Mike Gansey may be taking all the plaudits right now, but without Jameer Nelson's help, the Philadelphia 76ers could still be scouring the market for an impact bench scorer. The Sixers' new man, Anfernee Simons, revealed that Nelson played a key role in the recruitment process. After the secondary unit struggles the franchise had throughout the 2025-26 season, this could well be the 76ers' signing of the summer.
New Sixers guard Anfernee Simons said PHI was the best fit for him because of “positional need” and “ wanting to go out there and compete for a championship.” He named Jameer Nelson as a key part of recruiting him in free agency.
— Noah Levick (@NoahLevick) July 7, 2026
Nelson's persistence changes the landscape for Philadelphia
During the 76ers' offseason open-heart surgery, Jameer Nelson was appointed as executive vice president of basketball operations, with the responsibility of acting as Mike Gansey's right-hand man. Sometimes these roles are filled by incompetent people who only know how to say the word 'yes'. However, Nelson's determination in sealing the Simons deal in free agency proves he is far more than that.
When addressing the media for the first time as a Philadelphia player, Anfernee Simons explained how his recruitment process unraveled and highlighted the lengths Nelson was willing to go to land the explosive guard's signature.
Simons explained to reporters, "I got a call from Jameer; Jameer called my parents. I talked to Nick [Nurse], and I just felt like at the time, that was probably the best fit for me.”
Patience is usually a virtue in business transactions of this nature, and overeagerness to recruit a player could force a team to pay a premium it never intended to. Nevertheless, while approaching a player's parents is an unorthodox move, Nelson proved he can get results, and it could pay dividends in Philadelphia's pursuit of a championship ring.
Simons could be the difference-maker for the 76ers
Little was expected of the 2025-26 campaign for the Philadelphia 76ers. Joel Embiid's health was uncertain, Tyrese Maxey's ability to spearhead a team's offense raised questions, and nobody knew what version of Paul George would be returning to the court. A second-round exit at the hands of the New York Knicks was disappointing at the time, but it was a realistic marker of where the franchise currently finds itself.
With Embiid, Maxey, and Edgecombe earmarked as the future of the 76ers, it was up to both Gansey and Nelson to make swift changes to the roster to bridge the gap with their Eastern Conference rivals. To do so, the team didn't just need to land superstars in the form of Jaylen Brown; they needed sufficient options from the bench who could make an impact when their number is called.
Throughout the 2025-26 regular season, the Sixers ranked 27th out of all 30 teams in bench scoring -- averaging just 32.4 points per game. With Quentin Grimes now a Los Angeles Laker, Philadelphia's secondary unit has been weakened further, meaning the Anfernee Simons announcement couldn't have come at a better time.
Before making a midseason move to the Chicago Bulls last year, Simons was utilized as an impact bench scorer for the Boston Celtics, doing so with devastating effect. Over 49 appearances for the Celtics, the 27-year-old averaged 14.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game, while shooting 44 percent from the floor.
His role in Philadelphia's rotation is likely going to be identical to his time in Boston due to the magnificent partnership that Maxey and Edgecombe struck up last season. And on top of that, nobody in their right mind would stand between Jaylen Brown and his revenge arc -- Nick Nurse knows better than that.
At this moment, there are few better fits for the Philadelphia 76ers than Anfernee Simons. If it weren't for the unconventional methods of Jameer Nelson, this deal may never have come to fruition.
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