Man, talk about a gut punch. Sacramento Kings guard Ben Simmons tore his right Achilles tendon during practice on Sunday, completely derailing what was supposed to be a massive comeback. The team hasn’t dropped an official recovery timeline, but let’s be real: this injury likely means he’s missing the entire 2026-27 season. Just brutal news for a guy trying to get back on the court.
The $3.5 Million Dream That Just Got Sidelined
Simmons signed with the Kings just last month, ink barely dry on a one-year, $3.5 million deal. This wasn’t just some casual signing, this was a *comeback story*. The dude sat out the entire 2025-26 season battling lingering back and leg injuries, and everyone was buzzing about him playing in the NBA again. He even traveled to Melbourne earlier this summer, hitting up the Australian national team’s player-led minicamp, even though he hadn’t played for Australia since he was a teenager way back in 2013. He’d been vocal all offseason about his dream of returning, and Sacramento was giving him that shot. Now, it’s all up in smoke.
Kings’ Opening Night Plans Just Got Ripped Up
Here’s where it really stings for the Kings: Simmons wasn’t just a bench filler. He was expected to be in Sacramento’s starting lineup for opening night, which is coming up fast on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Clippers. He even started their most recent preseason game against the San Antonio Spurs, where he showed some flashes, averaging 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists across two preseason appearances. The plan was for him to start alongside Darius Acuff Jr., Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray, and Domantas Sabonis, pushing DeAndre Hunter, who they traded for last season, to the bench. Now? Those plans are completely ripped up, and the team’s gotta figure out their starting five on the fly. The three-time NBA All-Star last played in the 2024-25 season, logging 51 games for the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers, where he averaged 5.0 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.7 rebounds. There were even rumors that the New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors were interested, according to The Athletic, before he landed in Sacramento.
What a punch to the gut for Simmons and the Kings right before the season officially kicks off. They’ve got the Clippers on Wednesday, and now they’re down a key piece who was supposed to be a starter. This is a tough pill to swallow for Sacramento as they try to get their 2026-27 campaign rolling.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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