preface:
Averaging 26.3 points per game, shooting 50 percent from the field, shooting 42.7 percent from three-point range and shooting 90.3 percent from the free throws, he is the only player in the entire NBA to enter the 180 club, which is the performance of Trail Blazers youngster Anfinnie Simmons in January this year. If you don't tell you who this person is, you may still think he's Stephen Curry. This is Simmons' fourth year in the NBA, and the 23-year-old has a good chance of becoming the trailblazer's next superstar.
Can be cast and buckled, there is no short board
Last season's NBA dunk contest, Simmons won the dunk king, although quite controversial, but to stand out is enough to reflect Simmons's physical talent. But if you think he's a buckler, that's a bit of a look down on Simmons. Unlike Philadelphia's West, Anfine has a pretty good shooting ability, shooting more than 40 percent of three-pointers in January, which is not only efficient but also quite productive.
This is reminiscent of Vince Carter, as the dunk king Carter is not only invincible in actual dunks, but also has a good three-point ability. More critically, the biggest difference between Simmons and the Blazers' double gun is that he is large enough. A big reason why Lillard and McCollum have been suppressed by Curry and Thompson is that they are too short. But Simmons is 1.91 meters tall, and with this height and invincible bounce ability, Simmons is far more potential than the double gun, and is even more unafraid to target in the playoffs. Judging from the performance in January, Simmons' offense can be said to have no shortcomings, whether it is a three-point long-range shot or an inside breakthrough, he is at ease. One of the criteria for being a superstar is that you can brush up on good-looking data, and Simmons did that.
Optimistic, not afraid of failure
No one's success is achieved overnight, and Simmons' performance today is also the result of four years of experience. Since being drafted by the Blazers, Simmons has improved every year, from playing 20 games in his rookie season to becoming the team's main force this season, and his efforts in the past four years are obvious to everyone. He had been a DNP and had delegated development alliances, but none of these setbacks affected his mentality, and Simmons showed diligence wherever he went. This is very similar to the Warriors' Jordan Poole, who is now also the warrior's most important player, and in the past two years, he has also played from the bench to the development of the league, and now becomes the Warriors' super sixth man. And Simmons is positioned not just as the sixth man, he wants to become the superstar of the future.
Simmons's personality is destined that he will not be bad, his mentality is very positive but does not give up lightly, Simmons, who was a big guy in the past few years, was asked by the star to do some dirty work in time, Simmons is also very happy, even if he is asked by the veterans to buy a bento a second before boarding, he is also happy to go. If a player is too much of a loser, then it is very likely that he will choose to give up when he is in the doldrums, even if he was blackmailed by home fans in the Blazers Simmons in the first three years, it does not mean that he has lost confidence in himself, in fact, the more people who scold you, the more people who support you. This is the mentality necessary for superstars, james used to deal with the devil for 9 years, and Simmons was born a mentally strong person, which can make him take a lot of detours.
Opportunities are always left to those who are prepared
The Trail Blazers have been plagued by injuries this season, McCollum was absent at the start of the season due to injuries, and now Lillard is close to reimbursement. It was the superstars who were plagued by injuries that gave Simmons a chance to play to himself. Simmons' outburst began with Lillard's injury, and Lillard hasn't been on the NBA since the game with the Lakers on Jan. 1. According to the predictions of the media, he will most likely be reimbursed for the season. Lillard was replaced by Simmons in injury, and he seized the opportunity to take the position and played a superstar performance in January. Even if McCollum hasn't stolen simmons from the limelight since his return from injury, Simmons is still the Blazers' best performer.
Simmons has today's performance because he seized the opportunity, it's as simple as that. This season is Simmons' contract year, and many fans are afraid that he is short-lived, after all, there are many players who break out as soon as they reach the contract year, but after signing a big contract, they are invisible. But Simmons is definitely not such a player, he showed in January is completely superstar ability, and his style of speaking is becoming more and more like a superstar, taking the initiative to take responsibility for the team's defeat, these are the jobs Lillard did in the past. Simmons' family suddenly changed, his grandfather died of illness, and Simmons scored 43 points in that game to lead the Blazers to beat the Eagles. He said that the victory of this game was dedicated to his grandfather, which is reminiscent of Chris Paul, which is the temperament that NBA superstars can have. As the boss of the team, Lillard has praised Simmons more than once, he is very fond of his little brother, perhaps Lillard also has a premonition, he is not playing in the Blazers time, but also looking for a new successor for the team. Becoming a superstar may be a matter of moments, and Simmons didn't waste time, he was ready!
epilogue:
Some people joke about Simmons's appearance, saying that Simmons is the public face pinched out of the game NBA2k, although he looks like a game character, but Simmons is not ordinary at all. Simmons already has all the temperament to be a star, including strength, attitude, and skills. However, if he really becomes a top superstar, the Blazers management should also have a headache, after all, this year is his contract year, the Blazers are facing a re-contract with Simmons, and now Lillard's high salary has locked up space, perhaps it is really as Lillard expected, Simmons will really pass him to the position.