Ben Simmons tears Achilles in Kings practice, ending comeback season before it begins

Sacramento Kings guard Ben Simmons has torn his right Achilles tendon during the team’s practice on Sunday, the club announced — a season-ending injury that ends his comeback before it ever reached opening night, NBC Sports Bay Area reported.

ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the news on Sunday evening; the Kings subsequently confirmed in a press release that Simmons tore his right Achilles and will undergo surgery, with an MRI confirming the devastating diagnosis, per Hoops Rumors and Fox Sports Australia. The 30-year-old will almost certainly miss the entire 2026-27 season.

The injury is a cruel blow for the former No. 1 overall pick, the 2017-18 Rookie of the Year and three-time All-Star, who sat out the whole of last season and signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal with Sacramento on 4 September to restart his career. He had impressed in pre-season — including 14 points, eight rebounds and seven assists against San Antonio just two days ago — and had earned a starting spot, NBC Sports noted.

It is the third Achilles tear of the not-yet-started NBA season, after the Thunder’s Otega Oweh and the Sixers’ Ariel Hukporti earlier in pre-season. The setback also threatens Simmons’ hopes of representing Australia’s Boomers at next year’s FIBA World Cup in Qatar — and came on the same day his documentary, Being Ben, was released. De’Andre Hunter and Precious Achiuwa are the leading options to replace him in Sacramento’s starting five.