PORTLAND – One of the most underrated players in the NBA, Anfernee Simons, showed his true potential tonight against the Utah Jazz.
Simons, who was selected by the Trail Blazers with the 24th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, had a slow start to his career as he averaged 3.8 PPG in his rookie season. He then averaged 8.3 and then 7.8 PPG in his next two seasons, including a Slam Dunk Contest win in 2021.
During the 2021-22 season, he began to break out as he averaged 17.3 PPG, 2.6 RPG, and 3.9 APG. He also put together a career game where he went for 43 points, 3 rebounds, and 7 assists in a 136-131 win against a Hawks team who were led by a 56-point, 14 assists performance by All-Star Trae Young.
Simons came out firing again this year and is currently having the best season of his career. He entered the game against the Jazz averaging 23.8 PPG, 3.1 RPG, and 4.5 APG.
Tonight, the 23-year-old started off smoking hot. At the half, he already had 33 points, including 23 in the first quarter, while shooting 12-18 shooting from the field and 7-12 from three. He ended up breaking his career high, scoring 43 through three quarters and 45 points in total along with 2 rebounds and 4 assists in a tight 116-111 win against the Utah Jazz.
Simons’ first-quarter explosion for 23 points was the best quarter by any player this season and his 33-point half was the most points by a player in the first half in Trail Blazers’ history and the most points by a player in the first half this season. Simons continues to get better and better and will become even more of a problem for his opponents, demanding more attention.
