Kings' Ben Simmons Tears Achilles Tendon Before Season
The 30-year-old former No. 1 pick will have surgery after he was hurt in a practice drill
The Sacramento Kings said Ben Simmons tore his right Achilles tendon in practice and will have surgery.
Simmons, 30, was hurt during a live drill on October 18. The Kings gave no timetable for his return.
He sat out last season and agreed to a one-year contract with Sacramento in September after working out for general manager Scott Perry. He averaged 10.5 points in two preseason games.
Simmons was the first pick in the 2016 draft, Rookie of the Year with Philadelphia and a three-time All-Star. He sat out the 2021–22 season and averaged 5.9 points in later stints with Brooklyn and the Los Angeles Clippers.
"This injury is another chapter in my journey, not the end of my story," Simmons said in a statement.
Sacramento, 22–60 last season, is building around rookie Darius Acuff Jr. and plays its first game on October 21 against the Clippers.
Ben Simmons tore his right Achilles tendon in a Sacramento Kings practice and will have surgery.
The Kings announced the injury on October 18. Simmons was hurt during a live drill at practice that day. The team gave no timetable for his return.
Simmons, 30, signed with Sacramento after a season away from the court. He sat out last season, then worked out for general manager Scott Perry and agreed to a one-year contract on September 4. He played in two preseason games for the Kings and averaged 10.5 points.
Philadelphia took Simmons with the first pick in the 2016 draft. He was Rookie of the Year for the 2017–18 season and is a three-time All-Star.
He sat out the entire 2021–22 season. In later stints with Brooklyn and the Los Angeles Clippers, he averaged 5.9 points.
Simmons addressed the injury in a statement.
"I've faced challenges before that tested me mentally, physically and emotionally, and I've found a way through every single one of them," he said. "This injury is another chapter in my journey, not the end of my story."
Sacramento went 22–60 last season and is building around rookie Darius Acuff Jr., the seventh pick in this year's draft. The Kings play their first game on October 21 against the Clippers.