A great deal of NBA media has been focused on the return of Ben Simmons and whether he can make a full comeback. That's fair, but he's not the only one looking for redemption. Zach LaVine is trying to make a comeback of his own, which will be important for him in unrestricted free agency.
After taking a season to step back from the league to get both his mind and his health right, Simmons has made his return as a member of the Kings. He has a lot to prove, though mostly to himself. That's more important than shutting down the naysayers or showing the haters they're wrong about him.
Still, it is important for Simmons to deliver this season. He's not fighting for a spot on the Kings so much as he is fighting for his place in the league. If 2026-2027 doesn't go well for Simmons, he will find it much more difficult to get rostered with any team once his Sacramento contract runs out.
LaVine is in an incredibly similar position. His current contract with the Kings runs out at the end of the season, just like Simmons' does. While LaVine hasn't had the injury issues Simmons has had, that doesn't change the fact that his reputation has taken a hit over the last few years.
LaVine is fighting for a future beyond the Kings
It almost goes without saying at this point that LaVine's tenure in Sacramento has been a disappointment, both for him and the team. That's not just his fault. This entire partnership has been botched from both sides across the board. He and the Kings need a fresh start away from each other.
No matter how this season goes, LaVine will be moving on from Sacramento when it is over. Trading him seems unlikely. What's left of his current contract is pricey, and any interested team just has to wait until 2026-2027 is over to make a lower offer to the shooting guard. That's not the problem.
Both Simmons and LaVine are working on rehabbing their respective images this season. In some ways, 2026-2027 is as much of a comeback for LaVine as it is for Simmons. Both players have something to prove to themselves and to the league as a whole before moving on.
How that plays out is up to them. The reality for LaVine is that the bar for success for him is much higher than it is for Simmons. He just has to stay healthy and play 10 minutes a game to do well. LaVine, on the other hand, has to prove that he's still a shooter's shooter to get a new berth.
Add us as a preferred source on Google