Younger up-and-coming star Afernee Simons has been below Damian Lillard’s tutelage for the final 5 NBA seasons since he was the twenty fourth general choose by the Blazers within the 2018 NBA Draft.

Clearly, Simons has heard all of the rumors about Dame and is aware of he could also be shedding him, however harassed he doesn’t know anymore than most people about what is occurring behind closed doorways.

“I imply, like I all the time stated, I by no means get myself concerned in something apart from involving me instantly so no matter is being stated within the media is what I’m studying too,” Simons instructed Aaron J. Fentress. “So, like…Lots of people ask me that query on a regular basis, clearly, like what’s happening with Dame. I say, ‘They are saying he requested for a commerce, he requested for a commerce.’ That was it. Clearly, me and Dame have an in depth relationship. I’m all the time going to assist him it doesn’t matter what he tries to do. It’s all the time going to be household idea with us.”

He additionally mirrored on all the pieces that Lillard has taught him however says he’ll cross it onto the following crop of NBA rookies.

“I hoped to ask for signed jersey when he retired from Portland however I imply, if he finally ends up some place else I’m going to should ask for it earlier than..he taught me a lot in regards to the sport, being skilled, find out how to exercise, find out how to carry your self in this sort of setting, find out how to deal with success. He’s taught me a whole lot of issues which have set me up in my profession.

“So clearly, these classes can be missed and hopefully, I’ll clearly carry what he’s taught to me onto the opposite younger gamers as effectively…”

A type of younger gamers is the Portland’s quantity two general choose on this 12 months’s draft, Scoot Henderson.

24-year-old Simons had a whole lot of constructive issues to say about Scoot.

“He’s nearly as good as marketed,” Simons stated at his camp in Beaverton. “Understands the sport at a excessive degree, particularly at his age. I’m fairly excited to play with him.”

Simons was the Blazers’ second finest scorer behind Lillard final season so if Lillard does go away, Simons can be instructing Henderson the ropes.

He additionally might should share the ball with the proficient younger guard.