Ben Simmons’ current arc was supposed to be a feel-good story.

Here was a guy that entered the NBA with great promise, had three stellar seasons, made the most questionable decision in postseason history, fought his way out of teams, and suffered leg and back injuries that stunted his career. 

Left with no team in the 2024-25 season, Simmons instead pursued sportfishing, got into ownership there, and won a championship in sportfishing even before the Philadelphia 76ers returned to the Eastern Conference Finals. 

Winning it all in sportfishing may have inspired Simmons to give basketball another chance and for a moment, it felt as if he could make a comeback with the Sacramento Kings. 

The Australian played in two preseason games and made a good account of himself, averaging  10.0 points (on 53.8 percent shooting), 4.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. The flashes of versatility, mismatch maximization, and the presence of a jumpshot brought some measure of excitement for those who were rooting for him and the Kings. 

But sometimes, fate can be cruel. 

A torn right Achilles unfortunately made Simmons’ comeback merely an anecdote for the 2026-27 season, which will see the 30-year-old getting surgery and beginning a lengthy recovery process. It may indicate that things are back to zero, but in reality, that may not be the case. 

Simmons is not demanding the moon when it comes to money and even his role within the franchise. He has accepted the roles and opportunities given to him (though he doesn’t have much choice) and with an active contract with Sacramento, he has access to facilities that will help in his recovery. 

The Kings believed in Simmons enough to keep him on the regular season roster and if not for the Achilles tear, he would have been playing significant minutes off the bench. It’s not at the level he experienced at the peak of his time with the Philadelphia 76ers, but it nonetheless is an important one. He could still have a chance to do so next season, but a lot can happen between then and now. 

We’re a few days into the start of the 2026-27 NBA regular season and while the news of Simmons’ injury has already died down, the work continues for him. He’ll be flying under the radar, but the work he could put in may not go unnoticed for Sacramento, who can still re-sign him next season. Technology has gotten better, even for Achilles injuries. Gone are the days it’s a complete death sentence, and the likes of Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and Tyrese Haliburton are showing that a proper recovery program can prove to be a temporary setback.  

Ben Simmons’ current arc was supposed to be a feel-good story, but it still can be. We just have to wait a little while longer for it to materialize.