Full Breakdown
Ben Simmons’ Achilles Tear Dashes NBA Comeback Hope
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Achilles Tear Ends Sacramento Kings Return Attempt
On October 19, 2026, the Sacramento Kings announced that guard Ben Simmons suffered a torn right Achilles tendon during a live drill in a team practice. The injury is expected to keep the 30-year-old out for the entire 2026-27 season, ending his anticipated debut with the Kings just days before the franchise’s opening night against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Background & Context
Simmons, the 2016 No. 1 overall draft pick from Melbourne, has been away from NBA action for 538 days. After a 2025-26 season lost to lingering back and leg issues, he signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with Sacramento in early September 2026. Earlier in his career he endured a broken fifth metatarsal on September 30, 2016, during his first training camp with the Philadelphia 76ers, and multiple back surgeries between 2022 and 2024. Those setbacks limited him to 81 games in his rookie year and never more than 60 games in a season after 2018-19.
Data & Statistics
- Absence: 538 days without NBA play.
- Age/Size: 30 years old, 6 ft 10 in, 240 lb.
- Contract: One-year, $3.5 million deal with the Kings.
- Preseason performance: In two preseason games, Simmons averaged 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 17.5 minutes per contest.
- Career highlights: Three NBA All-Star selections (2019-2021), All-NBA Third Team (2020), All-Defensive First Team (2020-2021), and the league’s steals leader in 2019-20.
Official Statements & Responses
Team officials indicated that the roster will need to be re-configured for the season opener.
Simmons posted a personal statement on Instagram, acknowledging the setback and reaffirming his resolve to return.
The injury also jeopardizes Simmons’ goal of representing Australia’s national team, the Boomers, at the 2027 FIBA World Cup in Qatar, a tournament he hoped to join after a successful NBA season.
Why It Matters / Impact
For the Kings, Simmons was projected to start at point guard and provide elite defensive versatility alongside rookie Darius Acuff Jr., Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis. His absence forces the team to rely on existing depth and may accelerate the development of younger guards.
Internationally, Australia loses a potential marquee player for the upcoming World Cup. While the Boomers could still field a competitive roster, Simmons’ presence would have added a high-profile NBA talent and defensive anchor.
Verbatim Quotes
- “People can say what they want but, at the end, I have to bring it,” — Ben Simmons
- “When you have done something your whole life and so you're used to it, that is a big part of who I am,” — Ben Simmons
- “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.” — Blake Griffin
- “It's never easy being away from the game I love, especially after everything it took to get back here,” — Ben Simmons