Ben Simmons’ NBA comeback derailed after tearing achilles tendon in practice

Sacramento guard to undergo surgery and will miss entire season

Former No 1 draft pick has been attempting to revive his career

Ben Simmons faces a monumental task to revive his NBA career after another devastating injury setback put his comeback attempt with the Sacramento Kings on hold. The Australian will undergo surgery after scans revealed he tore his right achilles tendon during a live drill at practice, just three days out from Sacramento’s season opener against the Los Angeles Clippers.

The 30-year-old signed a one-year deal with the Kings in an attempt to revive his career, but will now miss the entire season. It is another massive setback for the three-time All-Star, after five years battling a series of significant injuries and mental health concerns.

“I’ve faced challenges before that tested me mentally, physically, and emotionally, and I’ve found a way through every single one of them,” Simmons posted in an Instagram story. “This injury is another chapter in my journey, not the end of my story.

“It’s never easy being away from the game I love, especially after everything it took to get back here. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that adversity doesn’t define you. How you respond to it does. I’ve been knocked down before, and I’ve always found a way to get back up. This time will be no different.”

Simmons had shown promising flashes in pre-season, including a productive 26 minutes in Sacramento’s loss to San Antonio. The build-up had led to high praise from a host of NBA greats, including eight-time All-Star Dwight Howard, who predicted a successful return for the Melbourne-born talent. “Ben Simmons going to have the greatest comeback story in NBA history!” Howard posted on X last week.