Anfernee Simons Bio
Anfernee Tyrik Simons is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born on June 8, 1999, in Longwood, Florida, Simons played a postgraduate year at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, before entering the 2018 NBA draft, where the Portland Trail Blazers selected him with the 24th overall pick. After seven seasons with Portland, he was traded to the Boston Celtics in 2025. Standing 191 cm (about 6 feet 3 inches) and weighing around 91 kg, he plays as a guard and is widely recognized for his scoring ability and athleticism.
Early Life and Background
Anfernee Tyrik Simons was born on June 8, 1999, in Longwood, Florida. He is the son of Charles and Tameka Simons, who named him after former Orlando Magic star Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway because they were fans of the Magic. Hardaway later coached Simons during a Team USA Basketball training camp, creating an early bond between the two. Simons grew up in central Florida and developed his basketball skills from a young age, often playing against older students because he was young for his grade level.
Simons attended Edgewater High School in Orlando, Florida, where during his sophomore year he averaged 17.8 points, 4.6 assists, 2.4 rebounds, and 1 steal per game across 30 contests. He briefly transferred to Montverde Academy in Montverde during his junior year but returned to Edgewater after spending time as a bench player. In his final year at Edgewater, he averaged 23.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game in 20 games played.
After graduating from Edgewater in 2017, Simons enrolled at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, for a postgraduate year to further develop his game. He averaged 22.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists on IMG’s postgraduate team. During the summer of 2017, he also represented the United States men’s national under-19 basketball team.
Path to Basketball
Rated as a five-star recruit, Simons was ranked as the seventh-best player in the 2018 class by 247Sports.com. He originally planned to attend the University of Louisville but decommitted from the program because of the school’s involvement in NCAA scandals. He later listed the University of South Carolina, North Carolina State University, the University of Tennessee, and the University of Florida as schools of interest.
In January 2018, Simons announced that he was “most likely” going to bypass college and enter the 2018 NBA draft without hiring an agent. He confirmed his decision in March 2018 and removed his name from the 2018 Nike Hoop Summit and Jordan Brand Classic. ESPN ranked him as the 19th-best prospect in the draft, and he was later named one of the 69 players invited to the 2018 NBA Draft Combine.
Anfernee Simons Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
The Portland Trail Blazers selected Simons with the 24th overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft, making him the third high school player since 2015 to be drafted into the NBA, following Thon Maker and Satnam Singh Bhamara. On July 2, 2018, the Trail Blazers announced that they had signed him to his first professional contract. On January 21, 2019, the Blazers assigned him to the Agua Caliente Clippers of the NBA G League for further development.
On April 10, 2019, Simons recorded his first career start against the Sacramento Kings while the Trail Blazers rested Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum for the final game of the regular season. He posted career highs across the board with 37 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists, becoming the first Trail Blazers rookie to score 30-plus points since Lillard.
NBA Breakthrough (2020–2022)
Simons continued to develop his game in Portland and gradually expanded his role with the team. In the championship round of the Slam Dunk Contest during halftime of the 2021 NBA All-Star Game, he attempted to kiss the rim but missed the attempt and still completed the dunk. Despite the failed kiss, he was named the 2021 Slam Dunk Champion on a 3–2 decision.
On January 3, 2022, Simons scored a then career-high 43 points behind nine three-pointers, along with seven assists, in a 136–131 win over the Atlanta Hawks. In a postgame interview, he dedicated the game to his grandfather, who had died of cancer the previous night. On March 28, 2022, he was ruled out for the remainder of the season with patellar tendinopathy in his left knee.
Portland Trail Blazers Era (2022–2025)
On July 6, 2022, Simons re-signed with the Trail Blazers on a four-year, $100 million contract. On October 21, 2022, he hit a game-winning floater in a 113–111 overtime win over the Phoenix Suns. On December 3, 2022, he scored a career-high 45 points in a 116–111 win over the Utah Jazz. On February 3, 2023, Simons scored 33 points in a 124–116 comeback win over the Washington Wizards.
On October 25, 2023, Simons suffered a torn UCL in his right thumb against the Los Angeles Clippers, ruling him out for four to six weeks. On December 19, 2024, he recorded a double-double and hit the game-winning buzzer-beater against the Denver Nuggets.
Boston Celtics Era (2025–Present)
On July 7, 2025, Simons was traded to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Jrue Holiday. The move ended his seven-year run in Portland and brought him to one of the most decorated franchises in the NBA. He joined a Celtics team looking to maintain its place among the league’s championship contenders.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Simons’s signature moments is his 2021 NBA Slam Dunk Contest championship, in which he won on a 3–2 decision despite a missed attempt to kiss the rim. His 43-point performance against the Atlanta Hawks in January 2022 and his 45-point career high against the Utah Jazz later that December also stand out as defining offensive showcases. In April 2019, he became the first Trail Blazers rookie since Damian Lillard to score 30-plus points in a single game.
Anfernee Simons Career Wins
Across his professional career, Anfernee Simons has recorded a number of notable individual and team milestones, including an NBA Slam Dunk Contest title and multiple 40-point performances in the NBA regular season. While he has not yet captured an NBA championship, his scoring outbursts and game-winning shots have marked him as one of the league’s most explosive young guards.
NBA Highlights
In the NBA, Simons was named the 2021 Slam Dunk Contest champion during All-Star Weekend in Atlanta. His first career 30-point game came on April 10, 2019, against the Sacramento Kings, when he posted 37 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists. He went on to score 43 points against the Atlanta Hawks on January 3, 2022, and 45 points against the Utah Jazz on December 3, 2022, setting a new career high.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond the NBA, Simons represented the United States men’s national under-19 basketball team during the summer of 2017. He also earned a five-star recruit rating and was ranked seventh in the 2018 class by 247Sports.com, reflecting his status as one of the top high school prospects in the country.
Anfernee Simons Family
Family Background and Lineage
Anfernee Tyrik Simons is the son of Charles and Tameka Simons, who raised him in Longwood, Florida. His parents were fans of the Orlando Magic and named him after Magic great Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway. Hardaway later coached Simons during a Team USA Basketball training camp, connecting the family’s admiration for the Hall of Fame guard with Simons’s own basketball journey.
Personal Life
Simons has kept much of his personal life private, and there are no publicly confirmed details about a spouse or children. He has dedicated several career performances to family members, including a January 2022 game honoring his late grandfather. He continues to be active on social media, with public accounts on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NBA season marks a new chapter for Anfernee Simons after his July 7, 2025, trade from the Portland Trail Blazers to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Jrue Holiday. Joining one of the Eastern Conference’s flagship franchises, Simons entered the season tasked with providing scoring punch and perimeter playmaking for a contending roster. The trade signaled Portland’s continued rebuild and Boston’s effort to keep its championship window open.
Throughout the early portion of the 2025 season, Simons has been adjusting to a new system, new teammates, and a new coaching staff in Boston. His established track record of explosive scoring, including multiple 40-point games during his time in Portland, gives the Celtics a dynamic offensive weapon off the bench or in the starting lineup. His ability to hit threes in volume and create his own shot remains his biggest on-court asset.
Looking ahead, Simons’s outlook in Boston will depend on his fit alongside the team’s established core and his health after several previous injury setbacks. A strong 2025 campaign could position him as a long-term piece of the Celtics’ backcourt plans. With his contract running through the 2025–26 season, both player and team have motivation to make the partnership a success.