Anfernee Simons Grateful for CJ McCollum's Mentorship
Anfernee Simons appreciates the opportunity to demonstrate his growth to mentor CJ McCollum, who played a crucial role in developing his skills.
Non-Traditional Path to the NBA
Unlike many players, Boston Celtics guard Anfernee Simons did not follow a typical route. After high school, instead of attending college, he spent a postgraduate year training at IMG Academy in Florida. This time away from the spotlight added an element of intrigue that likely influenced his selection as the 24th overall pick by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2018 NBA Draft.
Learning from Experienced Mentors
In Portland, Simons joined a backcourt alongside two exceptional mentors: Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. Before facing McCollum's Washington Wizards at TD Garden, Simons reflected on the balance and skills he gained from CJ throughout his career.
"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. 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."
Simons credits McCollum for teaching him how to be effective on the court without relying solely on athleticism or speed, adding valuable nuance to his playing style.
Author's summary: Anfernee Simons values the mentorship of CJ McCollum, whose balanced and crafty approach has shaped Simons' development into an effective NBA player beyond pure athleticism.