Anfernee Simons understands his new sixth-man role with the refreshed 76ers

Anfernee Simons understands his new sixth-man role with the refreshed 76ers originally appeared on The Sporting News .

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For the 2026-27 season, the Philadelphia 76ers will be one of the exciting teams because of LeBron James' arrival. However, they are much more than that because they also have more additions, including All-NBA player Jaylen Brown and explosive scorer Anfernee Simons.

Considering he is not an established star, Simons is not the most popular player for the 76ers . However, people might be surprised because he can be one of the most impactful players due to his skill set as an offensive player, especially as a dynamic scorer.

Anfernee Simons knows he can be a super sixth man in Philadelphia

Dating back to his days with the Portland Trail Blazers , Simons has always been an explosive scorer. He thrives without the ball in his hands, as he loves getting open with smart off-ball movement. His three-point shooting is elite, especially when he serves as a spot-up shooter.

Playing off elite players like James, Brown, and Embiid can open up all kinds of opportunities for him to shine. He already has experience playing with Brown and other top-level players like Damian Lillard, so this won't be a problem for Simons to adjust to this kind of role.

While the starting lineup has received the obvious plaudits because it has five star-level players, the 76ers' bench has been overlooked. Simons is probably the biggest name out of them, but the likes of Dean Wade, Adem Bona, and Dominick Barlow can be difference-makers. Simons knows his role now, and he is ready to stand out without having to be the starter.

"Obviously you got the ultimate like that confidence in yourself that you feel like you’re a starter. You know, obviously the role is different. You know, you might be coming out off the bench, but you know, my mindset going into the game is I’ve already competed at a high level with starters, and it’s going to be just even easier for me when I come into the game, you know what I mean? Playing against second units," Simons said on Cousins with Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady .

That understanding can go a long way for Simons and the 76ers. They need to know their roles, and if they are defined well before the season starts, the ceiling is sky high for this 76ers team that is hungry to compete for a championship.

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