Sacramento Kings guard-forward Ben Simmons tore his proper Achilles tendon throughout a dwell drill at Sunday’s apply, simply three days earlier than he was scheduled to make his official NBA comeback in Wednesday’s 2026-27 regular-season opener in opposition to the Los Angeles Clippers.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the harm on the identical day the community premiered “Being Ben,” an E60 documentary chronicling the previous No. 1 choose’s try to revive his profession. Simmons vowed to return, whereas NBA personalities lamented the “devastating” information.
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NBA Group Bemoans Ben Simmons’ Season-Ending Achilles Harm
Shortly after Charania’s report, the Kings confirmed that an MRI revealed a torn proper Achilles tendon and that Simmons would bear surgical procedure. Charania described the season-ending harm as “a devastating flip of occasions on the eve of his NBA return after rehabilitating from again surgical procedures.”
The three-time All-Star has not performed greater than 51 video games in a season because the 2020-21 marketing campaign with the Philadelphia 76ers and sat out the complete 2025-26 season to heal from lingering again and leg accidents.
Simmons confirmed he was wholesome throughout an Australian nationwide workforce minicamp in August, labored out for Kings basic supervisor Scott Perry in Miami, and signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal in September.
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In an Andscape characteristic tied to the documentary, revealed Oct. 12, he stated he had not gone by means of all that rehabilitation solely to remain off the court docket.
READ MORE: ‘Folks Throw Folks Underneath The Bus’ — Ben Simmons Picks at Outdated Wounds From Doc Rivers’ 2021 Meltdown
Later Sunday, the 30-year-old responded optimistically to his newest setback in an announcement on Instagram: “This harm is one other chapter in my journey, not the tip of my story.”
Simmons wrote that stepping away from the sport is rarely straightforward, particularly after what it took to return, and closed with a vow: “I have been knocked down earlier than, and I’ve all the time discovered a strategy to get again up. This time will likely be no completely different.”
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Reactions started pouring in inside minutes of Charania’s publish. Spotrac’s Keith Smith was among the many first to weigh in, writing that he was “gutted for him, particularly after all of the preseason buzz was so optimistic from him and the Kings.”
Simmons appeared in two of the Kings’ 5 exhibition outings and began each, averaging 10.5 factors, 4.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 0.5 steals whereas capturing 53.8% in 17.4 minutes per recreation.
“Completely brutal. He was again, regarded like he had earned a beginning job, and now this,” Lakers Nation’s Trevor Lane wrote.
“Extraordinarily unhappy story… Simmons regarded nice too,” NBA content material creator Legend Of Profitable reacted.
NBA insider Marc Stein referred to as it “devastating in Sacramento for Ben Simmons to maintain such a critical harm simply as he was about to make his official NBA comeback.”
Yahoo Sports activities’ Kevin O’Connor regarded previous this season, a lot as Simmons did in his assertion: “Actually terrible information. Ben Simmons had labored so arduous to get again thus far. Solely can hope this units up for a good higher comeback season one 12 months from now.”
The harm additionally has implications for Simmons’ contract. HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported in September that his deal was non-guaranteed, however ESPN’s Bobby Marks defined that the Australian will nonetheless be paid in full:
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“Simmons had a $1m assure if he was on the roster opening day. Nonetheless, as a result of it is a important harm (wage continuation), Simmons will obtain his full wage.”
Andscape’s characteristic reported that Simmons was anticipated to begin alongside 2026 No. 7 choose Darius Acuff Jr. within the Kings’ season opener. Coach Doug Christie had praised Simmons’ versatility throughout coaching camp, saying, “He can guard everyone.”
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Coming off a 22-60 season, tied for the worst document within the Western Convention, and a winless preseason, Sacramento will now have to search out that versatility elsewhere.
This text initially appeared on Professional Soccer Community.
