What happened: Ben Simmons suffered a season-ending injury within hours of the premiere of an ESPN E60 film profiling his comeback with the Sacramento Kings. The injury was a torn Achilles in practice that ended his bid to start after a yearlong absence.

Why it matters: Sacramento had lined up Simmons to start the opener, leaving a backcourt vacancy entering the 2026-27 preseason. The Kings inquired on Kevin Porter Jr. before the roster deadline to fill the opening.

What to watch: Sacramento must settle its roster before the opener and name a replacement starter.