Simmons Achilles tear removes Kings support option before Acuff’s debut

Sacramento built part of its preseason plan around Ben Simmons helping rookie point guard Darius Acuff Jr. That option disappeared Sunday when Simmons tore his right Achilles tendon during a live drill at practice.

The Kings confirmed the diagnosis after an MRI and said Simmons will undergo surgery. They did not announce a return timetable. ESPN reported that the injury is likely to keep him out for the season, a major interruption before Sacramento plays its opener Wednesday at the Los Angeles Clippers.

For a team coming off a 22-60 season, the loss changes a supporting role that had begun to take shape. Simmons was expected to back up Acuff and offer flexibility across several positions, according to ESPN. Sacramento will now enter the regular season without knowing when that option could return.

The Kings had looked beyond Simmons' recent absences when assembling the roster. General manager Scott Perry watched him work out in Miami and met with him in late August. A subsequent visit to Sacramento included a medical exam and an on-court workout in front of coach Doug Christie and members of the staff.

Those steps led to Simmons joining the team in September. His preseason appearances offered a small but encouraging sample: 10.5 points in 17.5 minutes per game across two outings, ESPN reported. Sunday prevented the Kings from carrying that evaluation into regular-season games.

Acuff, the seventh pick in the 2026 draft, remains central to Sacramento's rebuild. The appeal of Simmons was the possibility of adding an experienced passer to the same roster as Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis. His absence takes away one of the combinations Sacramento had been preparing rather than proving which player will inherit those minutes.

The team has not announced a corresponding replacement move in its medical update. Its confirmed next step is surgery for Simmons, with further information to follow as appropriate.

Simmons acknowledged the setback in a social-media statement shared by reporter Marc Stein. He described his determination to recover, drawing on the setbacks he had already faced.

The 30-year-old's earlier career included Rookie of the Year honors, three All-Star appearances and selections to All-NBA and All-Defensive teams. The Kings were trying to recover some of that versatility after injuries had repeatedly disrupted his playing time.

They instead face a different preseason conclusion. Two appearances had given Sacramento a chance to test Simmons in its system. An MRI-confirmed injury now forces the team to reopen those plans days before Acuff's first regular-season game.