NBA player Ben Simmons tore his Achilles tendon during a practice with the Sacramento Kings, ending his attempt to return to the league.

What it means

Ben Simmons, the former NBA All-Star who had been out of the league for over a year due to back and mental health issues, signed a contract with the Sacramento Kings in September 2026 and was preparing for a comeback. During a practice just days before the season opener, he tore his right Achilles tendon, an injury that typically requires months of recovery and often ends or severely shortens a player's career, particularly for a 30-year-old guard who relies on athleticism.

Accuracy & sourcesGrounded

The claim is solid, reported by multiple reputable outlets including ABC News Australia, Reuters, and the New York Post, all citing the Kings organization or league sources as the primary information. The reporting is close to the primary source—the official injury announcement from the team—so the core fact of the torn Achilles is reliable.

How new

This is genuinely new news, breaking on October 18–19, 2026, as confirmed by the publication window of the grounding sources.

Past coverage

We covered Ben Simmons' signing with the Sacramento Kings on September 6, 2026, when he inked a multi-million-dollar deal to restart his NBA career after a long absence.

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