Anfernee Simons Grateful for CJ McCollum's Mentorship
Anfernee Simons appreciates the opportunity to demonstrate the growth he owes to his mentor, CJ McCollum, who played a key role in his development.
Unconventional Path to the NBA
Unlike typical routes, Boston Celtics guard Anfernee Simons spent a postgraduate year at IMG Academy in Florida after high school instead of attending college. This period away from the spotlight added mystery around him, contributing to his selection as the 24th overall pick by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2018 NBA Draft.
Learning from Veteran Mentors
In Portland, Simons found himself alongside two exceptional mentors in the backcourt: Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. Before a recent game against McCollum's Washington Wizards, Simons reflected on the lessons he learned from McCollum, now a seven-year veteran.
“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.
He highlighted the balance of play styles McCollum offered, noting:
“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.”
Simons praised McCollum’s guidance on maintaining effectiveness even without relying solely on athleticism or speed:
“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.”
Summary
Anfernee Simons credits CJ McCollum for teaching him a balanced playing style and crafting his effectiveness beyond pure athleticism, shaping his ongoing growth in the NBA.