Younger up-and-coming star Afernee Simons has been underneath Damian Lillard’s tutelage for the final 5 NBA seasons since he was the twenty fourth total decide by the Blazers within the 2018 NBA Draft.
Clearly, Simons has heard all the rumors about Dame and is aware of he could also be dropping him, however confused he doesn’t know anymore than most of the people about what is going on behind closed doorways.
“I imply, like I all the time mentioned, I by no means get myself concerned in something apart from involving me straight so no matter is being mentioned within the media is what I’m studying too,” Simons told Aaron J. Fentress. “So, like…Lots of people ask me that query on a regular basis, clearly, like what’s happening with Dame. I say, ‘They are saying he requested for a commerce, he requested for a commerce.’ That was it. Clearly, me and Dame have a detailed relationship. I’m all the time going to help him it doesn’t matter what he tries to do. It’s all the time going to be household idea with us.”
He additionally mirrored on all the pieces that Lillard has taught him however says he’ll cross it onto the subsequent crop of NBA rookies.
“I hoped to ask for signed jersey when he retired from Portland however I imply, if he finally ends up someplace else I’m going to must ask for it earlier than..he taught me a lot in regards to the recreation, being skilled, how you can exercise, how you can carry your self in the sort of setting, how you can deal with success. He’s taught me a variety of issues which have set me up in my profession.
“So clearly, these classes might be missed and hopefully, I’ll clearly carry what he’s taught to me onto the opposite younger gamers as effectively…”
A kind of younger gamers is the Portland’s quantity two total decide on this 12 months’s draft, Scoot Henderson.
24-year-old Simons had a variety of constructive issues to say about Scoot.
“He’s nearly as good as marketed,” Simons mentioned at his camp in Beaverton. “Understands the sport at a excessive stage, particularly at his age. I’m fairly excited to play with him.”
Simons was the Blazers’ second finest scorer behind Lillard final season so if Lillard does go away, Simons might be educating Henderson the ropes.
He additionally could must share the ball with the gifted younger guard.
