Kings guard Ben Simmons tears his Achilles tendon in practice

Ben Simmons tore his right Achilles tendon in practice on Sunday, ending his comeback attempt this season with the Sacramento Kings before the season even started.

The Kings said Simmons hurt himself during a live drill and will need to undergo surgery three days before the season opener on Wednesday night on the road against the Los Angeles Clippers.

“I've faced challenges before that tested me mentally, physically, and emotionally, and I've found a way through every single one of them," Simmons wrote on social media. “This injury is another chapter in my journey, not the end of my story.”

Simmons had signed a one-year deal with Sacramento this summer as he tried to revive his career.

The 30-year-old from Australia is a former No. 1 draft pick, three-time All-Star and Rookie of the Year, but he has struggled to perform and stay healthy in recent years. He sat out last season while dealing with back and leg injuries after ending the 2024-25 season in a reserve role for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Simmons was the first overall pick by Philadelphia in 2016 after playing one season in college at LSU. He sat out his first season with an injured foot but quickly developed into a star player for the 76ers once he returned. He was the Rookie of the Year in 2017-18, was an All-Star the following three seasons, as well as a third-team All-NBA player in 2019-20 and a first-team All-Defense selection in 2019-20 and 2020-21.

But his career hasn’t been the same after sitting out the 2021-22 season when he was dealing with mental health concerns, other physical injuries and was seeking a trade out of Philadelphia.

He was sent to Brooklyn at the 2022 trade deadline but missed the rest of that season with a bad back. He then played 2 1/2 seasons with the Brooklyn before getting cut in February 2025. He finished that season with the Los Angeles Clippers before sitting out last season.

But he never came close to his level of play early in his career in Philadelphia, averaging 5.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists during his time with the Nets and Clippers.

Sacramento is coming off a 22-60 season and is trying to rebuild around rookie Darius Acuff Jr., who was picked seventh in the draft after a stellar freshman season at Arkansas.

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Sacramento Kings guard Ben Simmons looks on before a preseason NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

Sacramento Kings guard Ben Simmons (25) drives to the basket against San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Sacramento Kings guard Ben Simmons (25) drives around San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

CLEVELAND (AP) — Yandy Díaz has sparked the Tampa Bay Rays to the verge of their first World Series trip since 2020.

Díaz had three hits, including a double, and scored the first run in Sunday's 3-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians that gave the Rays 3-2 lead in the AL Championship Series.

Díaz has hits in seven of eight postseason games and is batting .314 with four doubles, a home run and an .847 OPS as the Rays' leadoff hitter.

“I’m probably a little biased, but Yandy is one of my favorite players to watch,” Rays closer Bryan Baker said. “When he gets going, we’re a different team with the way he works at-bats.”

Game 6 is Monday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, where the Rays are 58-27 during the regular season and playoffs. A potential Game 7 would be Tuesday in the same stadium.

“Momentum is big in this sport and we have it — and we're going to keep it,” Tampa Bay outfielder Jonny DeLuca said. “Once bats get hot, they say it's contagious and it's true. It carried over from yesterday.”

Díaz went 5 for 10 in the last two games with a homer, two RBIs and three runs. The 35-year-old led the AL with 180 hits in the regular season and earned his second All-Star selection. He has played in a franchise-record 33 postseason games.

“I've said it for many seasons, as he goes, we go,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “We talk about leaders on the team and how they go about their business. And what he does at the top of our lineup, it ignites everybody. He comes up and comes up with a big hit.”

Díaz doubled against Parker Messick in the first and scored on DeLuca's bases-loaded walk .

“I'm just trying to get on base as much as I can, I'm not necessarily counting the hits,” Díaz said. “A positive mindset is the biggest thing. Just being aggressive with our pitch selection, just jumping on good pitches. Both of those things.”

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Tampa Bay Rays' Yandy Díaz celebrates a double against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning in Game 5 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in Cleveland, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Tampa Bay Rays' Yandy Díaz hits a double against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning in Game 5 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in Cleveland, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Tampa Bay Rays' Yandy Díaz scores on a walk against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning in Game 5 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in Cleveland, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Tampa Bay Rays' Yandy Díaz celebrates a two-run home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the ninth inning in Game 4 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in Cleveland, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Phil Long)