NBA: Ben Simmons tears his Achilles tendon

A major setback for the Sacramento Kings. One of the players expected to be part of the starting lineup, Ben Simmons, suffered a torn Achilles tendon in his right leg, one of the most difficult injuries for an elite athlete to overcome. He will need surgery.

This news broke just two days before the start of the new NBA season, in which the Kings will try to avoid repeating last year's mistakes—they finished 14th in the Western Conference, out of playoff contention—and put on a better showing.

"Sacramento Kings guard Ben Simmons was injured during a live drill in practice on Sunday, Oct. 18," the Californian franchise reported in a statement. "An MRI revealed a torn right Achilles tendon."

"Simmons will undergo surgery," the Kings added.

Recovery time

It's difficult to be precise about how long Simmons will be out, though based on recent similar cases, he could miss the entire season. Between the surgery and the rehabilitation process, the recovery period for an Achilles tendon rupture can extend to more than 365 days.

One of the most recent cases is that of Tyrese Haliburton. The star of the Indiana Pacers returned to the court a few weeks ago after being sidelined for more than 15 months, since June 23, 2025.

This same injury also affected Jayson Tatum. On May 12, 2025, the star of the Boston Celtics suffered a fracture while playing in a playoff game that season against the New York Knicks. He returned to play March 7, 2026.

Other players who have suffered Achilles tendon tears in recent years include Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, and Rudy Gay, among others. Also Kobe Bryant, who had to go through the same process in 2013, which saw him sidelined for just over eight months.