Shocking Stat Will Have Celtics Fans Lobbying To Keep Anfernee Simons
As soon as the Boston Celtics traded for Anfernee Simons in July, people were talking about Simons possibly being dealt again and never actually playing for the Celtics. In truth, Simons’s expiring contract (and his big payday coming this summer) makes him an ongoing trade chip for Brad Stevens, and it wouldn’t be surprising if the explosive guard is on another team before February.
Despite Simons’s much-needed offense for the Tatum-less Celtics (he’s averaging 18.9 points per 36 minutes so far in four games off the bench), it’s almost impossible to imagine Boston keeping Simons on the team past 2025-26.
That being said, if Simons keeps playing defense at the level he’s been showcasing in a green uniform (a new development in his career), it might be more painful for Stevens and the Celtics to part ways with Simons next summer than they expected.
In addition to the eye-test telling anyone watching Celts games that Simons is exerting excellent effort on defense, an interesting stat reveals that Anfernee has been among the most bothersome defenders in the NBA so far this season when it comes to affecting shots.
When Simons is the closest defender to an opposing shooter, he’s holding those shooters to the second-lowest field goal percentage in the league, behind only Victor Wembanyama!
It’s wild to think that Simons is bothering shooters more than anyone else not named Wemby, although the sample size for the season is still extremely small.
Simons’s defense is trending in a positive direction. If he turns into a more complete, two-way player this season in Boston, his price on the free-agent market will only rise, making a departure from the Celtics nearly guaranteed.