Ben Simmons determined to return 'better than I was before'

“My mentality is that I’ll be back,” Simmons said. “I’ll do everything in my power to get back, get healthy and be better than I was before. There is nothing but time and opportunity to do so. So, I’m going to attack it the way I am now.

“It felt like it was hours (down) on my knee that I was waiting (after the Achilles tear), but obviously it wasn’t that long. But I feel like in that moment I had to make a decision. … ‘Are you going to come back or let this hold you down?’ For me, it was just choosing and making that decision to keep going and fighting. I felt there is no other option. For me, it was like, ‘Let’s go.’ Surgery and start the rehab process.”

A three-time All-Star, Simmons saw his production and playing time fall off during his last few years in the NBA as he dealt with back problems that required a pair of surgeries. However, he tells Spears that he fully believes that he’s still “capable of playing in this league” and that he intends to “come back dominant.”

Simmons will start the rehab process in Sacramento and expressed appreciation to the Kings for their belief in – and support of – him. He told Spears that Zach LaVine has visited him since the injury and that other teammates want to come see him too.

“Everybody has been amazing, from (general manager) Scott (Perry) to (team owner) Vivek (Ranadive) to coach (Doug) Christie and my teammates,” the former No. 1 overall pick said. “Everybody in Sacramento has been amazing. They’ve shown a lot of support. That is the main thing, just showing that they’re there and they care. Everything else, I can deal with. (Sacramento) is home for me. This is where I’ve built a home now. And I have the support. So, it just makes the most sense (to start the rehab process in Sacramento).”

As Spears writes, the Warriors, Timberwolves, and Knicks all registered some interest in Simmons this offseason, but the Kings were the only team that watched him work out in Miami and offered him a contract. Golden State’s interest – and lack of an offer – led to some playful banter between Simmons and Warriors head coach Steve Kerr during an October 10 preseason game.

“I said something to Steve,” Simmons admitted. “I said, ‘Y’all didn’t want me?’ That was in the first quarter. And (Kerr) said, ‘I didn’t know if you were healthy.’ And I was like, ‘OK. That’s why you have people that do their job and go fly out and see.’ But it is what it is. That’s just me being competitive. It wasn’t personal.”