Ben Simmons tears Achilles tendon at Kings practice and is expected to miss the season

Sacramento Kings guard Ben Simmons has torn his right Achilles tendon and will have surgery to repair it, the Kings announced, NBC Sports, NBA.com and ESPN reported. The injury happened at practice on Sunday 18 October (US time).

NBC Sports said the Kings gave no timetable for his return but that Simmons, 30, is expected to miss the whole 2026-27 NBA season, which starts on Tuesday in the US.

Simmons confirmed the injury in a statement on Instagram, NBC Sports reported: “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.” He added: “I’ve been knocked down before, and I’ve always found a way to get back up. This time will be no different.”

According to NBC Sports, Simmons, the No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft, had spent a year out of the league to work on his fitness after years of back problems. He averaged 10.5 points, four rebounds and four assists in 17.4 minutes a game in the preseason, and NBC Sports said he had been expected to start on opening night.

In 2024-25, his last NBA season, Simmons played 51 games for the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers, averaging five points, 5.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds, NBC Sports said. The Kings are coached by Doug Christie.