Anfernee Simons on getting Traded to Boston | Celtics Media Day 2025

Anfernee Simons on getting Traded to Boston | Celtics Media Day 2025

Um, what was your reaction to getting traded to Boston? And how confident were you that you were going to stay here once you landed here? What did they communicate about that to you? Mhm. um you know obviously uh you know you hear a lot of stories about getting traded um in general and you know it’s all the stories are different but for me I mean I was super excited for the opportunity to come here and uh join a culture that’s already been set and you know something that uh you know was going to help my career um out tremendously just um you know playing at the highest level and winning basketball And um that’s what I was excited about, you know, joining and um you know, being a part of after seven years in Portland. What was it like to be leaving there? And then once you actually got here, what’s it been like getting to know everyone in the organization? Yeah, obviously, you know, once you once you’ve been I feel like once I was there for that long, um you never saw yourself leaving. Um it was kind of surreal moment that it actually happened. Um, but like I said, I, you know, turned the page and knew that I was going to a great spot and coming here into a great organization. Everybody that’s been here, um, said great things about the organization. Um, my vet ET said, uh, that he loved it here. So, um, you know, I was pretty excited about it and everybody in the building was, you know, it’s been pretty pretty good to me and, um, I’m pretty excited about, you know, being a part of something that’s, uh, you know, historic. Jack Anthony, for the last few years the Celtics have shot a lot of threes and that’s something your game you’re particularly good at. What excites you about potentially playing that play style and what have your conversations with Joe been like about, you know, how you could fit into that type of game that they’ve been playing? Mhm. Yeah, just um he wants me to be comfortable and uh just be myself. Um he knows that he I know he going to push me to be, you know, become a even better player and um you know, obviously shooting the threes is something I enjoy, you know, shooting. So, um, that’s not really a discussion we’ve had about specifically shooting threes, but, you know, he wants me to be myself, you know, when I go in into the game. So, um, that’s what, you know, makes me a little bit at more at ease about joining a new situation. Celtics fans know that you can score obviously just from looking you up, but uh, for a lot of fans that haven’t watched a lot of you play, you know, being on Pacific time, what would you want new Celtics or Celtics fans to know about you both as a player and as a person? Uh just um I go out there and you know try to do my best to help the team win whether that’s scoring or doing other things. But but um you know I think being this situation like I said um and Joe pushing me every single day and being in this type of environment is going to bring um the best out in me and some of the things that you know it might have not seen in the past. And so that’s one of the things I’m excited about. Um just being around other great players um like JB, Derek, Peyton, Sam. They all, you know, play winning basketball um at a high level for multiple years now. And I want to be able to join and contribute to that as well. And um just play my part in helping us, you know, continue the same tradition that has been since I’ve, you know, been here. Anthony, kind of a man of a few words. You don’t Yeah. You keep keep to yourself. Are you do you feel like you you’ve been overlooked, overshadowed in Portland? I mean, obviously you put those years in. You took over for Dane when he left. Are do you feel like you you this can be a showcase for you to show your skills on a bigger stage? Yeah, obviously, you know, you’re in a smaller market over there. So, obviously naturally, you know, if you’re not doing something extraordinary in those type of markets, um then you can get overlooked. Um, I think I’ve done things that, you know, I can be proud of, um, based off my career. Um, obviously, you know, the past couple years in Portland, we weren’t necessarily winning and making the playoffs, but um, I think I was, you know, playing well and um, getting better at some things. And so those things can get overlooked just because you’re not winning games. And, um, I think that’s why I’m excited about being here because, um, whether it looks different, I’m still I’m contributing to winning games. And that’s um and especially here in Boston, which a big market and so that’s going to help me naturally get some recognition. Um but ultimately like I just want to contribute to the winning whether no matter what that looks like. John, Anthony, uh over here to your left. Um obviously everybody knows you as an elite scorer. Uh one of the criticisms about you is defensively on that side of the ball. Um what have you spoken to Joe about when it comes to that? The Celtics are a defensive-minded team. Um, and what do you think you can bring on that end? Um, yeah, we we’ve talked about it and uh, you know, it’s just a matter of, you know, if I want to do it or not. You know what I mean? It’s to just it’s it’s really that simple. Um, you know, like I said, coming into a culture like this, you have to be able to adapt or, you know, it’s not going to you’re not going to be, you know, in the position that you want to be. and um whether it’s playing or not playing. So um to me it’s really that simple and that’s the you know the honest conversations we had about it and um he always says that you know you’re not you know as bad as people think you are. Um and so um that’s good to hear but also I got to do the work to um get better in that end and focus in on you know exactly what we need to do on the defensive end. And so, like I said, I’m pretty excited about being pushed into, you know, a new level of which I can reach over here. Um, what are your impressions of the Boston sports scene and now how do you feel about being a part of it? Uh, it’s great. I mean, obviously, you know, like I said, coming from Portland, you know, that’s it’s just, you know, they were the only team in the in the city other than the soccer team, but um, coming to you, you can actually get involved in sports teams. I went to the Patriots game last week against the Steelers. Um and uh I plan on going to a Red Sox game. So, I’m pretty excited about uh you know, actually going out and watching other sports because I enjoy sports, you know, in general. So, um it’s I’m pretty excited about actually going out and seeing those things live. So, I couldn’t I wasn’t able to um obviously for the past seven years. I know, but I haven’t I’ve never been to a baseball game, so I’m like, “All right, so they made it the playoffs.” I’m like, “All right, my first one. It’s going to be a playoff game.” Hi, Anthony. Um, you stepped into a a bigger role when when Dame left and proved that you could be a 20 point scorer. So, how do you feel that progression is going to help you here, especially as you’re on that expiring deal? Um, I think I learned a lot from, you know, being a, I guess you could say number one option on that team, whether, you know, dealing with, you know, the best defenders um, guarding me each and every game, different defensive coverages, uh, getting uh, double team, bliss, or whatever you want to call it. Um, I learned a lot from um, dealing with that. And uh obviously coming here um you know it might still happen but still we got you know we got Jaylen Brown that’s that’s taking that um that responsibility. So um I’m pretty excited about being able to contribute in a different way. Um maybe closer to how I was at the beginning of my year beginning of my career when I was playing with Dame and CJ. Um so I’m excited about you know playing in that type of role and um still being who I am, still learning from the things that I learned. um being the number one option. So, I’m just excited about the opportunity that you know being able to play with guys that uh for me um you know that I’ve looked to it from afar and respected you know their games and how they played. Final question, Abby. Well, that’s along those lines and and talking about contributing. You started 70 games last year. Does that is that something that’s important to you that kind of role and and how do you view it and what kind of conversations have you had with Joe and the staff about that? Yeah, I I mean I understand the the the situation I’m coming into. So, and I understand my goals as a as you know, as a player and as a team, we we want to win. So, and I want to win. Um like I said, I want to contribute to winning at the highest level. And so, what whatever that how that looks, I’m fine with, you know what I mean? So, um it can vary game to game. That’s what’s been said. And so I’m I’m you know I’m pretty just excited about the opportunity to play with uh you know with all these guys and um you know like I said contribute to winning. Thank you. Appreciate it.

BRIGHTON – The Celtics held Media Day at the Auerbach Center on Monday. Anfernee Simons was asked about joining the Celtics. “I’m excited about just being around other great players, like JB, Derek, Payton, Sam, they all play winning basketball at a high level…and I want to be able to join and contribute to that as well.”

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