Ben Simmons tears Achilles in Kings practice, comeback halted
Ben Simmons' NBA comeback has stopped before it started.
The Sacramento Kings announced that Simmons tore his right Achilles tendon during a live drill in practice and will undergo surgery. The injury came three days before Sacramento's season opener against the Los Angeles Clippers, scheduled for Wednesday night. The Guardian
The timing stings. Simmons had just logged 26 minutes in a preseason loss to San Antonio and was set for a key role alongside rookie Darius Acuff and veteran Zach LaVine. The Kings had given a preliminary diagnosis of an Achilles tear on 18 October. ESPN
Sacramento signed Simmons to a one-year deal this fall to revive his career. He sat out all of last season after being cut at the end of the 2024-25 campaign. In August, he was practicing with "zero restrictions" while eyeing a return. Reuters
Simmons, a former No. 1 draft pick, Rookie of the Year winner and three-time All-Star, has had a stop-start run in recent years. He sought a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers, spent two-and-a-half seasons with Brooklyn, then finished the 2024-25 season with the Los Angeles Clippers. He sat out the 2021-22 season while dealing with mental health concerns and physical injuries, and he missed the rest of the 2023-24 season after back surgery for a nerve impingement.
The reaction was immediate. Former star Dwight Howard posted on X that Simmons was going to have the greatest comeback story in NBA history.
For fans, this means another long wait. An Achilles tear — a rupture of the thick tendon connecting calf to heel — usually requires surgery and months of rehab. No timetable has been announced.
