Anfernee Tyrik Simons born June 8, 1999 is an American professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He gained attention for being the first American player selected in an NBA draft directly after high school graduation, following the implementation of the NBA’s age restriction rules in 2005.
Anfernee Simons Biography 2025
A five-star recruit, Simons was ranked as the seventh-best player in the 2018 class by 247Sports. Although he initially committed to the University of Louisville, he decommitted after the 2015 basketball scandal at the university and the NCAA’s involvement in the 2017–18 corruption scandal. He considered other schools, including the University of South Carolina, North Carolina State University, the University of Tennessee, and the University of Florida. In January 2018, Simons announced he was likely to bypass college and enter the 2018 NBA Draft, later confirming his decision in March. He removed his name from consideration for the 2018 Nike Hoop Summit and the Jordan Brand Classic. That same month, ESPN ranked him as the 19th-best draft prospect, and he was invited to the 2018 NBA Draft Combine.
WhatsApp Channel Join Button
Anfernee Simons Biography Details
Born
June 8, 1999 (age 25)
Altamonte Springs, Florida, U.S.
Listed height
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight
181 lb (82 kg)
Anfernee Simons Early Life
Simons began his high school career at Edgewater High School in Orlando, Florida, where as a sophomore, he averaged 17.8 points, 4.6 assists, 2.4 rebounds, and 1 steal per game across 30 games. He transferred to Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida, for his junior year, but struggled to earn a starting role and returned to Edgewater. He graduated in 2017, having averaged 23.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game in his senior year. After reclassifying to the Class of 2018, Simons spent a postgraduate year at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, though he had initially considered attending West Oaks Academy in Orlando. During the summer of 2017, Simons also played for the U.S. men’s national under-19 basketball team.
Anfernee Simons Career Milestones
Milestone
Year
NBA Draft Selection
2018, 1st Round, 24th Pick
NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion
2021
Career-High Points
45 points (2022)
Re-signed with Portland
2022, 4-year, $100 million contract
Career-High Assists
9 assists (2019)
Anfernee Simons High School Statistics
Category
Statistic
Points per Game (Senior)
23.8
Rebounds per Game (Senior)
7.2
Assists per Game (Senior)
4.2
Steals per Game (Senior)
1.8
Blocks per Game (Senior)
0.5
Anfernee Simons NBA Career Stats (Regular Season)
Year
Team
GP
GS
MPG
PPG
APG
RPG
3P%
2018–19
Portland
20
1
7.0
3.8
0.7
0.7
34.5%
2019–20
Portland
70
4
20.7
8.3
1.4
2.2
33.2%
2020–21
Portland
64
0
17.3
7.8
1.4
2.2
42.6%
2021–22
Portland
57
30
29.5
17.3
3.9
2.6
40.5%
2022–23
Portland
62
62
35.0
21.1
4.1
2.6
37.7%
2023–24
Portland
46
46
34.4
22.6
5.5
3.6
38.5%
NBA Career Playoffs Stats
Year
Team
GP
GS
MPG
PPG
APG
RPG
3P%
2019
Portland
5
0
2.4
0.8
0.0
0.0
0.0%
2020
Portland
4
0
20.5
6.8
2.5
2.8
42.9%
2021
Portland
6
0
17.8
6.5
0.8
2.7
61.1%
Notable Achievements
Achievement
Year
NBA Slam Dunk Contest Winner
2021
Career-High Points Scored
45 points
Career-High Assists
9 assists
Re-signed with Portland
2022
Anfernee Simons Personal Life
Personal Detail
Information
Birthdate
June 8, 1999
Birthplace
Altamonte Springs, Florida
Parents’ Names
Charles and Tameka
Inspired by
Penny Hardaway
Contract Details
Contract Year
Amount
Re-signed with Portland (2022)
4 years, $100 million
Anfernee Simons Injuries and Recovery
Injury
Date
Torn UCL in Right Thumb
October 25, 2023
Recovery Time
4 to 6 weeks
Career Highlights
Highlight
Year
NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion
2021
Career-High Points Scored
45 points
Game Performances
Game Date
Opponent
Points
Assists
Rebounds
January 3, 2022
Atlanta Hawks
43
7
–
December 3, 2022
Utah Jazz
45
–
–
February 3, 2023
Washington Wizards
33
–
–
NBA Draft Overview
Draft Year
Draft Position
2018
1st Round, 24th Pick
Anfernee Simons G League Assignment
Date
G League Team
Performance
January 21, 2019
Agua Caliente Clippers
–
Career Scoring Average
Season
Points per Game
2018–19
3.8
2019–20
8.3
2020–21
7.8
2021–22
17.3
2022–23
21.1
2023–24
22.6
Impact on the Trail Blazers
Key Contribution
Season
Key Player in Blazers Offense
2022–present
Scoring and Playmaking
2023–present
Anfernee Simons Net Worth
Anfernee Simons net worth is estimated between $15 million – $20 million.
Anfernee Simons Summary
Anfernee Simons is a talented shooting guard for the Portland Trail Blazers, drafted 24th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft. Known for his scoring ability, he won the 2021 NBA Slam Dunk Contest and set career highs, including 45 points in a game. Simons has steadily improved each season, signing a four-year, $100 million contract with the Blazers in 2022. Despite a thumb injury in 2023, he remains a core player for Portland. His high school and G League experiences laid a strong foundation for his successful NBA career.
