Sacramento’s Ben Simmons has suffered a torn right Achilles and will soon undergo surgery to repair it, the Kings have announced. While no official timetable was given, he will undoubtedly miss the entire 2026-27 season.
Simmons confirmed the news and put out this statement on Instagram.
“I’ve faced challenges before that tested me mentally, physically, and emotionally, and I’ve found a way through every single one of them. This injury is another chapter in my journey, not the end of my story.
“It’s never easy being away from the game I love, especially after everything it took to get back here. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that adversity doesn’t define you. How you respond to it does. I’ve been knocked down before, and I’ve always found a way to get back up. This time will be no different.”
This is a devastating blow for Simmons, who had been out of the league for a year getting his body right and his mind in a good place. For years, Simmons had been dealing with a back issue that limited him physically, caused him to miss a lot of games, and that shook his confidence.
Taking a year off seemed to have worked. All the buzz coming out of Sacramento had been overwhelmingly positive, and Simmons, 30, was expected to be a starter on opening night. While it’s just the preseason, Simmons was moving well and playing a more attacking style, averaging 10.5 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists in 17.4 minutes per preseason game.
Two seasons ago, the former No. 1 pick played 51 games between the Nets and Clippers, averaging 5 points, 5.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game, while shooting 52%, all from inside the arc. He showed flashes of what he could be as a floor general and leader.
This injury also leaves the Kings and coach Doug Christie scrambling to fill a big hole in his rotation. Don’t be surprised if Precious Achiuwa gets a lot of run with the starters, a group expected to include rookie Darius Acuff Jr., Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine and Keegan Murray.
