Anfernee Simons joined the Boston Celtics this past summer, as part of the trade that landed Jrue Holiday with the Portland Trail Blazers. At the time, Simons was viewed as a potential trade chip once we got closer to the Feb. 5 trade deadline. However, as the season has progressed, and Simons has become comfortable in his new role as Boston’s sixth man, he’s begun to shine.
During a recent appearance on the crossover podcast between “White Noise” and “Old Man and the 3,” Simons spoke on his thought process upon learning that he would be heading to Boston for the 2025-26 season. He noted how he was excited to be joining a competitive franchise.
“I was just excited because I’m like, all right, I could finally be in the playoffs,” Simons said. “I’ve been watching it for the past three years, and I’m like, ‘I want to be a part of that. I want to be able to compete at that level and kind of see what I’m made of.’ I came here just super excited about it and wanting to prove myself that way.”
Simons is certainly proving that he can be part of a winning setup. In fact, he’s also shown significant improvement on the defensive end, which was always a weak point for him.
Jan 21, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Anfernee Simons (4) shoots before their game against the Indiana Pacers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Unfortunately, due to his expiring contract, Simons could still be traded, meaning there’s a chance he could miss out on the postseason run he covets.
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However, if Simons does remain with the Celtics beyond Feb. 5, he will undoubtedly have a key part to play as part of Boston’s second unit, especially when Joe Mazzulla needs an infusion of scoring to insert some life into the halfcourt offense.
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Anfernee Simons reveals initial excitement at joining the Celtics