▲ Ben Simmons in a Sacramento Kings uniform
Ben Simmons, who was gearing up for his return to the NBA court as a member of the Sacramento Kings, is facing the threat of missing the entire season after being diagnosed with a suspected Achilles tendon tear.
Citing sources, U.S. sports media outlet ESPN reported on October 19 (Korean time) that "initial examinations by the team indicate Simmons has suffered a torn Achilles tendon."
If the diagnosis is confirmed, Simmons will effectively face a season-ending scenario even before the regular season tips off.
The news leaves deep disappointment as he had signaled a rebound with impressive performances in recent training camps and the preseason.
Simmons drew massive attention from his debut, but has repeatedly been hobbled by injuries.
Selected first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2016 NBA Draft, he missed his entire debut season due to an ankle injury.
However, in the ensuing 2017–2018 regular season, he appeared in 81 games, averaging 33.7 minutes with 15.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 8.2 assists, earning the Rookie of the Year award and a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
Although he established himself as a core member of the team afterward, he was forced to sit out another entire season after undergoing back surgery following his move to the Brooklyn Nets in the 2021–2022 season.
He continued to suffer from recurring injuries during his subsequent stint with the LA Clippers.
He struggled through the 2024–2025 regular season, appearing in just 18 games and averaging 16.4 minutes, and had to spend the entirety of last season on the sidelines after failing to find a team.
Determined to bounce back, Simmons signed a one-year, $3.5 million (approx. 4.67 billion won) contract with Sacramento on September 4, seeking a revival.
During rigorous physical examinations and on-court training at Sacramento's training facilities, he left a strong impression on head coach Doug Christie and other club officials, raising expectations.
In fact, Simmons had smoothly prepared for the new season, averaging 10.5 points in 17.5 minutes across two preseason games in his Sacramento uniform, but an injury sustained during training has put his return to the court in jeopardy.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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