Anfernee Simons Bio
Anfernee Tyrik Simons is an American professional basketball player who most recently played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). After completing high school, he spent a postgraduate year at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, before being selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the 2018 NBA draft with the 24th overall pick. After seven seasons with Portland, Simons was traded to the Boston Celtics in 2025 and then to the Chicago Bulls in 2026. A skilled shooting guard and point guard, he is also known as the 2021 NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion.
Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and listed at 200 pounds, Simons has built his reputation as a high-scoring perimeter player with a smooth shooting stroke. He has played under the bright lights of NBA arenas from the moment he entered the league, and his career has taken him from a rookie contributor in Portland to a featured scorer and later a key reserve on contending teams. He continues to represent one of the more recognizable young guards of his draft class.
Early Life and Background
Anfernee Tyrik Simons was born on June 8, 1999, in Longwood, Florida. He grew up in the Orlando area, where basketball was a central part of family life. His parents, Charles and Tameka, were fans of the Orlando Magic, and they named him after former Magic star Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway. Years later, Hardaway himself coached Simons during a Team USA Basketball training camp, a meaningful connection between the two Anfernees.
Simons first attended Edgewater High School in Orlando, Florida, where he averaged 17.8 points, 4.6 assists, 2.4 rebounds, and 1 steal per game in 30 contests as a sophomore. Because he had grown up young for his grade level and played with older students, he reclassified to enter college with the class of 2018, giving himself an extra year of development. During his junior year, he transferred to Montverde Academy in Montverde, but after spending time as a bench player, he returned to Edgewater and finished strong.
As a senior, Simons averaged 23.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game in 20 games for Edgewater, cementing his status as a top national recruit. He then spent a postgraduate year at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, where he averaged 22.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists on the postgraduate team. During the summer of 2017, he also represented the United States men’s national under-19 basketball team, gaining valuable international experience before declaring for the draft.
Path to Basketball
Simons was rated as a five-star recruit and was ranked as the seventh-best player in the 2018 class by 247Sports.com. Originally, he planned to attend the University of Louisville, but after the school’s connection to the 2017–18 NCAA corruption scandal, he decommitted and explored options such as South Carolina, North Carolina State, Tennessee, and Florida. In January 2018, he announced that he was “most likely” going to bypass college and enter the 2018 NBA draft without hiring an agent.
Two months later, Simons confirmed his decision and later removed his name from the 2018 Nike Hoop Summit and Jordan Brand Classic to focus on pre-draft preparation. On March 20, 2018, ESPN ranked him as the 19th-best prospect in the draft, and he was later named one of 69 players invited to the 2018 NBA Draft Combine. His combination of scoring polish, athleticism, and youth made him an appealing first-round target, and the Portland Trail Blazers selected him with the 24th overall pick.
Anfernee Simons Career
Portland Trail Blazers (2018–2025)
Simons was selected 24th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2018 NBA draft, becoming one of the few players to enter the league directly from high school in recent years. He was the third high school player drafted since 2015, behind Thon Maker and Satnam Singh Bhamara. On July 2, 2018, Portland announced that it had signed Simons, beginning what would become a seven-year relationship with the franchise.
On January 21, 2019, the Blazers assigned Simons to the Agua Caliente Clippers of the NBA G League for further development. Later that season, on April 10, 2019, he made his first NBA start against the Sacramento Kings while Portland rested Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum for the final game of the regular season. In that start, Simons exploded for 37 points, six rebounds, and nine assists, becoming the first Trail Blazers rookie to score 30-plus points since Lillard. In 2021, he won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star Weekend on a 3–2 decision, even after a failed attempt to kiss the rim on his final dunk.
Simons continued to grow as a scorer in the following seasons. On January 3, 2022, he scored a then career-high 43 points with nine three-pointers and seven assists in a 136–131 win over the Atlanta Hawks, dedicating the performance to his grandfather, who had died of cancer the previous night. Knee tendinopathy cut his 2021–22 season short, but on July 6, 2022, he re-signed with Portland on a four-year, $100 million contract. He later hit a game-winning floater in overtime against the Phoenix Suns on October 21, 2022, and scored a career-high 45 points in a 116–111 win over the Utah Jazz on December 3, 2022. He added 33 points in a 124–116 comeback win at Washington on February 3, 2023, and on December 19, 2024, he delivered a double-double with a buzzer-beating winner against the Denver Nuggets. In 2024–25, Simons started 70 games for the Blazers, averaging 19.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.8 assists.
Boston Celtics (2025–2026)
On July 7, 2025, Simons was traded to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Jrue Holiday, joining one of the league’s most established contenders. He performed primarily in a reserve role for Boston during the 2025–26 campaign, providing perimeter scoring and playmaking off the bench. Across 49 appearances, he averaged 14.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists while adjusting to a new system and a different team identity.
One of his most memorable performances as a Celtic came on January 15, 2026, when he scored 39 points, including seven three-pointers, with four rebounds and four assists in a 119–114 victory over the Miami Heat. His shooting and confidence off the bench gave Boston a reliable secondary scoring punch, even as the team continued to chase postseason success.
Chicago Bulls (2026–Present)
On February 5, 2026, Simons and a 2026 second-round pick were traded to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Nikola Vučević and a 2027 second-round pick. The move gave Chicago a young, high-volume scorer to help reshape its backcourt, while offering Simons a fresh opportunity to play a larger role. He made six appearances, including five starts, for the Bulls during the remainder of the 2025–26 season, averaging 15.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists.
Driving Style and Strengths
Simons is best known as a perimeter scorer with a fluid shooting stroke, especially from beyond the arc. He thrives in pick-and-roll settings, can create his own shot off the dribble, and has the athleticism to finish above the rim when defenses close out too aggressively. His comfort operating as both a shooting guard and a point guard has allowed coaches to use him in a variety of lineups, from lead creator to floor-spacing reserve.
Notable Events and Milestones
His first NBA start, a 37-point breakout against Sacramento in 2019, and his 2021 Slam Dunk Contest title stand among the defining early moments of his career. He later posted 45 points against the Utah Jazz in December 2022 and delivered a buzzer-beating winner against the Denver Nuggets in December 2024, reinforcing his reputation as a clutch shot-maker.
Anfernee Simons Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Anfernee Tyrik Simons was raised by his parents, Charles and Tameka, in the Orlando area. Both parents were fans of the Orlando Magic, and they chose the name Anfernee in honor of former Magic star Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway. Hardaway later coached Simons during a Team USA Basketball training camp, creating a full-circle connection between the family’s fandom and Simons’ own professional path.
Personal Life
Simons is known to keep much of his personal life private. He has spoken publicly about the passing of his grandfather and has credited his family for supporting his decision to enter the NBA draft directly out of high school. His social media presence offers glimpses of his life off the court, though he has not publicly shared details of a marriage or children.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year marked a major turning point in Anfernee Simons’ career, beginning with a strong finish to his long run in Portland. During the 2024–25 NBA season, he started 70 games for the Trail Blazers and averaged 19.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.8 assists, cementing himself as one of the team’s most reliable offensive options. His play throughout the year helped maintain Portland’s competitive identity even as the roster continued to evolve around him.
On July 7, 2025, Simons was traded to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Jrue Holiday, shifting him from a featured scorer to a key reserve on a contending team. He settled into a bench role with the Celtics during the early portion of the 2025–26 season, providing perimeter shooting and secondary creation. His 39-point performance against the Miami Heat on January 15, 2026, including seven made three-pointers, served as a reminder of his offensive ceiling.
Midway through the 2025–26 campaign, on February 5, 2026, Simons was traded again, this time to the Chicago Bulls as part of a package headlined by Nikola Vučević. He finished the year in Chicago, starting five of his six appearances and averaging 15.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. With a clear role in place and a young core around him, Simons entered the next phase of his career with momentum on his side.
