Ben Simmons will not be playing in the NBA next season either. The Australian suffered a serious injury during a Sacramento Kings training session on Sunday and will be out for the entire year.
As has already been confirmed by the team, the former top draft pick suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon during training. The 30-year-old had already sat out the entire previous season and was hoping to make a fresh start in Sacramento. To that end, he signed a non-guaranteed one-year contract worth $3.5 million.
” “I’ve faced many challenges that have tested me mentally, physically and emotionally, and I’ve always found a way,” Ben Simmons said defiantly on Instagram. “This injury is just another chapter in my journey, but not the end of my story.”
The guard played two pre-season games for the Kings, averaging 10.5 points in 17.5 minutes. Sacramento had promised the Australian that he would act as a backup playmaker for rookie Darius Acuff Jr., whilst also being slotted into other positions.
Simmons has already missed three seasons
Simmons had repeatedly struggled with injuries in the past; in particular, during his time with the Brooklyn Nets, the Australian suffered recurring back problems that limited him or forced him to sit out. Simmons played his last NBA match in April 2025 for the L.A. Clippers.
The 2016 number one draft pick has appeared in 383 games during his career, averaging 13.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.2 assists. However, he has already missed two full seasons and voluntarily sat out another.