Ranking the best NBA Draft 24th-overall picks of the 21st century
By Logan Struck
3. Anfernee Simons, Drafted in 2018
Anfernee Simons is a tough player to rank among Tim Hardaway Jr. and Reggie Jackson, but we are basing his rank on his potential. The 24-year-old shooting guard is coming off his 5th NBA season, where he has finally begun to break out into a star.
After getting drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 24th pick in 2018, the Blazers struggled to keep Simons in the rotation. He started just five games through his first three years in the league but found his stride in the 2021-22 season, averaging 17.3 points and 3.9 assists per game on impressive 44/40/88 shooting splits.
He is coming off the best year of his career when he averaged 21.1 points and 4.1 assists per game with 44/37/89 shooting splits. Simons has now had back-to-back impressive years, as the young guard is finding his groove.
With questions about Damian Lillard’s future in Portland, the Blazers could expect Simons to take the reigns of the franchise. Or, Simons could ultimately be a part of a trade to get a star next to Lillad, and Simons could be taking the reigns of another franchise. Either way, Simons’ career is on the rise, and the 5-year veteran will continue to get better with more experience.