Home · Sports · Oct 19 archive
Simmons Torn Achilles Will Miss 2026-27 Season
Confirmed
In Short: Sacramento Kings guard Ben Simmons tore his right Achilles tendon during practice and will undergo surgery, likely missing the entire season.
Sacramento Kings guard Ben Simmons suffered a torn right Achilles tendon during practice on Sunday, the team announced. The injury occurred during a live drill and will require surgery.
Simmons, who signed with the Kings last month on a one-year, $3.5 million deal, was attempting a comeback after sitting out the 2025-26 season due to lingering back and leg injuries.
The 30-year-old guard played in two preseason games, averaging 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. He was expected to start in the Kings' opening game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.
Simmons was the first overall pick by Philadelphia in 2016 after playing one season at LSU. He has faced numerous injuries throughout his career, including a right foot fracture in 2016-2017 and constant knee and leg injuries from 2021-2025.
General manager Scott Perry was impressed with Simmons during a workout in Miami and an hour-long meeting in late August. The Kings had high hopes for Simmons as a high-upside reclamation project.
Simmons expressed his determination in a statement posted on social media, writing, 'I've faced challenges before that tested me mentally, physically, and emotionally, and I've found a way through every single one of them.'
NBA legends Dirk Nowitzki and Blake Griffin had recently backed Simmons to reproduce some of his best basketball this season, but his comeback attempt is now on hold.
The Australian guard will undergo surgery after scans revealed the extent of his injury, just three days before the Kings' season opener against the Los Angeles Clippers.
What this adds
Simmons' injury is a significant setback for the Sacramento Kings, who were counting on him to contribute to their roster.
The team's opening game against the Los Angeles Clippers will now proceed without Simmons, who was expected to be a key player in the lineup.
Background
Pope Leo XIV announced Sunday that he will undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a lung nodule discovered during a recent medical examination.
What's confirmed
- Sacramento Kings guard Ben Simmons tore his right Achilles tendon during practice on Sunday, the team announced.
What's still developing
- He's now likely to miss the entire 2026-27 season, though the Kings did not put a timeline on his recovery.
- Before signing with Sacramento, Simmons reportedly had interest from the New York Knicks and the Golden State Warriors, per The Athletic.
- This is likely a season-ending injury for Simmons, 30, who authored an impressive training camp on short notice for Sacramento.
- Simmons was to serve as a high-upside reclamation project who still has years left in his prospective prime.
- Any chance of Ben Simmons making a comeback this season will have to wait until next season.
- Simmons shot to prominence with the Philadelphia 76ers but sat out the 2021-22 season while dealing with mental health concerns and physical injuries.
- Our picture editors select their favourite sporting images from the past week, from the spectacular to the powerful, and with a little bit of fun thrown in Simmons was cut at the end of that campaign and sat out all of last season, leading critics to question whether he had lost his love for basketball.
- “He is incredibly talented, he’s a big body and he can defend so many positions,” Griffin said at the NBA on Prime launch in New York.
- “Ben Simmons going to have the greatest comeback story in NBA history!” Howard posted on X last week.