Considered a clear-cut trade chip for a Celtics team expected to bottom out coming into the season, Anfernee Simons has instead emerged as a Sixth Man of the Year candidate as the C’s look to cement themselves as the league’s most unexpected contender, writes Gary Washburn for the Boston Globe.
Simons has always been a scorer, but after he spent several years in a starring role on a lottery team in Portland, there were questions about his ability to contribute to a winning team. Simons says he felt the weight of those questions and what it meant for how he approached his game.
“That’s the challenge, stepping into a new situation, new role and being able to come out and be successful — finding your success within the new role is asked of you,” Simons said. “You’ve got to change your thinking. You’re so programmed to think, if I don’t play well offensively, I didn’t have a good game. Now it’s changing, your mind-set. Coming into games you might not score as much but you played good defense, you made the right plays… You’ve got to be able to know that I did everything I could to help the team win in the time I was out there.”
While the Celtics still have long-term roster issues to address, the way Simons has fit into coach Joe Mazzulla‘s system means it’s no longer a lock that the team looks to move him at the deadline. Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints says he’d be surprised to see Simons moved (Twitter link).
As for Simons, he’s trying his best to focus on the on-court possibilities.
“I just want the opportunity to win,” he said. “Everyone wants to win a championship. But everybody might not be destined to win a championship, so you want yourself to be in the best position to win a championship. That’s all I want in my career, having no regrets wherever way it goes.”
We have more from the Atlantic Division:
- Michael Porter Jr. was not named to the 2026 All-Star reserves team for the Eastern Conference for the Nets. The numbers say he should have been, writes C.J. Holmes for the New York Daily News. Holmes notes that Porter is fifth in the East in scoring at 25.6 points per game, seventh in the NBA in made threes, and is tied for the 11th-most 30-point games this season. “It definitely would be a dream come true. It was in my mind as a kid to make the NBA, but not only be in the NBA but be one of the best players in the NBA. And an All-Star selection shows that progress,” Porter said back in December, per Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “But it’s definitely not what I’m thinking of. I’ve always tried to be more process-oriented and do the right things day to day, game to game, and let the results take care of itself.” With Giannis Antetokounmpo injured, the East will have at least one injury replacement named, meaning Porter will have another chance to be named to his first All-Star team.
- Karl-Anthony Towns was named to his sixth All-Star game on Sunday night, despite struggling with his offense this season. Knicks coach Mike Brown firmly believes the nod was well-deserved, writes Jared Schwartz of the New York Post. “He’s leading us in rebounds, he’s second in scoring,” Brown said. “I don’t know how many double-doubles he has, but that’s impactful when you’re talking about doing it in a winning situation… We should have, in my opinion, two or three guys, at least, on this All-Star team based on what our record is.” Towns leads the league in rebounding at 11.8 per game, including 3.1 offensive boards, entering Sunday’s game against the Lakers.
- The Sixers posted the third-lowest rebound total in a game this season in Thursday’s win against the Kings, which only exemplified a season-long problem, Keith Pompey writes for The Inquirer. According to Pompey, the 76ers have ranked last in the league in rebounding in the past 11 games, due in part to the team going slightly smaller with Adem Bona getting the backup center minutes over Andre Drummond. With Joel Embiid averaging the fewest rebounds of his career at 7.5 per game, Pompey suggests coach Nick Nurse is considering going back to Drummond at times, depending on the matchup.
Posted here offseason, that Simons will be a good scoring replacement for the injured JT …… he can always score and the CELTS get him at his 8th year @26 years old at a relatively good contract.
CELTS playing with house money, fire away from three, moneyball the season.
Have to admit, didn’t expect JB to perform as a lead guy – good for him and the fans.
He has a beautiful jump shot. And he can get to the rim and finishes well. But his D was below-average, and maybe even bad, and he always seemed like a shoot first dump it when I can’t get my shot off kind of guard. And his name is Anfernee. How has that happened more than once? Is Penny his namesake?
I think he’s in the right place. He is learning to play to win. He is a shooter. So he will get good looks there. And with White they are a good mix in the backcourt.
Yes, he’s in a great place – learning to make winning plays, not pressured to be the torchbearer back in Rip City.
Often, it’s just a change of scenery, better fit …… look at Avdia now.
Seems like everyone had a high opinion of Chauncey Billups, but he wasn’t helping players like Simons develop. Was he hard on the young guards?
I agree that it may have been a change of scenery, and his comments about playing to win are insightful.
Kuminga could use the same. The funny thing about JK though, he seems to want to go someplace where he can just jack it up.
^ One big flaw I’ve noticed from early JK, he settles for the longball too much, fancies himself as another KD ……. this has to get on Kerr’s nerves.
However recent seems to have refined a bit, better overall offensive game, but by then Kerr kept him in the doghouse …… maybe JK has an attitude, pouting during practices/games, maybe Kerr just doesn’t like him at all.
Too bad, playing behind Jimmy or alongside him made sense, styles-wise.
In spite of what one guy with a grudge posts, Steve Kerr seems an admirable man. Not afraid to speak out when he sees wrong. Thus I believe there must be other circumstances holding back Mr. Kuminga than his coach not liking him. If even that is true.
Kuminga has been messed around in GS. He just wants out at this point. Young players can pick up bad habits if not coached well. I read that Kerr always wanted Kuminga to be more like Iggy. And play that D like he did. Players develop with their strengths. You can’t make them be like other players. You find their strengths. And help them there. Imo Kerr wants a certain player. And Kuminga can’t give him that. That’s why players do better in different systems. Kuminga needs to play on wing with a good passing PG. that is how you will get best of him.
honcho made a good point using Deni
^ Yup, it’s obvious Kerr preached a role-player game from JK, something which many young immature ones might not handle well. Too bad, like I said he’s so athletic and talented, he would fit next to Jimmy.
What’s funny is, Kerr might not have remembered that young Iggy was an alpha scorer and matured into a glue-guy role later in his career. lol
Hope JK gets into a new team where he’ll flourish.
Most of your comment is on point except iggy being an alpha scorer. As a Sixers fan, I assure you he was never the alpha. They tried to make him the alpha and it didn’t work.
^ I watched Iggy too ……. of course what I meant was he had the makings of an alpha, had some nights where he looked the part as well.
Of course it didn’t work as was hoped, the new AI of Philly.
By that time, it was also becoming clear that his ball IQ was among the best- still one of the best winners out there.
Oh don’t get me wrong, one of my favorite sixers of all time. Absolutely love his game. High energy, high iq, elite defense. And to your earlier point, elite glue guy
Yes I like that. He became that glue guy. Yet he was an all star lol. He was a big part of Warriors along with Livingston. That’s serious depth lol.
How does Porter not get named as the replacement for Giannis. Siakam over him was ridiculous to start with.
Sixers struggling rebounding. Bona always goes after the block and is never in good rebounding position. Of course sitting on the bench is a great rebounder in Drummond
Yeah, for some reason Nick does not like to play Drummond. When your team is that bad at one facet of the game and you have a guy on your bench who is arguably the best rebounder in the last decade, there must be something going on behind the scenes.
Tonight Knicks win over Lakers. With Towns playing 32 mins scoring 11 pts. Jalen playing 36 mins scoring 12 pts. And won by 12. Don’t know what to make of it. Except knicks are a good team. And 🙏for having Landry Shamet back.
Towns is leading NBA in reb. Why oh why would you want Mitch to play with him. Towns is at 20 pts, 12 reb, 3 ast. On second best team in East. H deserves to be an all star.
I don’t think the league really values rebounding the way it should. I probably just sound old, but rebounding is such an important skill and can have such a huge influence on games.
I agree . It’s also part of good defense. No second shots. You also can control pace as a good rebounding team. Offensive rebounding is also huge. Second shots and control of game. CJ
Nets looking to cash in on MPJ having a career year while they try to tank and have a good draft pick.
The other day I suggested Darius Garland and a first round pick as a buy low trade target with MPJ going the other way, I just think he’d be a great fit for the Cavs and it’s also a good return for the Nets.
Similarly they could do MPJ for Zion Williamson and possibly a first round pick aswell. Like Garland your buying low and because of the opportunity he would increase his value and you could look to move him again in the future if you wanted too.
But in the case of Zion he’s always wanted to be in NY and he’d fit better if you wanted to keep feeding minutes to Egor Demin. New Orleans would be smart to add another shooter to their team to space the floor. Trey MPJ and Herb would make a great 2-4 on any team. I just don’t see Zion and Queen ever working long term together
27m for less than 14 points lmao they can’t find anyone to take him is all.
You have Embiid and George on your team and you’re laughing at Simons contract? What a doofus.