Ben Simmons’ Comeback Ends Before NBA Season With Torn Achilles
Ben Simmons’ NBA comeback has ended before the 2026-27 season after the Sacramento Kings said he tore his right Achilles tendon during Sunday’s practice. An MRI confirmed the injury, and he is expected to undergo surgery and miss the entire season. The setback comes after Simmons had been away from the league for a year.
Ben Simmons’ comeback ends before the season begins
Ben Simmons’ attempted return to the NBA has been cut short by a torn right Achilles tendon suffered during a Sacramento Kings practice Sunday, according to The Athletic’s NBA season live updates and a report summarized by Basketball Sphere.
An MRI confirmed the injury, and Simmons is expected to undergo surgery and miss the entire 2026-27 season. The injury comes after a year-long absence from the league and ends his planned comeback before Sacramento’s season gets underway.
The Kings’ announcement followed the injury during a Sunday practice drill. The Athletic reported that the team source expects Simmons to miss the season, making the setback one of the NBA’s most significant developments on the eve of opening week.
Other NBA injury news
The same day also brought several additional injury updates. Denver wing Julian Strawther suffered a sprained left knee and is out indefinitely, with a reevaluation scheduled in six weeks, according to Yahoo Sports.
Sacramento reserve center Maxime Raynaud suffered a right patellar subluxation and is expected to miss a couple of weeks, while another Kings center, Dylan Cardwell, sustained a left calf strain and is also expected to miss a couple of weeks. Oklahoma City rookie Otega Oweh suffered a torn Achilles and is out for the season, the report said.
The Kings’ immediate concern, however, is Simmons, whose return to the league will now have to wait until the 2027-28 season at the earliest.