Aussie star made comeback call on the court

Ben Simmons has vowed to bounce back from a serious Achilles injury, pledging to do everything in his power to return to the NBA.

Just over a week after undergoing surgery, Simmons said walking away from the game was never an option.

“My mentality is that I’ll be back,” Simmons told Andscape from his home on Tuesday.

“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.”

Simmons was hurt during a practice drill on October 18, just days out from what would have been a triumphant return to the league.

He’d put in a power of work to earn his spot and impressed at the Sacramento Kings during the pre-season, only to have it ripped away at the last moment. But Simmons said the choice about his future was made while he was still down on the court.

“I feel like in that moment I had to make a decision. … ‘Are you going to come back or let this hold you down?’” he said.

“For me, it was just choosing and making that decision to keep going and fighting. I felt there is no other option. For me, it was like, ‘Let’s go.’ Surgery and start the rehab process.”

The No. 1 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, Simmons was named Rookie of the Year in 2018 and went on to become a three-time All-Star, earning All-NBA Third Team honours and two All-Defensive First Team selections with the Philadelphia 76ers.

He hasn’t played an NBA game since 2025, but he’s ready to do the work to realise the dream once again, and says he has the full support of the Kings organisation.

“Everybody in Sacramento has been amazing. They’ve shown a lot of support. That is the main thing, just showing that they’re there and they care. Everything else, I can deal with,” he said.

Simmons insists he’ll be “more than ready” when he returns next season, and he’s prepared to put in the hard work to prove himself again.

“I didn’t take anything for granted, even like showing up to practice or training camp,” Simmons said.

“I was happy to embrace each of those things regardless of whether it was a real game, practice game or scrimmage with the team.”

Read the full story here >> Ben Simmons: ‘I’ll do everything in my power to get back’