Ben Simmons, the Sacramento Kings’ highest-profile free agent signing of the offseason, suffered a torn Achilles tendon during practice Sunday, the team confirmed — an injury expected to sideline him for the entire NBA season days before it begins.
The Kings in a news release said Simmons was injured during a drill and that an MRI confirmed he had torn his right Achilles tendon. Simmons will undergo surgery, the team said.
Simmons suffered the injury during practice, ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported Sunday afternoon. Charania posted on X that Simmons “is believed to have suffered a torn Achilles tendon,” which is a season-ending injury.
Simmons, a 30-year-old Australian-American guard who was the first overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft, was a defensive standout, NBA Rookie of the Year and three-time All-Star in his four seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers before various injuries and reported mental health struggles derailed his career. He played a three-season stint for the Brooklyn Nets starting in 2022, followed by 17 regular season games with the Los Angeles Clippers late in the 2024-25 season.
Simmons sought a return to the NBA after going unsigned all of 2025-26, as the Kings in early September signed him to a one-year contract reportedly worth $3.5 million.
The Kings begin the regular season Wednesday on the road against the Clippers, with their first game at Golden 1 Center on Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Sacramento Kings guard Ben Simmons did not play in the NBA preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, Oct. 5, at Golden 1 Center. JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS Sacramento Bee file
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