Ben Simmons received an unexpected mixture of criticism and compliments when media members covering Sacramento Kings media day were accidentally heard discussing players on a live microphone.
The conversation was picked up between interviews during the Kings' media day on Monday, 28 September. Simmons was initially described as 'cringe', only for the discussion to quickly turn towards his appearance, with another voice saying he was 'lucky he's so fine'.
The unguarded conversation also included Zach LaVine and eventually turned into an informal ranking of the players.
Simmons Gets Criticised and Complimented
The remarks were captured during a livestream from Sacramento's media day while the speakers themselves were off camera. After Simmons was called 'cringe', another person immediately defended him on different grounds, praising his appearance. The conversation continued with one speaker describing Simmons as a 'good-looking dude' and commenting on his smooth skin and lack of tattoos.
Attention then shifted to other NBA players. Jordan Poole briefly entered the discussion before someone asked about LaVine. One voice described the Kings guard as 'hella fine', while another had a markedly different assessment.
That speaker called LaVine 'cute' but said his personality was annoying and claimed he seemed 'like a prick'. The group later compared Simmons and LaVine directly, with one speaker placing Simmons above his new Kings teammate.
None of the people heard in the circulating clip are clearly visible while the remarks are made, making it difficult to independently establish who made each comment.
Some of the media members not realizing they’re on a hot mic. Calling Ben Simmons cringe but “hella fine”, one also says LaVine is “hella fine” before one interjects saying his personality is annoying and a prick. pic.twitter.com/FIsoqgnUYC
— Austin (@kings_muse) September 28, 2026
Simmons Is Attempting NBA Comeback
The timing makes the attention around Simmons particularly notable.Sac ramento officially signed the 30-year-old on 8 September after he spent the entire 2025-26 NBA season away from the league. Simmons agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million (£2.7 million) contract with the Kings as he attempts to restart a career disrupted by injuries.
He last played during the 2024-25 season, appearing for the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers. Across 51 games that season, he averaged 5.0 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.7 rebounds in 22 minutes per game.
At media day, Simmons said he has no physical limitations and made clear that his ambitions extend beyond simply returning to the court. Asked about his goals, the three-time NBA All-Star said he wanted 'to dominate' every time he played.
Kings head coach Doug Christie also offered a positive assessment, saying Simmons looked 'fantastic' ahead of the new season.
Hot-Mic Conversation Spreads Online
The accidental conversation quickly circulated online after clips were shared from the media-day feed. It provided an unusually unfiltered contrast to the formal interviews taking place around it, where Simmons was discussing his comeback and Sacramento's plans for the season.
For Simmons, the overheard verdict was hardly straightforward. He was criticised as 'cringe', praised repeatedly for his appearance and ultimately ranked ahead of LaVine by at least one of the people caught speaking.
It was an unexpected introduction to Sacramento for a player already attracting attention as he begins a closely watched NBA comeback attempt. The moment also showed how quickly an informal exchange at a major media event can become part of the wider conversation surrounding players online.
