Anfernee Simons facts for kids
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Simons with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2019
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| Boston Celtics | |
|---|---|
| Shooting guard | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | June 8, 1999 Longwood, Florida, U.S. |
| High school |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| Career information | |
| NBA Draft | 2018 / Round: 1 / Pick: 24th overall |
| Selected by the Portland Trail Blazers | |
| Pro career | 2018–present |
| League | NBA |
| Career history | |
| 2018–2025 | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 2019 | →Agua Caliente Clippers |
| 2025–present | Boston Celtics |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Anfernee Tyrik Simons (pronounced AN-fur-nee; born June 8, 1999) is an American professional basketball player. He plays for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). After finishing high school, he spent an extra year playing basketball at the IMG Academy. In 2018, the Portland Trail Blazers chose him as the 24th player in the 2018 NBA draft.
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Anfernee Simons' Early Life and High School Basketball
Anfernee Simons grew up in Orlando, Florida. He first went to Edgewater High School. In his second year there, he scored about 17.8 points per game. He also had 4.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds in each game.
Simons was younger than most students in his grade. He decided to change his school year to graduate in 2018. This gave him an extra year to get better at basketball. He briefly moved to Montverde Academy but returned to Edgewater. In his last year at Edgewater, he averaged 23.8 points per game. He also had 7.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists.
After high school, Simons went to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He spent a special "postgraduate" year there. During this time, he averaged 22.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. In the summer of 2017, he also played for the United States men's national under-19 basketball team.
Anfernee Simons' College Plans and NBA Draft
Many experts thought Anfernee Simons was a top player. He was ranked as one of the best players in the 2018 class. He first planned to go to the University of Louisville. However, he changed his mind because of some issues with the school's basketball program.
Simons then thought about other colleges like the University of South Carolina and the University of Florida. But in January 2018, he decided to skip college. He chose to enter the 2018 NBA draft right after his postgraduate year. This was a big decision for a young player.
Anfernee Simons' Professional Basketball Career
Playing for the Portland Trail Blazers (2018–2025)
The Portland Trail Blazers picked Anfernee Simons as the 24th player in the 2018 NBA draft. He was one of the few players to go straight from high school to the NBA since 2015. The Trail Blazers officially signed him on July 2, 2018.
In January 2019, Simons also played for the Agua Caliente Clippers. This team is part of the NBA G League, which helps young players develop.
On April 10, 2019, Simons started his first NBA game. He played against the Sacramento Kings. In that game, he scored 37 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and made 9 assists. This was a career high for him in all those areas. He was the first rookie for the Trail Blazers to score over 30 points since Damian Lillard.
Anfernee Simons' Slam Dunk Contest Win
In 2021, Anfernee Simons won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. This contest happens during the 2021 NBA All-Star Game. He tried a very difficult dunk where he aimed to kiss the rim. Even though he didn't quite kiss it, he still completed the dunk. The judges voted him the champion.
Key Games and Achievements with the Trail Blazers
On January 3, 2022, Simons scored a career-high 43 points. He made nine three-pointers in a win against the Atlanta Hawks. He dedicated this game to his grandfather, who had passed away. Later that season, he had to stop playing because of a knee injury.
On July 6, 2022, Simons signed a new contract with the Trail Blazers. It was a four-year deal worth $100 million. On October 21, he made a game-winning shot against the Phoenix Suns in overtime. On December 3, he scored another career-high of 45 points against the Utah Jazz.
In October 2023, Simons injured his right thumb. This kept him out of games for several weeks. On December 19, 2024, he had a great game against the Denver Nuggets. He got a double-double and made the game-winning shot as time ran out.
Joining the Boston Celtics (2025–Present)
On July 7, 2025, Anfernee Simons was traded to the Boston Celtics. He joined the Celtics in exchange for player Jrue Holiday.
Anfernee Simons' Career Statistics
NBA Regular Season Stats
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | Portland | 20 | 1 | 7.0 | .444 | .345 | .563 | .7 | .7 | .1 | .0 | 3.8 |
| 2019–20 | Portland | 70 | 4 | 20.7 | .399 | .332 | .826 | 2.2 | 1.4 | .4 | .1 | 8.3 |
| 2020–21 | Portland | 64 | 0 | 17.3 | .419 | .426 | .807 | 2.2 | 1.4 | .3 | .1 | 7.8 |
| 2021–22 | Portland | 57 | 30 | 29.5 | .443 | .405 | .888 | 2.6 | 3.9 | .5 | .1 | 17.3 |
| 2022–23 | Portland | 62 | 62 | 35.0 | .447 | .377 | .894 | 2.6 | 4.1 | .7 | .2 | 21.1 |
| 2023–24 | Portland | 46 | 46 | 34.4 | .430 | .385 | .916 | 3.6 | 5.5 | .5 | .1 | 22.6 |
| 2024–25 | Portland | 70 | 70 | 32.7 | .426 | .363 | .902 | 2.7 | 4.8 | .9 | .1 | 19.3 |
| Career | 389 | 213 | 26.8 | .431 | .381 | .880 | 2.5 | 3.3 | .5 | .1 | 15.0 | |
NBA Playoff Stats
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Portland | 5 | 0 | 2.4 | .000 | .000 | .800 | .0 | .0 | .2 | .0 | .8 |
| 2020 | Portland | 4 | 0 | 20.5 | .305 | .429 | .833 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 1.5 | .0 | 6.8 |
| 2021 | Portland | 6 | 0 | 17.8 | .560 | .611 | .000 | 2.7 | .8 | .3 | .2 | 6.5 |
| Career | 15 | 0 | 13.4 | .379 | .500 | .818 | 1.8 | 1.0 | .6 | .1 | 4.7 | |
Anfernee Simons' Personal Life
Anfernee Simons' parents, Charles and Tameka, were big fans of the Orlando Magic basketball team. They named him Anfernee after a famous player named Penny Hardaway. Interestingly, Penny Hardaway later coached Simons at a Team USA Basketball training camp.
See also
In Spanish: Anfernee Simons para niños
