Anfernee Simons believes his experience as an NBA starter will give him an advantage in his new role with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Speaking on Cousins with Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady, Simons explained how his mindset changes when he faces second units after spending years competing against starting lineups.
“My mindset going into the game is I’ve already competed at a high level with starters, and it’s going to be even easier for me when I come into the game playing against second units,” Simons said, via HoopsHype.
Simons spent much of his career working his way into a larger role. After entering the NBA with Portland in 2018, he played only 7.1 minutes per game as a rookie and averaged 3.8 points in 20 appearances.
His role gradually expanded before he became a full-time starter in Portland. Simons started all 62 games he played in during the 2022-23 season, averaging 21.1 points and 4.1 assists while shooting 37.7% from three-point range.
He followed that with a career-high 22.6 points per game in 2023-24 before averaging 19.3 points and 4.8 assists in 70 games the following season.
Simons spent the 2025-26 season with Boston and Chicago, averaging 14.3 points and 2.4 assists in 55 games. He was particularly effective from three-point range with the Celtics, shooting 39.5% from beyond the arc in 49 games.
Philadelphia signed Simons to a two-year, $12.3 million contract this offseason, giving him a role alongside a significantly different group from the one he played with in Boston and Chicago.
The 76ers already have Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid and acquired Jaylen Brown, while LeBron James joined the team on a minimum contract. Maxey averaged 28.3 points and 6.6 assists last season, while Brown averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists for Boston.
Simons also credited several veterans who helped him understand how to contribute before becoming a full-time starter.
“There’s a lot of guys that helped me along the way, whether it was Norm Powell, CJ McCollum, those guys that didn’t necessarily come into the league starting,” Simons said.
He also pointed to Damian Lillard as an example of a player whose path was different, noting that Lillard immediately became a starter and quickly developed into an All-Star.
For Simons, players such as Rodney Hood and Evan Turner provided a different lesson during his early years in Portland.
“Those guys helped me understand what it took to be a real role player,” Simons said. “They always felt like you’re a starter, but for right now, until you become that, you need to learn how to be able to play a role and do it well.”
