Ben Simmons has responded to Patrick Beverley’s criticism of his decision to step away from the NBA, insisting that his absence followed two seasons in which he was not physically right.

Beverley questioned whether players should be able to leave basketball when they are struggling and later return for another opportunity, specifically contrasting Simmons’ situation with players such as Victor Oladipo and Cam Thomas.

“I don’t think it’s fair that you can quit the game of basketball and come back,” Beverley said, per HoopsHype. “You can quit when not having a ton of success. You can quit because the game is hard and it’s stressful when you’re not playing well and the fans are on you and the media is on you, you can quit and have an opportunity to come back.”

Beverley acknowledged that injuries are different but argued that Simmons had already received multiple opportunities despite his difficulties.

“I’m injured, and I understand injury, but to quit the game of basketball and to come back to get an opportunity, and you got Cam Thomas who don’t have a job, who like putting in that work year after year and like a guy can just quit and come back anytime. I don’t I don’t like that at all,” Beverley said.

Simmons responded after the comments were reshared by League Alerts, directly defending the work he put into returning to the NBA.

“Walk away….?? I played two years not physically right. This ain’t no hand out. I worked my ass off to be in this position…. And I’m very grateful to even be in position to play the game I f–cking love!” Simmons wrote, according to EssentiallySports.

“Yall will continue to make up stories for your own benefits and that’s more telling about who yall are.”

Simmons missed the entire 2025-26 season after last playing for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2024-25. He has since agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Sacramento Kings and is set to enter his 10th NBA season.

Sacramento conducted an evaluation that included medical examinations, an on-court workout and meetings with head coach Doug Christie and members of the coaching staff. Simmons also worked out for general manager Scott Perry in late August and participated in an Australian players-only minicamp.

The former No. 1 overall pick enters Sacramento with three All-Star selections, an All-NBA Third Team honor and two All-Defensive First Team selections. His best statistical season came in 2019-20, when he averaged 16.4 points, 8.0 assists, 7.8 rebounds and 2.1 steals in 57 games for Philadelphia.

Simmons followed that with another All-Star campaign in 2020-21, averaging 14.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.6 steals in 58 games. He finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting that season.

Across 383 career games, Simmons has averaged 13.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.2 assists while shooting 55.8% from the field. His most recent NBA season saw him average 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 51 games between Brooklyn and the Clippers.

Simmons now joins a Sacramento team that finished 22-60 last season and subsequently reshaped its roster. The Kings selected Darius Acuff Jr. No. 7 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft and also added Alex Karaban and Emanuel Sharp.

With Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray, Maxime Raynaud and Malik Monk also on the roster, Simmons will have another opportunity to prove he can contribute after missing an entire season.