Looking back: Just how high was Anfernee Simons’ ceiling?
Historical update (November 2026): When this video went up in September 2018, Anfernee Simons was a 19-year-old first-round pick with a ton of upside and very little experience against NBA-level competition. Portland took him 24th overall after he came straight out of prep school. The athleticism and shooting touch were easy to get excited about, but nobody really knew how good he could become.
It took a while. Simons barely saw the floor as a rookie, though his 37-point explosion against Sacramento in the final game of the 2018–19 regular season offered an early glimpse. He steadily worked his way into a bigger role, won the 2021 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, and really broke through as a scorer after the Blazers started reshaping their backcourt.
By 2021–22, Simons averaged 17.3 points. The next season he was up to 21.1 points, and in 2023–24 he posted a career-high 22.6 points and 5.5 assists per game. That’s a long way from the raw teenager we were watching in 2018. His quick release, deep shooting range and ability to create his own shot turned out to be the real deal.
But the ceiling question wasn’t entirely settled by the scoring. Simons could light it up offensively, yet his defense and the question of how best to build a winning backcourt around him remained concerns. After Damian Lillard’s departure, Simons had the opportunity to become a primary offensive option, but Portland still struggled to win. He averaged 19.3 points in 2024–25, his final season with the Blazers.
In July 2025, Portland traded Simons to Boston for Jrue Holiday, choosing veteran defense and leadership over the scoring upside Simons represented. He played for Boston and briefly Chicago in 2025–26 before signing with the Philadelphia 76ers in July 2026.
So how high was his ceiling? Higher than a lot of people probably expected from the 24th pick. Simons became a legitimate 20-point-per-game NBA scorer, which is no small thing. But he didn’t become an All-Star or the franchise-changing guard some fans hoped for. As a Blazers fan, I can appreciate how far he came while still wondering what might have been if the rest of his game had developed as much as his scoring.
For a reminder of where it started, check out my Anfernee Simons 2018 Summer League highlights, or watch his November 2019 spotlight against Golden State.