performance translate into a winning situation. The answer is no. Just like for cam Thomas.

1

u/Luka7Porzinwitzki Mavericks 8h ago

You can’t say it didn’t contribute to wins and then say that they were in the postseason, they were like a top 5 seed without top tier talent so what player besides Westbrook was going to magically make them a contender? Not being good enough to win the title doesn’t mean you suck or aren’t contributing to winning, there are levels to it obviously but specific examples are dumb and cherry picked for this reason, Westbrook and KD nearly beat the best team in the last 20 years and competed with the second best team the heatles, just because he didn’t put together a title team after KD left you think he wasn’t contributing to winning? Jeez that’s crazy talk.

Also your logic is dumb when you consider that good players on bad teams can go be successful elsewhere, like Antoine Walker and Kevin Love and AD and numerous others who couldn’t do shit by themselves. Paul pierce, ray allen… I guess all those dudes suck bc they were on teams that weren’t winning titles or putting up stats on bad teams? Do you not see how ridiculous an argument this is?

0

u/ayjaytay22 9h ago

Ben Simmons has size and can play defense. He looked very good out there. It doesn’t matter that he couldn’t lead the Kings to a pre-season victory over the Spurs. He’s clearly a different guy than he was two years ago

8

u/jjkiller26 Raptors 1d ago

What a come back story

3

u/LegateDamar13 1d ago

He's looking good but I'm not surprised, expected it.

5

u/doghead6969 1d ago

It's happening omfg

3

u/ImAjustin [NYK] Kristaps Porzingis 23h ago

He actually looked confident though. Like he was playing without reservations whether that was mental or physical from previous years. TBD if that’s real or just preseason but pretty surprising.

7

u/3rd-party-intervener 1d ago

Lakers should’ve signed him 

35

u/Dangerous_Ad5039 1d ago

He couldn’t handle that media. Sacramento is perfect. They suck ass and he can do this pretty much every night with no pressure at all.

1

u/EfficiencyOk9060 United States 16h ago

Exactly. No expectations is exactly what Ben Simmons needs to thrive.

5

u/samhit_n Lakers 1d ago

Colin Cowherd's "Hey LeBron, Ben Simmons is here. We're all good" quote wasn't wrong. He was just 8 years too early.

2

u/russfan0987 Magic 1d ago

Dopee

2

u/WallStreetDoesntBet1 Knicks 1d ago

I got high hopes for him… We gone see!

2

u/moco-7 Spurs 1d ago

His passing looks amazing and he can go to work as long as Wemby wasn't near him

2

u/bassplayerdude 23h ago

When he was on the court, he looked like the highest IQ kings player

5

u/OwnYourChildren 1d ago

I'm surprised better teams didn't figure out he was back and sign him. Bit of a mystery.

5

u/Kdog122025 Warriors 1d ago

I think a lot of teams didn’t want the circus and the Kings have pursued him for years.

6

u/gedbybee Spurs 20h ago

They lost by 30 ish lol.

1

u/New-Interaction-7001 50m ago

It still is the kings and only preseason

3

u/siphillis Spurs 1d ago

Maybe worried about health

3

u/radwimps Raptors 19h ago

does anyone really want to deal with what was a debilitating back injury? it will be kind of insane if he truly is able to play long term. As a fellow shitty back person, I hope he really is able to without further injury.

1

u/TriviaWhiz Knicks 14h ago

The Knicks were interested last year, but I guess the ship had sailed this year.

4

u/Cool_Ad_9338 1d ago

He scored 12 points after they were down by 30 😂

Yall don’t watch basketball

11

u/After-Analysis1146 1d ago

To be fair, he was playing reasonable and they weren’t using him early in the game much, they were trying to get Acuff and Sabonis involved but both of them were awful. Lavine was sleeping on D and pretty bad at one end, while the Spurs are primed and ready. It was always going to be one sided,

Kings aren’t expecting miracles, they hadn’t even played as a 5 before so the start was awful. It will be interesting to see their usage once the shake the rust off and who they go to more

5

u/Crustington 23h ago

Part of the Ben Simmons experience is him looking his best when the expectations are literally zero. Preseason, being blown out, end of season games where playoffs are a lock, etc.

3

u/Cool_Ad_9338 18h ago

I don’t listen to Ben Simmons apologists. None of what you wrote has any significance on the fact that 12 of his points came after they were down 30.

1

u/Lgm_yourmom 1d ago

Kings to the 11th seed

1

u/ContinuingAnyway 1d ago

Colin Cowherd vindicated

1

u/GigaFly316 Warriors 1d ago

HOLY SHIT, IS HE BACK?

1

u/JenovaJireh 76ers 13h ago

Come home Ben

1

u/TheMr237 11h ago

Where’s Sabonis ?

1

u/d08lee 10h ago

Is kings really going to invest in Ben Simmons? I mean.. can you guys develop your rookies instead and trade/get rid of old guys and rebuild already? I am over the kings but have some future plans in place

0

u/youngnailo 1d ago

i still remember when the kangz had hali and fox

-2

u/i-piss-excellence32 Knicks 1d ago

Knicks should’ve signed him

2

u/O2C Knicks 1d ago

He would have crumbled under the bright lights of NYC. He's got a shot at redemption in cowtown. No way his head stays straight under the microscope of media and Knicks fans.

0

u/i-piss-excellence32 Knicks 1d ago

Fair point

-1

u/TurbulentJudge1000 1d ago

Didn’t shoot a 3, so it was a failure. He needs to shoot a 3.

-5

u/nosole Supersonics 1d ago

-26 currently worst on the team tho lol. i’m rooting for him and he’s looked good but what part of this is simply just Kings stat padding

4

u/After-Analysis1146 1d ago

He was best of the starters for almost the entire night. Made Lavine look respectable despite Lavine’s useless defensive efforts

-1

u/nosole Supersonics 1d ago

nah fair don’t get me wrong if ya look, i’ve been a supporter of simmons. just playing devils advocate

-5

u/Changnesia102 1d ago

It’s pre season calm down.

6

u/rycemenace1 1d ago

The old Ben Simmons wouldn’t have even taken 10 shots. Just face it the league runs through him.