Ben Simmons will miss the entire 2026-27 NBA season after tearing his right Achilles tendon during a Sacramento Kings practice on Sunday, the team confirmed. The 30-year-old Australian guard underwent surgery and is expected to be sidelined for the full campaign, marking another major setback in his attempts to revive his career.
Simmons, a three-time All-Star, signed a one-year deal with the Kings this offseason after sitting out the 2025-26 campaign. He had shown promising form in preseason, including a 26-minute outing in Sacramento’s loss to San Antonio, which drew praise from NBA legends like Dwight Howard, Dirk Nowitzki, and Blake Griffin. Howard had predicted on social media last week that Simmons would author “the greatest comeback story in NBA history” .
The injury occurred just three days before the Kings’ season opener against the Los Angeles Clippers. Simmons, the 2018 Rookie of the Year, has struggled with injuries and mental health challenges in recent years, including a full season missed in 2021-22 while with the Philadelphia 76ers. He later spent two and a half injury-plagued seasons with the Brooklyn Nets before a brief stint with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2024-25.
In a social media post, Simmons acknowledged the difficulty of the setback but vowed to return. “I’ve faced challenges before that tested me mentally, physically, and emotionally, and I’ve found a way through every single one of them,” he wrote. “This injury is another chapter in my journey, not the end of my story” .
The Kings, who are rebuilding around rookie Darius Acuff and veteran Zach LaVine, had counted on Simmons to contribute significantly this season. His absence leaves a void in their rotation as they prepare to face the Clippers on Wednesday .
