Ben Simmons ☆ Follow

• Podcast Locked On Kings host · Analysis · 12 h ago

  Ben Simmons is out for the season with a torn Achilles. He was ruled out three days before the season began, and the host says today is the one-week mark.

  “Zack LaVine GOT ANGRY, but it still wasn't enough to get the Kings over the hump for their first win” at 16:46 · listen ↗

  also reported by Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective host, Hardwood Knocks host, James Ham, Locked On Kings, Numbers on the Board host

• Podcast Gil's Arena host · Analysis · Oct 24 name not confirmed around the league

  A panelist says Ben Simmons was a distributor for the Kings early on. Now the ball is mainly in Acuff's hands, shared with Zach LaVine.

  “Sixers Erase A MASSIVE 29-Point Deficit, SGA Ends His Streak & Jaylen Brown Calls CAP On Tatum!_1 Part 2” at 1:08:59 · listen ↗

• Podcast The Athletic NBA Daily · 2 points · Oct 22
  • Ben Simmons (Kings) tore his Achilles in practice after a preseason a host thought looked pretty good. at 37:16
  • Amick doesn't see the Kings trying to replace Simmons for now and expects them to roll with their current roster. He calls the Kings a terrible team. at 38:36

  “Wolves Make a Big Statement in Miami + Luka’s Showtime Era Begins” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On NBA host · Report · Oct 22 around the league

  Gavin (inferred) says Ben Simmons got hurt and that he had looked like a legitimate connective piece for the Kings. No injury details or timeline were given.

  “GAME NIGHT: Ant/LaMelo SHINE in Debut, Luka talks trash, Ty Jerome goes OFF” at 37:51 · listen ↗

• Podcast All The Smoke host · Report · Oct 21 around the league

  Ben Simmons went down. The hosts wish him a speedy recovery but give no details of the injury and do not name his team.

  “Jalen Hurts Deserved BETTER Than This” at 57:40 · listen ↗

• Bluesky James Ham (@jameshamnba.bsky.social) · Report · Oct 21

  Kings injury report for Game 1: Dylan Cardwell (Left Calf Strain) - OUT, Malik Monk (Left Ankle Soreness) - QUESTIONABLE, Maxime Raynaud (Right Patella Subluxation) - OUT, Ben Simmons (Right Achilles Tendon Rupture/Tear) - OUT

  original post ↗

• Podcast Locked On Kings · 2 points · Oct 23
  • Domantas Sabonis (quoted): Sabonis, speaking at practice, said Ben Simmons had a successful surgery and would have been a big part of the group this year. He said the team has to move on as quickly as possible. at 6:20
  • James Ham: The host says Simmons' Achilles injury happened on Sunday. He also says Simmons came into camp in great shape and the team had started building around him. at 26:08

  “Can the Kings create MORE OPPORTUNITIES for Domantas Sabonis on the offensive end?” · listen ↗

• Podcast Gil's Arena · 8 points · Oct 21
  • Simmons was hurt in a live practice drill. name not confirmed at 4:54
  • Simmons ended the preseason with his best game: 14 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists in 26 minutes against the Spurs last Friday. at 4:47
  • Sacramento signed Simmons to a one-year, $3.5 million deal in September. Because of the injury he stays on the roster with his salary fully guaranteed. at 5:03
  • Simmons had been expected to provide experienced ball handling and defensive versatility next to rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr. at 5:12
  • Mark Spears (Andscape) (reported): Marc Spears of Andscape reported that Kings head coach Doug Christie was going to name Simmons one of the team captains before the injury. at 5:24
  • Ben Simmons (quoted): Simmons wrote on his Instagram story that the injury is 'another chapter in my journey, not the end of my story' and promised to come back. at 5:38
  • Doug Christie (reported): Danny says Doug Christie was very high on Simmons and described him as the veteran who was taking players under his wing, leading and looking healthy. at 6:39
  • A host Danny says Simmons is only 30 and can still help as a big who handles the ball, plays point guard, screens and rolls in a Draymond-type role, and defends one through five. name not confirmed at 14:22

  “KD Claps Back At Mat Ishbia, PG Finds His LOVE Again In Boston & SGA's MVP THREE-PEAT Chase! Part 2” · listen ↗

• ESPN ESPN · Report · Oct 21

  Out, right achilles surgery, return est. Oct 1

  source ↗

• Bluesky James Ham (@jameshamnba.bsky.social) · Report · Oct 21

  The latest on @lockedonkings.bsky.social -- 🏀 KINGS QUESTIONS: How much will the Ben Simmons injury impact rookie Darius Acuff Jr.? 🏀 Who is the fifth starter? 🏀 What is the deal with Malik Monk? youtu.be/J4-5phXGh_M?...

  original post ↗

• Podcast Locked On Kings · 9 points · Oct 21
  • Sacramento Kings (reported): Per the host, the Kings announced that Simmons had successful surgery. No other medical details were given. at 11:09
  • James Ham: The Simmons injury news came on Sunday afternoon. The host calls it a gut punch to the team. at 2:23
  • James Ham: Simmons played 26 minutes in the preseason finale on Friday night and, per the host, was running the entire show. The Kings got blown out in that game. at 3:16
  • James Ham: Host analysis: Simmons was the de facto point guard from the power forward position, and the team was revolving around him. at 4:24
  • James Ham: In Simmons's first preseason game he played only about eight minutes. That was Acuff's best game: 25 points, 8 assists, and 'I think' 4 rebounds. at 4:39
  • James Ham: Host analysis: Simmons let Acuff play off the ball more and was acting as 'training wheels' for the rookie. at 4:45
  • James Ham: Simmons had been at practice for three weeks and play sets were built around him. The host says Acuff's responsibilities now need a redesign and have 'just doubled'. at 8:15
  • James Ham: Christie's planned starting lineup was Acuff, Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray at his natural three, Simmons at the four, and Domantas Sabonis at the five. The host says it will never play a minute together this season. at 13:34
  • James Ham: De'Andre Hunter came into camp as an early favorite to start at the three but was clearly outplayed by Simmons. Starting Hunter would push Keegan Murray back to the four. at 16:19

  “KINGS QUESTIONS: How much will the Ben Simmons injury impact rookie Darius Acuff Jr.?” · listen ↗

• Podcast Numbers on the Board · 3 points · Oct 20
  • Before the injury, Simmons had played well enough in camp and preseason to be a locked-in starter for the Kings. at 19:27
  • A host recalls Simmons putting up roughly 15-8-8 in his last preseason game, and says he was linking up with Zach LaVine on lobs and back-door cuts. at 23:00
  • One host says Simmons has nine years of service time and that this season won't count as his 10th. Another host thought being under contract might count and was unsure how well-sourced that is. at 25:06

  “The NBA Is Back! + We Draft Potential First Time All-Stars | Numbers On The Board” · listen ↗

• Podcast It Is What It Is host · Report · Oct 20 around the league

  A host describes a recent Victor Wembanyama play: a block, then he brought the ball up the court himself and finished with a dunk after a play off Ben Simmons and the backboard.

  “NBA Is Officially BACK, GM Survey Is WILD Disrespectful & Are The Knicks Being Slept On?” at 11:52 · listen ↗

• Podcast The Mismatch · 2 points · Oct 20
  • The hosts say Ben Simmons (Kings) tore his Achilles on the same day ESPN released its 'Being Ben' documentary series. at 19:29
  • Host statement: Ben Simmons had a strong preseason and was going to start for the Kings before the injury. at 19:14

  “Gearing Up for the Best Regular Season Ever” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Kings · 11 points · Oct 19
  • Shams (reported): Per a Shams tweet, Ben Simmons likely tore his Achilles tendon in Sunday's practice; the host says it took about 30 seconds to confirm. at 2:18
  • unnamed accounts (reported): The host says that, by accounts he heard afterward, the team knew about the injury before media left practice but did not want to talk about it. at 5:15
  • Mark Jones (reported): Mark Jones describes the injury: it came during full-court work on a retreat step to push off. Players were stunned and the practice ended shortly after. at 7:35
  • Mark Jones says Simmons played about 25-26 minutes in San Antonio and put up roughly 14-15 points, 7-8 rebounds and 7-8 assists (figures given approximately). at 3:49
  • Mark Jones's view: in scrimmages and drills Simmons was at times breathtaking, teammates saw him as an engine at both ends, and he was arguably the best player in training camp. at 6:20
  • Mark Jones (reported): Mark Jones says Simmons came back on a one-year deal of about $3 million (exact figure unclear). at 10:04
  • unnamed front office person (reported): Mark Jones relays that an unnamed front-office person said their team came close to getting Simmons and would have taken him. at 9:33
  • Mark Jones's analysis: in a strange way, losing Simmons removes uncertainty about how much point-guard load Darius Acuff will carry, since Simmons had given Christie room to play Acuff off the ball or rest him longer. at 13:58
  • Mark Jones's analysis: without Simmons the Kings lose a lot of switchability and the option of putting him on the opponent's best player. He sees no one on the roster as talented at both ends, especially as a facilitator. at 14:42
  • Mark Jones says chemistry has been missing in preseason because of injuries. The host adds that Domantas Sabonis and Simmons each played only two preseason games, and he thinks Keegan Murray got to three. at 18:47
  • The host says Acuff flourished playing off the ball next to Simmons and had his best preseason game (25 points, 8 assists) in Simmons' first game. He asks whether the team should have been Acuff's show all along. at 29:17

  “SEASON PREVIEW, can the Kings recover from Ben Simmons injury? With play-by-play voice Mark Jones” · listen ↗

• Podcast James Hamm; Hayes (reported), via Locked On NBA · Relayed report · Oct 19 around the league

  Kings host James Hamm says Ben Simmons 'just blew out his Achilles'. Hayes separately says Simmons 'just tore his Achilles'.

  “Ranking ALL 30 NBA Teams! Our Official 2026-27 Tier List” at 2:40 · listen ↗

• Podcast Zach Lowe, The Zach Lowe Show · Report · Oct 19 around the league

  Before the injury, Simmons looked good in preseason: 7 of 8 from the free-throw line, eight free throws in two games, and seemingly more willing to take contact. Fred said he was attacking the rim against Luke Kornet in the preseason game vs. the Spurs.

  “Knicks Preview, Playoff Picks, Finals Predictions, and More!” at 40:48 · listen ↗

• Podcast Keith Pompey, Locked On 76ers · Opinion · Oct 19 around the league

  Keith on the 'Being Ben' documentary: he liked it, but felt Simmons did not hold himself accountable.

  “The New Era ALL STARTS TOMORROW! - Philadelphia 76ers” at 28:45 · listen ↗

• Podcast Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective host · Analysis · Oct 19 around the league

  Before the injury, Simmons had looked really good in preseason, coming back after missing all of last year. Hahn saw him make comfortable mid-range jumpers.

  “76ers & Knicks BIG Expectations On Opening Night + Major Questions In Boston - Atlantic Division Preview” at 54:22 · listen ↗

• Podcast NBA Today · 3 points · Oct 19
  • Ben Simmons (quoted): In a statement, Simmons called the injury another chapter in his journey, not the end of his story. at 14:12
  • Mark Spears (reported): Mark Spears says Simmons got hurt during a scrimmage and will have surgery 'tomorrow' in New York City, then do his rehab with the Kings. at 14:40
  • Mark Spears says Simmons was playing so well that he was maybe the best player on the Kings, and thinks Doug Christie was about to make him a captain. at 14:55

  “Regular Season Eve” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On NBA · 2 points · Oct 19
  • Co-host: Simmons looked like his old self in preseason, confident around the basket and shooting. Simmons was going to start this year. at 29:54
  • Danny asks whether the Kings will keep Simmons on the roster for the whole season. at 32:21

  “LOCKED IN: Oklahoma City Thunder Secure Cason Wallace Extension! | Who Will WIN Title?!” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Kings · 6 points · Oct 18
  • Shams Charania (reported): The host says Shams was first with the Simmons news, the show confirmed it right away, and the MRI then confirmed the feared torn Achilles. at 2:49
  • Host analysis: an Achilles tear means Simmons' season is over. Recovery takes more than six months, and the host says there is no way he makes it back in time to play. at 13:42
  • At Sunday practice, media asked for Simmons, but at the last minute Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine spoke instead. Reporters were told Simmons had something to get to, which the host now says was an MRI. at 2:07
  • Simmons was slated to start on the front line with Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis. The injury removes him from the starting lineup. at 3:34
  • Host speculation: Simmons faces a grueling year of rehab, and his NBA career might be over, though it is possible he comes back if he decides the rehab is worth it. at 3:40
  • Simmons passed the Kings' physical fitness tests easily. He had some bumps and bruises during camp, and the Kings erred on the side of caution at every step. at 8:22

  “Ben Simmons tears Achilles, handing Kings a CRUEL BLOW days before start of 2026-27 NBA season” · listen ↗

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