Ben Simmons tears Achilles in Kings practice — SkimNews
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- Ben Simmons tore his Achilles tendon during a live drill at Sunday's Kings practice and will undergo surgery, the team announced — an injury likely to end his season.
- The 30-year-old three-time All-Star had signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal with Sacramento on Sept. 4 after an impressive training camp on short notice.
- Scott Perry worked out Simmons in Miami and held an hourlong meeting in late August before the Kings signed him as a backup point guard behind rookie Darius Acuff Jr.
- Simmons passed an in-depth medical exam at Sacramento's practice facility last month and impressed coach Doug Christie and the basketball staff during an on-court workout.
- In two preseason games for the Kings, Simmons averaged 10.5 points in 17.5 minutes.
- Sacramento viewed Simmons as a high-upside reclamation project, planning to play him across positions 1 through 5.
Why it matters: The Kings lose a $3.5 million reclamation bet before it could pay off, robbing rookie Darius Acuff Jr. of his veteran backup and leaving Sacramento's rotation thinner heading into opening night. The injury came weeks after an in-depth medical exam cleared Simmons — he had averaged 10.5 points across two preseason games.
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