For most of us, a year off would mean a lot of couch time. Ben Simmons spent his rebuilding his body, getting his head right and buying into a professional fishing team.

Now the former No. 1 overall pick is back in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings, and his story is getting the documentary treatment. "Being Ben," an ESPN E60 film, premieres today at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN and streams afterward on the ESPN App. ESPN says it explores the ups and downs of his NBA career and his lifelong passion for fishing.

Wait, remind me who Ben Simmons is?

Quick refresher: Simmons, from Melbourne, Australia, went first overall to the Philadelphia 76ers in 2016 out of LSU. He won Rookie of the Year in 2018, made three All-Star teams and was a first-team All-Defensive pick in 2020. He's 6-foot-10 and plays like a point guard, which is a very rare combination.

Then came the hard years. He missed his first season with a foot injury, then missed 2021-22 amid a trade holdout, mental health concerns and physical ailments, per ESPN. Back problems followed him, too, including during a short stint with the LA Clippers. After his last NBA game in April 2025, he sat out all of 2025-26 to rehab lingering back and leg injuries.

The fishing year

While he was away, Simmons bought a 50% stake in the South Florida Sails, a professional sportfishing club, in December 2025 and became its controlling operator. Yes, pro fishing has teams. In May, the Sails won the Sport Fishing Championship Blue Marlin Open in the Bahamas, finishing almost 1,500 points clear of second place, ESPN reported.

"I have always believed that investing in what you love means you have a responsibility to help move it forward," Simmons said when he joined. He grew up fishing in Australia.

The time away also drew plenty of criticism, including claims that he didn't really love basketball anymore. He has heard it, and he isn't buying it. "I love this game," he said at Kings media day, per the Australian Associated Press. "If I didn't, I wouldn't have taken that year to focus on myself and get back to where I'm at."

So, is he actually back?

So far, so good. Sacramento signed him in September to a one-year, $3.5 million deal, and ESPN reported the Kings were the only NBA team to offer him a contract. The plan is for him to back up rookie point guard Darius Acuff Jr. and play all five positions.

His preseason debut against Golden State on Oct. 10 was his first time on an NBA court in 529 days, the NBA noted. On Friday against San Antonio, he started and put up 14 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, though the Kings lost 126-97.

His goal for the season is not subtle. "To dominate. Every time I step on the floor - to dominate," he said. He also likes the low expectations around a Kings team that went 22-60 last season. "There's no pressure," he said.

What's next

Catch "Being Ben" at 4 p.m. ET today on ESPN. Then the real thing begins: the Kings open the regular season on Wednesday at 10:30 p.m. ET against the Clippers, his last NBA team before the break. A comeback story with a fishing subplot? Hollywood, take notes.