Ben Simmons Claps Back at Ex-Lakers Star for Calling His NBA Return Unfair

Ben Simmons has returned to the NBA this year after leaving the league following the 2024-25 season with the Clippers. Since then, we haven't seen Simmons play on the hardwood due to his nagging injuries. As he returns with the Sacramento Kings, a former Lakers player has taken objection to it.

On Wednesday, Patrick Beverley uploaded a clip from his podcast on X, wherein he spoke strongly against Simmons' return. While it's great to see Simmons is back in game shape and ready to try his luck with his NBA career again, Beverley doesn't think his return is fair.

"I don't think it's fair that you can quit the game of basketball and come back," Beverley said in the clip. "You can quit while not having a ton of success. You can quit because the game is hard and it's stressful, and you're not playing well, and the fans are on you and the media is on you. You can quit and have the opportunity to come back.

"No discredit from Ben Simmons; I'm not with quitting the game of basketball because it was hard at the time and because I'm not playing right, I don't feel right. You know evreywhere I go, it's an issue and an excuse."

Simmons clearly didn't appreciate what Beverley had to say and responded to him on Instagram. In a comment under a post by @leaguealerts, Simmons wrote:

"Walk away....?? I played two years not physically right. This ain't no handout. I worked my a** off to be in this position. I'm very grateful to even be in a position to play the game I f****** love! Yall will continue to make up stories for your own benefit, and that's more telling about who yall are."

To be fair to Simmons, he was dealing with chronic back injuries before leaving the league in 2025. During his absence, Simmons focused on fully recovering and overcoming those nagging injuries.

Recent photos of Simmons went viral on social media after people saw him in possibly the best shape of his career, looking leaner and more ripped for his next chapter with the Kings.

Insider Reveals Ben Simmons' Desire to Stay in Sacramento

For his return, Ben Simmons agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Sacramento Kings. The move came as a surprise, especially after rumors of him going back to the Philadelphia 76ers spread online.

Later, NBA insider Marc Spears claimed that it was Simmons' preference to go to Sacramento and pursue a potential longer stay there.

"One thing he likes about Sacramento is… he’s never played in a small market, and sometimes that’s a safer haven," said Spears, appearing on Sactown Sports’ "The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross". "You go to Sacramento, it’s about basketball. I’d put their fans up there with anyone in the world."

In the 2024-25 season, playing for the Nets and the Clippers, Simmons averaged 5.0 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.7 rebounds, while shooting 52% from the field.

It'll be interesting to see how the break has treated Simmons and whether he has finally put his back troubles behind him.