On the Celtics off day, Anfernee Simons gave back to the Boston community and hosted the 2025-26 ‘Fit For a Cause’ event at the Auerbach Center. The purpose of the program is to encourage individuals to lead healthy and active lifestyles, while simultaneously raising money for their communities.
Simons was joined by fifty Boston Scientific employees, and thirty youth from the Boys & Girls Club of Boston, Boys & Girls Club of MetroWest, and YMCA of Greater Boston. After the event, Simons took questions from reporters on a multitude of topics from trade rumors, his defensive improvements, and giving back to the community.
Trade rumors
NBA Insider Chris Haynes went on to the SiriusXM NBA Radio and said that “Anfernee Simons is someone who is on the trade market.” Haynes continued on by saying the Celtics were looking for front court help and big man reinforcement. He thinks Boston will make a trade even if it is small, but mentioning Simons would make you think that it will be a legitimate contributor.
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When asked about the rumors, Simons said: “Once you’ve been in the league for eight years, the trade rumors become constant…control what you can control.” Simons has been linked to a couple of trade rumors from early in the season in deals for Ivica Zubac and Nikola Vucevic according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.
Scotto reported that “when the Clippers were struggling with a 6-21 record to begin the season, the Celtics inquired about an exploratory framework around Simons, a first-round pick, and a future first-round pick swap for Ivica Zubac and salary filler, which didn’t gain any traction.”
“The Chicago Bulls inquired on the possibility of trading center Nikola Vucevic for Simons and a Celtics first-round pick, which would have lowered Boston’s tax bill, but the Celtics weren’t interested, league sources told HoopsHype.”
DEFENSE
When Simons was first traded to Boston for All-Defensive Team guard Jrue Holiday, there were a lot of concerns about his defense. Simons was known as a negative defender for most of his career but this season has shown real strides in that area. He is averaging 0.6 steals a game this season with a defensive rating of 119.0 which are both tied for the third best marks of his career. Simons also is a +162 which is the highest mark of his career and currently 5th on the Celtics. Simons was asked about his defensive improvements while working with Celtics Player development coach Ross McMains and what specific areas that he has worked on.
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“Just overall, having that mindset, finding ways to play make in that area. I think from the first day I got here, we drilled that every single day. That was the first thing we did, before we even touched the basketball, dribble the basketball, we dedicated the first 30 minutes of the workout to play making on defense and positioning on the defense.”
COMMUNITY WORK
Anfernee Simons spent time talking to the kids about his daily routine and workout regiment, working with the Celtics strength and conditioning staff on orchestrating a sprinting drill, and showed them how to make healthy smoothies. Simons recognized the importance of giving back to the community and has really felt embraced by the city of Boston.
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“Obviously, The community has been very welcoming to me. Everybody’s been trying to do their best to make me feel comfortable…I said before, it feels like I’ve been here longer than I actually have been here…family type organization and it feels very comforting coming to a new situation and everybody is wrapping their arms around you and making you feel welcome.”
The ‘Fit For a Cause’ program is a fitness program that employees from Boston Scientific will participate in. It motivates employees to increase their physical activity while having the opportunity to improve their communities with a “pay it forward” prize: the opportunity to work with Boston Scientific and the Celtics to select a renovation project. The launch event will include a discussion about healthy living, “Train like the Celtics” competitions, and a nutrition demonstration.
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