Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard offered his support to former teammate Ben Simmons after the Sacramento Kings guard suffered a season-ending Achilles injury. The news broke as the Raptors continue their preseason schedule, coming off a 129-125 loss to the Detroit Pistons on October 16.
Leonard, speaking after a Monday practice, was surprised to learn Simmons would miss the entire season. He emphasized the possibility of a strong recovery for the three-time All-Star.
Leonard's reaction was one of genuine shock and sympathy. "You’re saying he’s not playing this year?" Leonard said. "I didn’t know that. Damn, that’s sad. He has another year, he’s still young, yeah, just God Bless him."
He pointed to the 2026 season as a target for Simmons's return. "If he locks in this 2026, you can come back from an Achilles injury, so God Bless him, and I hope he has a strong recovery." The two were teammates briefly with the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2024-25 NBA season, where Simmons averaged 2.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 17 games.
The ruptured Achilles tendon is a major setback for Simmons's attempted NBA comeback. He sat out the entire previous season to focus on his mental and physical health before signing a one-year deal with Sacramento.
That $3.5 million contract, initially non-guaranteed, will now be fully guaranteed due to the serious nature of the injury. His path back to the court involved a year away from basketball, which included time spearfishing, before this latest devastating blow during Kings practice.
Leonard wasn't the only former teammate to reach out. Hall of Famer Dwight Howard, who played with Simmons on the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2020-21 campaign, posted a brief but heartfelt message on social media. "Pray for Ben man 💔," Howard wrote.
That season in Philadelphia was a complex one for Simmons. He was named an All-Star but faced intense criticism from fans after the Sixers lost a seven-game series to the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The Raptors are in the midst of their own preseason preparations. Their most recent result was a 129-125 defeat to the Detroit Pistons on October 16. That followed a tight 122-120 loss to the New York Knicks the previous day.
Preseason play has been a mix of highs and lows, including a dominant 148-98 win over those same Knicks on October 13 and a 114-106 victory over the LA Clippers on October 10. The team opens its regular season soon, and fans can track the full upcoming schedule on our schedule page.
Next up is a final preseason test against the Chicago Bulls at home on October 21. Leonard and the Raptors will look to build rhythm before the games start to count in the standings.
