The Philadelphia 76ers getting their hands on Anfernee Simons is widely considered one of the greatest steals in the league this offseason. For what is basically chump change, the front office managed to fix one of this team's most debilitating weaknesses in recent years, which is bench scoring. That being said, he is no perfect addition –– the veteran guard actually carries a red flag, which has not been talked about enough: his his track record of missing games due to injuries.
Simons has missed a considerable number of games in the past due to various ailments. In fact, he has barely suited up for the 76ers this preseason. After injuring his right hamstring during their first outing against the Knicks, he has not yet made his return, although he is apparently closing in on making a timely appearance for their final game before the regular season begins.
The 76ers could have a big problem with Anfernee Simons and his health
Since the 2021-22 NBA season, Simons has missed a total of 120 outings in the regular season. That amounts to him missing 24 games in each campaign on average. Just this past season, Simons missed 27 games due to a left wrist fracture. If that pattern continues with the 76ers this season, the team could expect to get around 58 contests with him in uniform. To be frank, that is not a palatable number given the degree of responsibility he will carry for this squad.
Simons will be the sixth man in Philadelphia this season. A proven and established three-level scorer and secondary playmaker himself, he will be tasked with being the catalyst for the second unit and a spot starter when either Tyrese Maxey or VJ Edgecombe misses games for whatever reason. If he is unavailable himself, the 76ers could find themselves in a familiar hole.
The 76ers have a much more well-rounded bench squad this season, but much of their reliable scoring profile comes from Simons. Without him, the coaching staff will be forced to rely on a rookie like Labaron Philon Jr. and other complementary players who are not used to being go-to options, even as second-unit weapons.
For now, there is no immediate concern with Anfernee Simons missing a significant number of games with the 76ers. However, he has history, and that in itself carries a major risk they simply cannot overlook. As such, they would be wise to plan hard for when their sixth man gets sidelined –– and his track record points to that being a likely proposition.
Add us as a preferred source on Google