To win a championship, the Philadelphia 76ers will need more than their star-studded roster performing at an optimal level. Each player must buy into the franchise’s culture and ambition, regardless of their role, something Anfernee Simons is already ready to do. For him, playing alongside LeBron James is a dream come true, and he is “going to take full advantage of it.” The Sixers require other secondary options to embrace a similar mentality.
Anfernee Simons will be paying close attention to LeBron
Before he landed in the City of Philadelphia, Anfernee Simons would have been well aware of the role awaiting him on the Sixers’ roster. With Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Jaylen Brown already in the building, the 27-year-old must accept that he is on this team to add scoring punch off the bench and maintain the team’s momentum while its star players are resting.
When addressing reporters at his 76ers media day press conference, Simons made it clear that his admiration for LeBron James will allow him to fully embrace the rotational role carved out for him in South Philly.
“It’s crazy that, you know, you can say you’ve been teammates with somebody like LeBron James.” Simons’ respect for his teammate continued as he stated, “This year, I need to take advantage of this experience, ’cause I understand that not many people get this experience.”
Inflated egos are scattered around the NBA. Over the years, many players have bought into their own hype and refused to maintain the high standards that brought them to the peak of the basketball world. They become disillusioned when they are not granted the minutes in the rotation that they believe they deserve, and this can devastate a team’s morale. Not Anfernee Simons; he knows the opportunity that is in front of him.
For the sake of the 76ers and their championship ambitions, they must hope that every secondary option is as willing to embrace the once-in-a-lifetime experience ahead of them rather than wallow in self-pity.
76ers must create a competitive environment
Everybody and their grandmother knows which players will be starting for the Philadelphia 76ers when the team is at full strength, but that doesn’t mean Anfernee Simons and his fellow secondary unit crew shouldn’t be preparing to fill the void an injury could open.
Of course, Simons must have a patient mentality and prioritize his development while sharing the floor with a set of elite-level players; nevertheless, he must be willing to prove to his new head coach that he is ready to jump into action whenever the opportunity presents itself.
For too many years, the 76ers have been a shadow of their former selves when their star players were unavailable for selection. Without Joel Embiid on the floor, the Sixers have often struggled to drag themselves over the line. In fact, if it wasn’t for Tyrese Maxey, they might have established themselves as a perennial lottery team.
However, Philadelphia now boasts options like Simons, Dean Wade, Labaron Philon Jr., and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Benches don’t often come as talented and physical as this. The issue for the 76ers won’t be the players’ contribution, but maintaining their motivation over the course of an entire season.
Philadelphia will hope their less prominent players are listening to the wise words of Anfernee Simons. Few players will ever have a chance to learn from the great LeBron James. They must embrace whatever role the 76ers have carved out for them this year while shadowing one of the greatest players to ever play the game.
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