Ben Simmons is believed to have suffered a season-ending Achilles tear in practice Sunday, according to Shams Charania of ESPN, and the Kings have ruled him out. The 30-year-old guard-forward will not be available for Sacramento's season opener at the Clippers on Wednesday or any game after it.
What happened
The Kings listed Ben Simmons as out on the Sunday, Oct. 18 injury report with an Achilles and leg issue. Shams Charania of ESPN reports Simmons is believed to have suffered a season-ending Achilles tear during practice Sunday. Simmons had been moving in and out of day-to-day status over the previous two weeks, cleared from day-to-day on Friday, Oct. 16 before going back to day-to-day that same day, and also listed day-to-day on Oct. 13 for rest and on Oct. 5 for an undisclosed issue.
What it means for the Kings
Sacramento opens its 2026-27 season at the Clippers on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 10:30 PM ET without Simmons, who projected to contribute as a secondary playmaker and defender in the rotation. The Kings have no 2026-27 games on the books yet, so there is no record with or without him to point to. In his absence, ball-handling and defensive minutes figure to shift toward Russell Westbrook and Dennis Schroder, with Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis carrying the scoring load alongside Keegan Murray. Simmons is not the only name on Sacramento's injury report: Maxime Raynaud is out with a left knee and leg issue, Dylan Cardwell is out with a left calf and leg issue, and Malik Monk is day-to-day with a left ankle and leg issue.
What to watch
The next injury report will show whether Simmons' status changes from out to a more specific season-ending designation. His expected return is listed as Oct. 1, 2027, pointing to next season rather than any date in 2026-27. The Kings' next test is Wednesday's opener at the Clippers, part of a schedule that now opens with him sidelined for the long haul.
Is Ben Simmons playing at the Clippers?
No. Simmons is out with an Achilles and leg issue the Kings' medical staff is treating as season-ending, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.
When will Ben Simmons be back?
His expected return is listed as Oct. 1, 2027, which falls outside the 2026-27 season. No return date within this season has been announced.