Ben Simmons suffers career-ending Achilles injury during NBA preseason practice

Consensus Summary

Ben Simmons’s NBA comeback attempt has been derailed after he suffered a torn Achilles tendon during practice just days before the league’s season opener. The injury, confirmed by the Sacramento Kings, will require surgery and is expected to sideline the 30-year-old three-time All-Star for the entire season. Simmons, who signed a one-year deal with the Kings, had shown promise in preseason play but was struck down by the devastating setback, which the NBA community has described as a major blow to his career resurgence.

Simmons’s journey back to the NBA has been marked by years of injury struggles and mental health challenges. After sitting out the 2021-22 season due to personal struggles, he spent two-and-a-half seasons with the Brooklyn Nets before finishing the 2024-25 campaign with the Los Angeles Clippers, where he played just 50 games. His durability has waned since his rookie season, when he played 81 of 82 games, and he has not exceeded 60 regular-season appearances since the 2018-19 season. The latest injury adds to a string of setbacks that have tested his resilience, including multiple surgeries and a documented battle with critics who questioned his passion for the game.

Simmons responded to the injury with a defiant message, posting on Instagram that this setback is 'another chapter in my journey, not the end of my story.' He emphasized his love for basketball and his determination to overcome adversity, echoing sentiments shared in an ESPN documentary released the same day as his injury. The Kings’ season opener against the Los Angeles Clippers, originally scheduled for Thursday, now looms without Simmons, who had been seen as a key piece in Sacramento’s rebuilding efforts alongside rookies like Darius Acuff and veterans such as Zach LaVine. NBA legends, including Dwight Howard and Blake Griffin, had recently expressed optimism about his return, further underscoring the disappointment of the latest setback.

While all three outlets agree on the core details of Simmons’s injury and its immediate impact, they differ slightly in their framing of the timeline and context. ABC and the Guardian both note he was injured 'three days out' from the season opener, whereas 7NEWS describes it as 'just days before' without specifying. Additionally, ABC mentions the Kings’ opener is on Thursday afternoon, though it also references a Thursday morning timeframe, creating minor confusion. The Guardian highlights Simmons’s preseason performance, including a 26-minute outing against San Antonio, while 7NEWS focuses on his hopes of playing in the 2027 World Cup for Australia, which now appear dashed due to the injury.

The injury has reignited questions about Simmons’s long-term future in the NBA, particularly given the one-year deal he signed with the Kings. His absence will leave a void in Sacramento’s lineup, and the Kings will now navigate the season without their star guard. While Simmons’s statement suggests he remains committed to returning, the road to recovery from an Achilles tear is grueling, and his ability to regain his former form remains uncertain. The NBA community, which had rallied behind his comeback, will now watch closely to see if he can overcome this latest hurdle and reclaim his place among the league’s elite.