The Boston Celtics made one of their boldest moves of the summer when they sent Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers and brought back Anfernee Simons. At the time, there was doubt about whether the $100 million guard would stick in Boston or be flipped again as part of the franchise’s financial reset.
Now, with training camp underway, Simons is breaking his silence. His message is simple. He is here to win.
“I was super excited for the opportunity to come here and join a culture that’s already been set,” Simons said at Media Day. “That’s what I was excited about… playing at the highest level, winning basketball.”
Simons: Celtics Scoring Threat With More to Prove
Simons has never had trouble putting up numbers. He averaged 19.3 points and 4.8 assists last season in Portland. He has scored 30 or more in a game 39 times in his career. His ability to shoot from deep and attack off the dribble makes him an instant weapon in Boston’s offense.
The questions remain. Defense has long been the swing factor in his game. Both Simons and Joe Mazzulla have spoken about addressing it. But his new coach believes he is underrated on that end, even telling him: “On defense, you’re not as bad as people think you are.”
Tatum Shows Support for Simons
New teammate Jayson Tatum has already given Simons a vote of confidence. Speaking to USA Today Sports, he said: “He’s been very, very good in the NBA and now we’re bringing him into an environment where the expectations are different. He’s an unbelievable player and I think he’ll thrive in a situation like this.”
It is a public endorsement from Boston’s leader. And it could help silence trade chatter around Simons as the season begins.
Brad Stevens Sends a Message
President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens added his own take.
“He is a guy that teams will legitimately be thinking about when they enter the game, right? That’s a scouting report asterisks guy, right? You have to know him inside and out, because he’s liable to go off,” Stevens said.
That endorsement shows why Boston held onto him. Simons may not bring the same defensive reputation as Holiday. But his scoring punch is something the Celtics clearly value as they retool around Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard.
What’s Next for Simons and the Celtics
The only question now is role. Will Simons start next to White? Or will he lead the second unit? For now, he is not concerned.
“I want to contribute to winning at the highest level… however that looks, I’m fine with it,” Simons said (via Noa Dalzell on X).
It is a fresh start. A chance for Simons to shed old labels and show he can impact more than scoring. For a Celtics team betting on upside and flexibility, that is exactly the mindset they need.
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