He’s returning to the NBA after a season-long hiatus - but Ben Simmons is the third-best Australian player in the world’s top league.

That’s according to video game NBA 2K27, which has added Simmons off the back of last week’s news that the 30-year-old will feature for Sacramento when the new campaign begins next month.

Simmons has been handed an overall player rating of 77. That places him behind only Chicago star Josh Giddey (84) and Atlanta’s defensive ace Dyson Daniels (81) for Australian players in the game.

Daniels’ Hawks teammate Jock Landale is rated below Simmons at 75 overall, with new Laker Matisse Thybulle at 74 and recently-traded Utah wing Josh Green at 73.

Simmons hasn’t been sighted in the NBA since his most recent stint with the LA Clippers in the 2025 playoffs in April last year.

A three-time All Star, Simmons has earned his chance to return to the US with the lowly Kings off the back of an encouraging showing at an Australian Boomers mini camp last month.