​The Philadelphia 76ers have pulled off a notable free-agent move by adding Anfernee Simons to the roster on a substantial deal. An eight-year veteran out of IMG Academy, Simons arrives with a reputation for creating offense in an instant, aiming to make life easier for everyone on the floor with his scoring ability. Across his career, he has averaged 14.9 points per game while shooting 38.1 percent from three on 6.6 attempts per contest. He is a high-volume scorer who can fill it up quickly, a skill set that should benefit the Sixers and, in particular, their younger guards Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.
There’s a good chance Simons will share the floor at times with one or even both of those guards, and he has thoughts on each of them, starting with Maxey. “Yeah, just obviously his speed is unlike others,” Simons said when asked about Maxey. “His ability to shoot the ball. His ability to get downhill. His ability just to change the game. I think that’s what makes him special, and so having a guy on your team like that can help you out a lot. That somebody that can handle the ball and be just as explosive—to be even more explosive as you. So, that’s one of the things that probably stands out. Just his ability to hit big shots and just change the game completely.”
Although Maxey stands as one of the pillars of the Sixers, there are strong reasons to believe Edgecombe could become a central piece of the team in short order. The No. 3 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft has already shown versatility on both ends of the floor, capable of scoring in bunches, creating for others, and stepping up defensively to make an impact. He has learned from Maxey, Joel Embiid, and, most recently, former teammate Paul George, and Simons sees a bright future for him. He even drew a comparison between Edgecombe and new Sixers star Jaylen Brown.
“I think it’s kind of close to what JB brings,” Simons said of Edgecombe. “It’s just, you know, that I love a two-way game, and I think instantly his defense has adjusted to the league at a high level. That’s what stood out to me—the ability to go out there, defend the best players in the league, and let his offense come along as well.”
In 75 games last season, Edgecombe averaged 16.0 points and 4.2 assists while shooting 43.8 percent from the floor and 35.4 percent from deep. His playoff numbers dipped to 14.0 points, 41.4 percent overall, and 29.2 percent from three, but Simons believes the foundation is there for a substantial rise. “I think he’s got the tools to be really good offensively, and we’ve seen that,” Simons said. “Especially, last year in moments, and just everybody’s going to continue to push him and help him grow and reach his full potential. We know that he can be a pretty special player. So we’ll keep providing him with confidence to go out there, be himself, and continue to develop.”
Simons is confident in Edgecombe’s capabilities and sees a path for both guard positions to thrive alongside him. The dynamic, multi-dimensional backcourt that could emerge is part of what excites him about joining the Sixers. With Maxey’s speed, shooting, and downhill ability, and Edgecombe’s two-way impact and scoring potential, Simons believes the floor will open up for everyone, allowing the team to maximize its offensive potential.
As the Sixers integrate Simons into their system, the hope is that the pairing with their young talent will accelerate both Maxey and Edgecombe’s development while providing a steady and dynamic scoring presence off the bench or in the starting lineup. Simons’s track record as a prolific shooter and a reliable scorer gives the team a new tool to keep defenses off balance, and his perspective on Maxey and Edgecombe underscores the faith the organization has in its growing core. This move signals a broader strategy: to surround a budding group with experienced, efficient scorers who can elevate the play of their guards and push the franchise toward continued success. This report originally appeared on Sixers Wire, highlighting new Sixers guard Anfernee Simons’s thoughts on Maxey and Edgecombe as the team looks ahead to the upcoming season.