Ben Simmons says he challenged Steve Kerr over the Warriors passing on him

Ben Simmons has revealed that he needled Steve Kerr during the Warriors' Oct. 10 preseason game against Sacramento, asking Golden State's coach why the team had passed on him in free agency. Simmons described the exchange to Marc J. Spears in an Andscape interview published Thursday, and NBC Sports BayArea picked up the comments.

By Simmons' account, he spoke up in the first quarter of the game in San Francisco: "Y'all didn't want me?" He said Kerr answered that he hadn't known whether Simmons was healthy. Simmons replied that teams have staff whose job is to fly out and find that out. He also said he told Steph Curry that he had been ready, and he called the whole exchange competitive banter, not a personal grudge.

The background explains the jab. Andscape reported, citing a source, that Golden State wanted to work Simmons out in San Francisco in August but never offered him a contract. The Warriors also skipped his August workout in Miami. Sacramento was the only NBA team that watched that session, and it was the only team to offer a deal. Andscape listed Minnesota and New York among the other teams that showed interest. It also reported that the open Warriors roster spot likely went to veteran forward Georges Niang. Before the preseason meeting, Kerr had said he didn't know about any interest in Simmons.

The Kings signed Simmons, 30, to a one-year, $3.5 million deal in September. He hadn't played since April 2025 with the Clippers and sat out all of 2025-26 with back problems. He looked sharp in two preseason games and was in line for a starting role. Then he tore his right Achilles tendon in a practice drill on Oct. 18, ending his season. He is rehabbing in Sacramento and told Andscape he expects to return next season.

For Golden State, the story changes nothing on the floor. Kerr's answer points to the doubt the front office had about Simmons' health, and Simmons' injury two weeks into his Kings tenure means the Warriors have no reason to second-guess the decision this season.

What it means for Friday

The Warriors are 2-3 but have started to steady themselves. After three straight losses to open the season, they won 134-114 in Denver and 119-114 in Minnesota. Their next game brings back the opponent that started the slide. The Lakers beat Golden State 127-105 in the opener, and they visit on Friday, Oct. 30, on Prime Video.

The Lakers are favored on the board for the game despite playing on the road. Novig, one of 12 venues listed, has Los Angeles at -125 on the moneyline and the Warriors at +122. On the spread, Novig lists the Lakers at -2.5 for -104 and Golden State at +2.5 for -102. Elsewhere, the best Lakers number is DraftKings' -1.5 at -115, and the best Warriors number is BetRivers' +3.5 at -134. The total is 234.5 at Novig, and BetRivers has the best under at 235.5 for -113. Sportsbook hold runs from about 3 to 5 percent across the markets, so the venues differ by a point on the spread and total and by modest margins on price.

The Warriors have scored at least 119 points in each of their last three games. That will matter if they want to avoid falling to 0-2 against Los Angeles before November.