Boston Celtics guard Anfernee Simons didn't take a traditional route to the NBA. When his high school career ended, rather than going to college, he spent a postgraduate year training at IMG Academy in Florida. Being out of the spotlight created an element of mystery that likely helped get him selected 24th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2018 NBA Draft.
In the Pacific Northwest, Simons joined a backcourt with two of the best mentors he could have asked for: Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum.
Before Wednesday night's game against McCollum's Washington Wizards at TD Garden, the now seven-year veteran discussed the balance he learned from him to help grow his game.
Tonight’s a chance for Anfernee Simons to compete against CJ McCollum, who played an integral role in his early development.
— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) November 5, 2025
“CJ is also a big part of my development, especially as a young player…giving (a) balance of both play styles and so just his shiftiness and his ability… pic.twitter.com/QuMAfP517F
"As much as, obviously, everybody talks about my mentorship with Dame, obviously, and CJ is also a big part of my development, especially as a young player," said Simons. "Just giving that, like kind of balance of both play styles, and so just his shiftiness and his ability to just get to the spots he want to get to, and his craftiness around the rim. I think those are things that I took the most from CJ.
"He's helped me tremendously throughout my career: how to play even when he might not be the most athletic, the fastest, and being able to be effective at the same time. So, I credit him for a lot as well as Dame."
Anfernee Simons relishes his chances against McCollum
When McCollum left Portland, via an in-season trade to the New Orleans Pelicans, Simons was in his early 20s. Naturally, at 26, the latter is a more mature person and player than when the former last teamed with him when he was 22.
That makes their chances to compete against each other that much more exciting for a Celtics guard who gets to showcase his growth to an individual who played a pivotal role in cultivating it.
After Wednesday's shoot-around in advance of Wednesday's matchup vs. McCollum, Simons voiced his eagerness to show McCollum how much he has improved since their days together with the Trail Blazers.
"When you were a young player, and you felt like he was getting the best of you, a lot of times, when you were a young player, and so when you play him again, it's like, you're a little bit older, you feel a little bit better now," said Simons. "It's a good competition to have now; it's fun, and we go out there, and we compete hard, and have fun, and talk a little bit, and just enjoy competing against each other."