Sacramento Kings guard Ben Simmons tore his right Achilles tendon during Sunday’s practice, the team announced. It is now likely he will miss the entire 2026-27 season, although the Kings have not set a timetable for his recovery. Simmons, who signed with Sacramento last month on a one-year contract worth $3.5 million, was trying to return to play in the NBA again after missing the 2025-26 season while recovering from nagging back and leg injuries.
Simmons was expected to be in Sacramento’s starting lineup on opening night against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday after starting in the Kings’ final preseason game against the San Antonio Spurs. Simmons played in two preseason games and averaged 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists.
The three-time NBA All-Star was in Sacramento’s starting lineup alongside Darius Acuff Jr., Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis, and started ahead of DeAndre Hunter, who was acquired by Sacramento at last season’s trade deadline.
Simmons had expressed his dreams this offseason of a potential return to the NBA before signing with Sacramento a few weeks before training camp. He traveled to Melbourne earlier this summer to take part in the mini-camp run by Australian national team players, despite not having played for Australia since he was a teenager in 2013.
The last time Simmons played in the NBA was during the 2024-25 season, when he appeared in 51 games for the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers. During this season, Simmons averaged 5.0 points, 5.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds.
Before signing with Sacramento, Simmons reportedly received interest from the New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors, according to The Athletic.
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