Ben Simmons has vowed to return to the NBA “better than I was before” after a torn Achilles tendon ended his comeback season with the Sacramento Kings before it began.
The Australian, 30, spoke to Andscape’s Marc J. Spears from his home on Tuesday (US time), a week after surgery on his right Achilles.
“My mentality is that I’ll be back,” Simmons told Andscape. “I’ll do everything in my power to get back, get healthy and be better than I was before. There is nothing but time and opportunity to do so. So, I’m going to attack it the way I am now.”
A cruel blow after a strong preseason
Simmons tore the tendon during a practice drill on 18 October (US time) and had surgery in New York on 20 October with Dr Martin J. O’Malley, Andscape reported. O’Malley also operated on Simmons’ foot in his rookie season in Philadelphia and on Jayson Tatum’s Achilles last year.
The injury means the former No. 1 draft pick will miss a second straight season, and the fourth of his career.
He had averaged 10.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 17.5 minutes across two preseason games, and was expected to be a starter and a captain for the Kings this season.
Read more: Ben Simmons Tears Right Achilles Days Before Kings Opener
‘I’m built for this’
“I’m more than capable of playing in this league,” Simmons said. “I’m built for this. I’m not a normal guy. I’m kind of like a unicorn in the sense of how I play the game.”
The Kings will pay Simmons his full US$3 million salary this season, and he will do his rehab in Sacramento, according to Andscape.
“Everybody has been amazing, from Scott to Vivek to Coach Christie and my teammates,” he said, naming general manager Scott Perry, owner Vivek Ranadivé and coach Doug Christie.
Read more: Ben Simmons returns to the NBA with Sacramento
A jab at the Warriors
Simmons also revealed some preseason banter with Golden State coach Steve Kerr, after the Warriors showed interest in working him out in August but did not offer a contract. Sacramento were the only team that did, Andscape reported.
“I said something to Steve,” Simmons said. “I said, ‘Y’all didn’t want me?’ That was in the first quarter. And [Kerr] said, ‘I didn’t know if you were healthy.’ And I was like, ‘OK. That’s why you have people that do their job and go fly out and see.’ But it is what it is. That’s just me being competitive. It wasn’t personal.”
Simmons last played an NBA game on 29 April 2025 for the Los Angeles Clippers. He told Andscape he would be “more than ready” next season and hoped the Kings would want him back.
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