Following a 138-129 win vs. the Magic on Sunday, the Celtics improved to 8-8 in 2025-26. Boston is 6-4 in their last 10 games. It’s been a challenge for the Celtics with the changes they made this offseason.
Kristaps Porzingis was traded to the Hawks, and Jrue Holiday was traded to the Trail Blazers. The team lost Al Horford and Luke Kornet in free agency. On top of that, Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles tendon in the playoffs and is unavailable to start the year. One player who provided a spark off the bench for Boston is Anfernee Simons. Head coach Joe Mazzulla said Simons is “playing his role really well” for the Celtics to start the season.
Could Anfrenee Simons win Sixth Man of the Year for the Celtics?
Joe Mazzulla on Anfernee Simons:
“He’s playing his role really well. He’s giving us everything…He’s getting more comfortable coming off the bench and being aggressive right away…the last few, that’s what we need him to be.”
–@CLNSMedia pic.twitter.com/qY0LP73XMG— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) November 24, 2025
During the 2025 offseason, the Celtics traded two-time NBA champion Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers. In return, Boston received Anfernee Simons and two second-round draft picks. However, the Blazers altered the trade after a review of Holiday’s injury history. The Celtics had the two future second-round picks taken away. Instead, it was a straight-up player-for-player swap.
In 2025-26, Anfrenee Simons has played in all 17 games for the Celtics. Simons has come off the bench for Boston in each game so far this season. His 24.9 minutes and 14.4 points per game are the fourth-most on the Celtics roster. Despite not being a starter, Anfernee Simons is playing a key role for the Celtics. In his three previous seasons with the Blazers, Simons was a full-time starter for Portland.
Asked Jaylen Brown about Anfernee Simons, who has scored 20 points in consecutive games:
“That’s what we need. Anfernee is capable offensively. We’ve got to continue to find spots and space for him to be a playmaker for himself and for others. Be aggressive. He’s capable, so… pic.twitter.com/Dwzj1Y2TCi
— Justin Turpin (@JustinmTurpin) November 24, 2025
With the Celtics, Simons is playing a sixth-man type of role. After Boston’s win on Sunday, head coach Joe Mazzulla showed praise for Anfernee Simons in his first year with Boston. Mazzulla said Simons is “playing his role really well” for the Celtics. Making the adjustment from full-time starter to sixth man has been a challenge. Seventeen games into the 2025-26 season, Simons is starting to find his groove.
The 26-year-old has scored 23 points in back-to-back games for the Celtics. He has had his four games with 20+ points this year. Anfrenee Simons is more than capable of increasing his production offensively for Boston. Simons averaged 20+ points per game in back-to-back seasons for the Trail Blazers. Boston needs the young SG to give the team quality production if they want to stay relevant in the East. At 9-8, the Celtics are 10th in the Eastern Conference.
