Joe Johnson believes the Philadelphia 76ers' Anfernee Simmons is the type of player who can win them games even in the playoffs.
These comments came after the 27-year-old scored 19 points off the bench against the Charlotte Hornets. Although it was Tyrese Maxey who led the way with a 38-point performance, Simmons was vital off the bench, as he played a pivotal role in the fourth-quarter resurgence for the 76ers.
His shooting was once again elite, going 5-for-9 from beyond the arc. Having played brilliantly for the team so far, Simmons found appreciation from former NBA player Johnson, who heaped praise on his elite scoring ability.
After spending 7 seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, Simmons finally moved to the Boston Celtics at the start of the 2025-26 season. He was used as a bench player with the team and managed to average 14.2 points on 44.2% shooting from the field and 39.5% from three-point range.
He was then traded to the Chicago Bulls before signing with the 76ers in the offseason. So far, it has been clear that Simmons will be a vital piece for the franchise, as his scoring off the bench has been pivotal in the secondary unit.
"He a bucket-getter Ocho, I think when you one of these top teams like Philly is right now to have a guy like that coming off your bench who can go on a heater, who can get hot real quick as soon as he step in the game, you going to need that, especially in the postseason. He's going to be able to win you a couple of games in the postseason," said Johnson on the Nightcap Show.
"If he comes in the game, we look down and we need a little pick-me-upper; he can get us going if not, we're playing at a high level; he can come in and sustain. When you have championship aspirations, you need guys like that who have been there, who knows what it takes, especially when you're in one of those dogfights."
Simmons is averaging 24.7 minutes off the bench for the 76ers and is averaging 12 points. He has scored 15+ points on three occasions and been an impactful player for the team.
The doubt around the 76ers has been their depth, and one player who will be able to solve this problem is Simmons. His scoring can definitely uplift the bench unit and also take some pressure off the starters. The 76ers have one of the best starting lineups in the league, but adding a player like Simmons gives them the added presence of a scorer, which all teams require to win a championship.
Read more:
