Kawhi Leonard had a simple message for Ben Simmons after learning the Kings guard is dealing with an Achilles tear: support, patience and hope for the long haul.
The Raptors forward was caught off guard when asked about Simmons and admitted he hadn’t even realized Simmons would be sidelined this season. His reaction was immediate.
“You're saying he's not playing this year? I didn't know that, damn, that's sad,” the Raptors star said. “He has another year, he's still (young), yeah, just God Bless him, hope he stays strong and just keep grinding, if he locks in in this 2026, you can come back from an Achilles injury, so God Bless him and I hope he has a strong recovery.”
Simmons’ injury has already changed the outlook for the Sacramento Kings, who had planned to lean on him this season. Instead, Doug Christie’s team is now looking at trade options, with reports linking the Kings to the Memphis Grizzlies as they try to add perimeter depth and more rebounding.
The setback comes after Simmons’ latest season ended with the Los Angeles Clippers, where he played 18 games in 2024-25. He averaged 2.9 points and 3.8 rebounds in that stretch, filling a role-player spot.
Now 30, Simmons still has time to fight back, but the road ahead is clearly a difficult one. NBA peers and fans have watched his career take an unexpected turn in recent years, and while he works toward a return in 2027, he’s starting yet another rehab process with support coming in from around the league.
In Other News...
Ben Simmons Just Became A Huge New Problem For The Kings
Ben Simmons had barely settled in with Sacramento before the Kings were forced to confront a much bigger concern. According to ESPNs Shams Charania, Simmons may have suffered a torn Achilles tendon during practice, a devastating setback for a player the Kings were counting on to fill an important role after signing him recently.
For a team already sorting through injuries elsewhere on the roster, the timing is especially rough. Sacramento was hoping Simmons could bring size, playmaking and defensive versatility to a rotation that needed more depth, but now the Kings could be staring at a season in which they never get the chance to see how that fit was supposed to work. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Fans Already Have One Rookie Debate They Won't Ignore
The Kings came out of the 2026 NBA Draft with Darius Acuff Jr. as their seventh overall pick, and the early plan is straightforward: develop him as a rookie point guard while he grows alongside the rest of Sacramentos young core. It is the kind of long-view move that fits a team trying to build something sustainable, even if it means patience will be part of the equation from the start.
Then Yaxel Lendeborg showed up in a preseason game for Golden State and gave the early Rookie of the Year conversation a jolt, putting up 23 points, 10 rebounds and six assists as the 11th overall pick. For Kings fans already sizing up Acuff against the rest of this class, the comparison is hard to ignore, and it adds an extra layer to every early glimpse of Sacramentos newest guard. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Suddenly Have A Backcourt Decision Worth Watching
With Ben Simmons now sidelined, Sacramentos need for backcourt help has turned into one of the more interesting ripple effects of the roster deadline. The Kings have emerged as a possible trade partner for Memphis as the Grizzlies work to trim their roster to 15 players, and the timing gives Sacramento a chance to address a spot that suddenly looks more important than it did a few days ago.
Walter Clayton Jr. is at the center of the chatter, with Memphis reportedly trying to move the second-year guard before the deadline passes. For the Kings, the appeal is simple: add another ballhandler and give the rotation some insurance while the front office weighs how aggressive it wants to be with a move that could reshape the groups guard depth. [Read more 🡒]