Ben Simmons’ NBA comeback derailed after tearing achilles tendon in practice

Ben Simmons faces a monumental task to revive his NBA career after another devastating injury setback put his comeback attempt with the Sacramento Kings on hold. The Australian will undergo surgery after scans revealed he tore his right achilles tendon during a live drill at practice, just three days out from Sacramento’s season opener against the Los Angeles Clippers.

The 30-year-old signed a one-year deal with the Kings in an attempt to revive his career, but will now miss the entire season. It is another massive setback for the three-time All-Star, after five years battling a series of significant injuries and mental health concerns.

“I’ve faced challenges before that tested me mentally, physically, and emotionally, and I’ve found a way through every single one of them,” Simmons posted in an Instagram story. “This injury is another chapter in my journey, not the end of my story.

“It’s never easy being away from the game I love, especially after everything it took to get back here. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that adversity doesn’t define you. How you respond to it does. I’ve been knocked down before, and I’ve always found a way to get back up. This time will be no different.”

Simmons had shown promising flashes in pre-season, including a productive 26 minutes in Sacramento’s loss to San Antonio. The build-up had led to high praise from a host of NBA greats, including eight-time All-Star Dwight Howard, who predicted a successful return for the Melbourne-born talent. “Ben Simmons going to have the greatest comeback story in NBA history!” Howard posted on X last week.

NBA legends Dirk Nowitzki and Blake Griffin also recently backed three-time All-Star Simmons to reproduce some of his best basketball this season. “He is incredibly talented, he’s a big body and he can defend so many positions,” Griffin said at the NBA on Prime launch in New York. “Downhill he gets to the rim and he’s a great passer. I want to see a great year from him because he’s a special talent and I think the league is better off with a guy like him in it.”

The latest injury setback continues a rough few years for the former No 1 draft pick, who was named Rookie of the Year and a three-time All-Star before his career went off the rails. Simmons shot to prominence with the Philadelphia 76ers but sat out the 2021-22 season while dealing with mental health concerns and physical injuries. He sought a trade and landed in Brooklyn, where he spent two-and-a-half injury-riddled seasons, and finished the 2024-25 season with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Simmons was cut at the end of that campaign and sat out all of last season, leading critics to question whether he had lost his love for basketball. He rubbished those claims after inking his return with Sacramento and was set to play a key role for the rebuilding Kings alongside rookie Darius Acuff and fellow veteran Zach LaVine.