Portland Trail Blazers: Anfernee Simons’ work ethic earns him opportunity against Timberwolves

In the Portland Trail Blazers 112-96 defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves, rookie Anfernee Simons saw some valuable minutes and showed promise.

Although Friday night’s Portland Trail Blazers defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves was mostly dark (the team never led throughout the game), there was one intriguing bright spot to the dark 48 minutes. Because Blazers’ guard Seth Curry was sidelined due to a knee injury suffered against the Los Angeles Lakers, Head Coach Terry Stotts slotted in rookie Anfernee Simons for 13 minutes.

The rookie performed admirably in his limited time, notching seven points, three rebounds, an assist, and the team’s best plus-minus with +9.

During the game, Simons picked up from preseason, showing an ability to get to his spots and finish inside or on savvy floaters. He even employed some veteran-type moves, like this little get-off-me move he pulled with his right arm:

There is plenty of reason to be excited about how good the 19-year-old could become in a few years, especially as his shooting stroke continues to improve and he better learns the rhythm of the professional game.

But perhaps the biggest reason for dreaming about Simons’s potential is the fact he is already impressing the team by his diligent work ethic. After all, it was his relentless pursuit to improving that earned him these opportune minutes.

At least, that’s what the Oregonian’s Joe Freeman posits. He wrote:

"“While it may have been surprising to see coach Terry Stotts insert Simons into the Blazers’ player rotation to replace the injured Seth Curry against the Minnesota Timberwolves, it wasn’t all that shocking to those behind the scenes. Simons may be a raw 19 year-old rookie, but he’s quickly developing a work ethic and drive far beyond his years.”"

Freeman describes how Blazers superstar Damian Lillard often finds Anfernee Simons already in the gym when he comes back late to get some extra training in. Everybody around the team has begun taking notice of Simons’s drive.

And while there were other options to give these extra minutes to, like Wade Baldwin or Gary Trent Jr, Freeman wrote that Stotts preferred Simons’s fit with the second unit and believed he “deserved a chance.”

No doubt, Simons made a lot out of the chance he was given.

After the game, Simons said:

"“They obviously preach to me to be aggressive. I wanted to come in there and not try to do too much, but once the opportunity was there, take the shot and just live with the results.”"

The rookie is already putting his most aggressive foot forward and down on the acceleration pedal. When out there against the Wolves, Simons rarely looked lost or confused and looked confident when creating his own shot.

More reps will only help Simons better find his place on the court and more time practicing will give him a variety of moves and counter-moves to maximize his aggressiveness.

Last night marked the first NBA game that Anfernee Simons received legitimate minutes. Perhaps, after his performance, there will be plenty more to come this season.