Olivia MillerBen Simmons returns to the NBA this season with the Sacramento Kings after a year away, and ESPN's E60 documentary "Being Ben" premieres today, Sunday 18 October 2026, at 4 p.m. ET. The Melbourne-born guard has said he stepped away to heal his back, knees and mind, and that combination is exactly what many Australians quietly live with.
What has happened with Ben Simmons
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Simmons agreed to a one-year deal with the Sacramento Kings reportedly worth about $3.5 million, ending a season out of the NBA. On 7 October 2026, he spoke to NBC Sports California at Kings media day about his mental health after the break, as reported by NBC Sports Bay Area.
The documentary, produced by E60 with Andscape and directed by Julian Gooden, traces his path from Australia to the 76ers. Per ESPN's press release, it covers a missed first season through injury, a difficult playoff series, his trade request, and a back injury during his time with the Brooklyn Nets. He has also said he hopes to represent Australia at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Why this story matters beyond basketball
Simmons is a high-profile example of a pattern clinicians see every week. A back problem starts as a physical issue. Months of pain, poor sleep and lost routine then wear down confidence and mood. Mood and stress in turn make pain feel worse and slow rehabilitation.
You do not need to be an elite athlete for this to apply. Back pain is one of the most common reasons Australians seek medical care, and the national health information service Healthdirect notes that most episodes improve with staying active and appropriate treatment, while some need specialist assessment. You can read its guidance on back pain at Healthdirect.
The expert angle: three specialists, one recovery
A single "back and mind" recovery rarely sits with one professional. A sports physician or physiotherapist assesses the load on the spine, hips and knees. A psychologist helps with the thoughts and avoidance habits that develop around pain. A strength and conditioning coach or exercise physiologist rebuilds capacity so that returning to activity does not simply cause a repeat injury.
Our existing coverage of how athletes manage compound injuries is a useful companion read: Embiid Ruled Out With Ankle and Hip explains why several joints often need to be treated as one system.
Three warning signs suggest it is time to see a professional rather than wait:
- Pain that has lasted more than six weeks or keeps returning
- Pain that disturbs sleep on most nights
- Dreading movement or exercise because you fear the pain will flare
Red-flag symptoms such as numbness in the groin, loss of bladder or bowel control, new leg weakness or pain after a significant fall need urgent medical attention, not a booking next week.
A realistic case: the 41-year-old tradie with a "bad back"
Consider a hypothetical example. Dan is 41, a builder from Geelong, who strained his lower back lifting plasterboard in March. He rested for two weeks, returned to site, and the pain came back. By June he had taken around 20 days off work across several stretches, was sleeping five hours a night and had stopped playing weekend football.
If Dan keeps resting and avoiding movement, then deconditioning typically sets in, the back muscles weaken, and a flare-up on the next heavy job becomes more likely. A pattern of repeated short absences also puts pressure on income, which adds stress and further disturbs sleep.
If Dan instead sees a GP and gets a physiotherapy plan in week six rather than month six, then he might follow a graded program of, say, three supervised sessions a week for four weeks, then a home program, with work duties adjusted from lifting 10 kilograms to 20 kilograms over a month. If low mood or anxiety about re-injury shows up, a psychologist can be added early. Under Medicare, eligible patients with a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan can access up to 10 subsidised psychology sessions in a calendar year, though rebate levels and eligibility vary and should be confirmed with the GP.
The numbers here are illustrative, not a prescription. The principle is what matters: the earlier the physical and psychological sides are treated together, the less likely a single injury becomes a long absence.
What the Simmons story gets right
Simmons chose to publicly link his time away to both body and mind. That framing is useful because many people still treat mental health as separate from "real" injury. Research and clinical practice increasingly treat persistent pain as a biopsychosocial problem, meaning biology, thinking patterns and life circumstances all contribute.
It also shows that a comeback is not just a medical clearance. He still has to rebuild conditioning, trust his back under contact and cope with expectations. Most amateurs face a smaller version of this when returning to sport after a lay-off.
Why returning to sport is the riskiest phase
Clinicians often say the danger window is not the injury itself but the first weeks of full activity. Tissue may have healed, yet strength, endurance and movement patterns lag behind what the sport or job demands. Doing too much, too soon is a classic cause of a second injury.
A sensible rule used in many rehabilitation programs is to increase training load gradually, often by no more than around 10 per cent a week, and to hold steady if pain spikes for more than a day. Your physiotherapist can tailor the figures to your history, age and the demands of your work.
Fear matters as much as fitness. People who have been hurt once often brace their muscles, avoid twisting or stop lifting altogether. That protective behaviour feels sensible but can keep the back stiff and sore. A psychologist or pain-informed physio can help you test movements safely and rebuild trust in your body.
For weekend athletes, a few practical habits reduce risk: warm up properly, vary your training surfaces, sleep at least seven hours, and do not skip the strength work that supports your spine and hips. For desk workers, regular movement breaks and a workstation check can matter as much as any gym session.
What to do now
If you recognise yourself in this story, a simple sequence helps:
- Book a GP appointment to rule out red flags and discuss a referral.
- Ask for a physiotherapy or sports medicine assessment that covers the whole movement chain, not only the sore spot.
- Tell your doctor about sleep, mood and stress. These are part of the treatment plan, not a side issue.
- Agree a staged return with clear milestones, such as walking 30 minutes, then light gym work, then sport.
- Keep a short diary of pain, sleep and activity so changes are visible to you and your clinician.
If you are in distress or experiencing thoughts of self-harm, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or emergency services on 000.
This article is general information based on public reporting and does not replace personal medical advice. Consult a registered health professional about your own symptoms.
For personalised advice on back pain, injury rehabilitation or the mental load that comes with it, you can connect with qualified health experts on Expert Zoom, who can help you build a recovery plan that fits your situation and your timeline. Another relevant read is Nadal's mental health and injury story, which looks at what happens when pain and psychology collide in elite sport.
