In the wake of his reported torn Achilles injury, Ben Simmons strongly expressed his desire to play again in his recently released ESPN documentary.
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Ben Simmons fought through everything from injuries, doubts, and the ridicule of many just to make it back in the NBA, which makes his shocking torn Achilles injury even more heartbreaking.
In ESPN and Andscape’s "Being Ben" documentary, released just hours after news of his season-ending injury had emerged, Simmons candidly spoke about his conviction for a basketball comeback and love for the game.
"I've played through injuries, I've broken my foot, I've rehabbed that, I've had multiple back surgeries. You know, I've been through it all. If I didn't love the game, trust me, I would be at home," Simmons said. "You know, I'd be fishing. I could go to Australia now, go get a nice home, be on the reef, fishing. Could have, you know, find a wife, have some kids and call it a day.
"But that's just... I love this s***."
Ben Simmons sustains torn Achilles injury, out for 2026-27 NBA season
On Sunday, the Sacramento Kings confirmed via a press release that Ben Simmons suffered a torn right Achilles tendon during a team practice.
Simmons will undergo surgery and is expected to miss the whole upcoming NBA season.
This is undoubtedly a painful development for Simmons as he sought the 2026-27 campaign as a comeback year. After he skipped the whole 2025-26 season to recover from injuries and focus on his well-being, Simmons landed a one-year deal from the Kings this past offseason to earn himself a route back in the NBA.
Simmons has impressed Sacramento since training camp, where it was reported he would be a regular-season starter for the Kings. The former NBA star appeared in the team's three preseason games, dropping 14 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists in 26 minutes. on their exhibition finale last Friday against the San Antonio Spurs.
Torn Achilles serves as the latest brutal injury concern of Simmons in his entire career. After being drafted 1st overall in 2016, he notably missed his entire intended 2016-17 rookie season with the Philadelphia 76ers after fracturing the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot during training camp.
As such, nerve impingements and back surgeries have completely ruined his All-Star status in recent years, logging just 108 games since 2022.
Ben Simmons vows to bounce back after devastating torn Achilles injury
Despite the awful turn of events, Ben Simmons isn't losing his confidence and optimism.
Shortly after it was revealed that he sustained a torn Achilles injury, the three-time All-Star boldly proclaimed in an Instagram story that he would bounce back.
"I’ve faced challenges before that tested me mentally, physically, and emotionally, and I’ve found a way through every single one of them. This injury is another chapter in my journey, not the end of my story," Simmons wrote.
"It’s never easy being away from the game I love, especially after everything it took to get back here. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that adversity doesn’t define you. How you respond to it does. I’ve been knocked down before, and I’ve always found a way to get back up. This time will be no different."
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