Anfernee Simons
Anfernee Simons is an American professional basketball player who plays as a shooting guard for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA).[1] Born Anfernee Tyrik Simons on June 8, 1999, in Longwood, Florida, he grew up in the Orlando area and was named after Orlando Magic legend Penny Hardaway by his parents.[1][2] Standing at 6 feet 3 inches (1.90 m) and weighing 181 pounds (82 kg), Simons attended Edgewater High School in Orlando before a postgraduate year at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, forgoing college to enter the NBA draft.[1][3] Selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 24th overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NBA draft, Simons spent his first seven seasons with the team, evolving from a reserve into a primary scoring option.[1] Over 389 games (213 starts) with Portland, he averaged 14.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 43.0% from the field.[1] Notable achievements include winning the 2021 NBA Slam Dunk Contest and receiving the 2021–22 Maurice Lucas Community Award for his contributions off the court.[4][5] In June 2025, Simons was traded to the Boston Celtics, where he has continued as a key bench contributor in the early 2025–26 season, averaging 14.5 points per game through November 16, 2025.[6][7]Early life
Family background
Anfernee Simons was born on June 8, 1999, in Longwood, Florida, to parents Charles and Tameka Simons.[8][1] He grew up in Altamonte Springs.[4] His parents, avid fans of the Orlando Magic, named him after the team's former star Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway, reflecting their deep connection to basketball culture in the region.[9] Growing up in a supportive household, Simons benefited from his parents' encouragement in pursuing sports from a young age, which helped foster his early passion for the game.[10] A significant figure in Simons' upbringing was his late maternal grandfather, Jake Carter, who played a pivotal role in instilling discipline and dedication. Carter attended Simons' daily basketball practices, prepared breakfast for him each morning, and often picked him up from school to ensure consistent attendance at sessions, creating a routine that emphasized hard work and family care.[11][10] This unwavering support from his grandfather shaped Simons' approach to the sport, providing both emotional guidance and practical assistance during his formative years. Simons' early exposure to professional basketball came through family outings to NBA Summer League games in nearby Orlando, a tradition that began when he was around 10 years old and continued through high school.[10] These experiences, shared with his parents, immersed him in the excitement of the league and reinforced the family's collective enthusiasm for basketball, laying the foundation for his athletic pursuits.High school career
Simons attended Edgewater High School in Orlando, Florida, for the majority of his high school career, spanning three years.[12] During his sophomore season there, he averaged 17.8 points, 4.6 assists, and 2.4 rebounds per game, showcasing his scoring and playmaking abilities early on.[3][13] For his junior year, Simons transferred to Montverde Academy, a national powerhouse program in Montverde, Florida, seeking greater competition and development.[14] However, after experiencing limited playing time as a bench player, he returned to Edgewater to complete his senior year.[12] Following graduation from Edgewater in 2017, Simons enrolled in a postgraduate year at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, where he refined his skills against elite competition.[15] During this period, he was rated as the No. 7 overall recruit in the 2018 high school class according to the 247Sports composite rankings.[16] At IMG Academy in the 2017-18 season, Simons averaged 22.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 50.1% from the field and 44.9% from three-point range, solidifying his status as a top prospect.[17] Opting to bypass college basketball, he declared for the 2018 NBA draft directly after his postgraduate year, becoming eligible as a 19-year-old one year removed from high school graduation.[18] In recognition of his contributions, Edgewater High School retired his jersey number in October 2018 during a game against the Portland Trail Blazers.[12]Professional career
Portland Trail Blazers (2018–2025)
Anfernee Simons was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 24th overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NBA draft.[1] During his rookie season in 2018–19, Simons received limited playing time off the bench, appearing in 20 games while averaging 3.8 points, 0.7 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per game in 7.1 minutes.[19] To further his development, the Trail Blazers assigned him to the Agua Caliente Clippers of the NBA G League, where he played four games and averaged 17.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game.[20] In the 2019–20 season, Simons saw an expanded role with Portland, appearing in 70 games and averaging 8.3 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 20.7 minutes per game, primarily as a reserve guard.[19] Simons showed gradual improvement in the 2020–21 season, averaging 7.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists across 64 games, often coming off the bench in a crowded backcourt led by Damian Lillard.[19] His scoring increased in 2021–22, when injuries to other guards thrust him into the starting lineup for 30 of 57 games; he averaged 17.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game, showcasing improved efficiency with a 44.3% field goal percentage and earning the Trail Blazers' Maurice Lucas Award as the team's most improved player. That season highlighted his potential as a dynamic scorer, including multiple 30-plus point performances that underscored his quick-release pull-up jumpers and three-point shooting.[21] Following Lillard's trade to the Milwaukee Bucks in July 2023, Simons evolved from a complementary piece to Portland's primary scoring threat, shouldering a larger offensive load as the lead guard in a rebuilding roster, averaging 21.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists across 62 games in 2022–23. This shift came after he signed a four-year, $100 million contract extension with the Trail Blazers in June 2022, securing his future with the team through the 2025–26 season.[22] Over the subsequent seasons, he maintained double-digit scoring averages, refining his playmaking and defensive contributions while adapting to increased usage amid roster turnover. In the summer of 2025, the Trail Blazers traded Simons to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Jrue Holiday and draft compensation, marking the end of his seven-year tenure in Portland where he developed into a reliable high-volume scorer.[23]Boston Celtics (2025–present)
On July 7, 2025, the Boston Celtics acquired guard Anfernee Simons from the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Jrue Holiday and two second-round draft picks, as part of a broader roster retooling effort.[24] This move allowed Boston to shed Holiday's higher salary while adding Simons' scoring ability to their bench, aligning with the team's championship aspirations following their 2024 title.[25] Through the first 13 games of the 2025–26 season (as of November 16, 2025), Simons has averaged 14.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game, shooting 41.3% from the field.[26] His efficiency has varied, with strong performances from beyond the arc compensating for occasional shooting slumps, contributing to Boston's 6-7 record in the Eastern Conference.[7] Simons has settled into a rotation role as a sixth man and backup guard behind stars like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, emphasizing quick scoring bursts off the bench to provide spacing and energy.[27] A highlight came on October 27, 2025, when he scored 25 points, including 6-of-13 from three-point range, in a 122-90 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.[21] This outing showcased his developed scoring instincts from prior roles, aiding Boston's depth in a contending lineup. Amid Boston's ongoing payroll constraints under the NBA's luxury tax, Simons—owed $27.7 million in 2025–26—has become a subject of trade speculation, with reports indicating the Celtics are exploring ways to flip his contract for frontcourt help or further cap relief.[28] Teams like the Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets have shown interest, raising questions about his long-term fit despite his productive start.[29]Career statistics
Regular season
Anfernee Simons entered the NBA with the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2018-19 season, initially appearing in limited minutes off the bench before gradually increasing his role and production over subsequent years. His development as a scoring guard became evident from the 2021-22 season onward, as he transitioned into a starter and primary offensive option, showcasing improved efficiency from beyond the arc and playmaking ability. By the 2023-24 season, Simons achieved his career-high scoring average of 22.6 points per game while maintaining solid contributions in rebounds and assists.[1] Following his trade to the Boston Celtics in 2025, his early 2025-26 performances reflected an adjustment period in a new system, averaging 14.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game over 13 appearances as of November 12, 2025.[21] The following table summarizes Simons' regular season per-game statistics across his NBA career:| Season | Team | G | MP | PTS | TRB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | POR | 20 | 7.1 | 3.8 | 0.7 | 0.7 | .444 | .345 | .563 |
| 2019-20 | POR | 70 | 20.7 | 8.3 | 2.2 | 1.4 | .399 | .332 | .826 |
| 2020-21 | POR | 64 | 17.3 | 7.8 | 2.2 | 1.4 | .419 | .426 | .807 |
| 2021-22 | POR | 57 | 29.5 | 17.3 | 2.6 | 3.9 | .443 | .405 | .888 |
| 2022-23 | POR | 62 | 35.0 | 21.1 | 2.6 | 4.1 | .447 | .377 | .894 |
| 2023-24 | POR | 46 | 34.4 | 22.6 | 3.6 | 5.5 | .430 | .385 | .916 |
| 2024-25 | POR | 70 | 32.7 | 19.3 | 2.7 | 4.8 | .426 | .363 | .902 |
| 2025-26 | BOS | 13 | 25.4 | 14.5 | 2.2 | 2.4 | .413 | .404 | .900 |
Playoffs
Simons made his NBA playoff debut with the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2018-19 playoffs, appearing in five games during the first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He appeared in four games during the 2020 NBA Bubble first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers, where Portland was eliminated in five games.[1] In the 2021 playoffs, he played in six games in the first round against the Denver Nuggets, where Portland was eliminated.[1] Over 15 total playoff games with Portland, Simons averaged 5.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game, often serving as a rotational player providing scoring off the bench in high-pressure situations.[1] These appearances showcased his growth as a shooter, though his role remained limited amid Portland's star-driven lineups. As of the early 2025–26 season, Simons has yet to make a playoff appearance with the Boston Celtics following his trade in the 2025 offseason.[26]Year-by-Year Playoff Statistics
| Season | Team | GP | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | POR | 5 | 2.4 | .000 | .000 | .800 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.8 |
| 2019–20 | POR | 4 | 20.5 | .308 | .429 | .833 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 6.8 |
| 2020–21 | POR | 6 | 17.8 | .560 | .611 | .000 | 2.7 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 6.5 |
| Career | 15 | 13.9 | .400 | .526 | .667 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 5.5 |