NBA ALL STAR

March 7, 2021

Anfernee Simons

Media Conference

Q. On your last dunk, was it your intention to kiss the rim?

ANFERNEE SIMONS: Yeah. 100 percent. Yeah, I tried to get close enough so obviously I don't hit my head on the rim too hard. I just tried to get as close as I can as possible and then get out.

Q. Obviously you didn't kiss it, but what prevented you from getting your lips on the rim?

ANFERNEE SIMONS: You know, I mean, I've never -- in practice I never actually kissed the rim, but I was like, I've got to commit to it. I was trying to put a mouthpiece in last minute but it didn't fit in my mouth, so I just scratched it, and I was like, I'm just going to emphasize the smooth face so people know that I'm right there next to the rim and I'm trying to kiss it.

Q. Where did the inspiration for that one come from? I know a lot of people have kind of talked about it over the years, but what gave you the thought to try it out?

ANFERNEE SIMONS: The kiss-the-rim one? You know, just going over like crazy ideas, just actually joking about it, just talking like I'm trying to go up there and kiss the rim and dunk it and see how it goes. I'm like, all right, let's actually do it this time. That's something that nobody has ever done that's very unique, very creative to do.

Q. How did you feel going into it? Obviously your first chance to go out there and perform on such a big stage. You talked about not being a guy that doesn’t really dunk a lot in games. What was your mindset going into it and how did you feel after that first dunk?

ANFERNEE SIMONS: Yeah, I was pretty nervous, not going to lie. But when I first did that first dunk, just to get my legs going, I knew that it was going to be a good night for me, especially making my first one, first chance, each and every dunk, that's nothing but God right there.

Q. Going into this, I know you had some teammates giving you advice, but did anyone help you come up with the idea of the prop or anything or was that all on you for all three dunks?

ANFERNEE SIMONS: Shout out to Coach Oz [Portland assistant coach Dale Osbourne]. He came up with the first idea on the dunk, putting something -- at first we did velcro on the side of the backboard, but it was like, if we could put something on the rim that gets the ball up there, that would be amazing, especially on the replay. Shout out to Coach Oz, he helped me out a lot with this whole process of doing dunks, do what you want to do.

Q. I know this isn't the peak of where you want your NBA career to go, but when you think about the support from your family and loved ones that has gotten you to this point, can you talk about how much that means to you and how much they've helped you get here?

ANFERNEE SIMONS: They've been there every step of the way. Just having them here, as well, to witness me in such a special moment in my life and everybody around me's lives, it's just a blessing to have them in my corner, have them every step of the way. I'm just very grateful for them. I hope they enjoy tonight, as well.

Q. What do you feel about being the Slam Dunk winner, and is it a dream come true?

ANFERNEE SIMONS: Yeah, it's definitely a dream come true. Just watching the dunk contest over the years growing up, it's one of the premier contests if not the premier contest next to the game in All-Star Weekend. Having a chance to come in and be a part of it and win it, it's surreal.

Q. What does it mean to you to be the first Portland Trail Blazer to win this event?

ANFERNEE SIMONS: Oh, I'm the first? Wow, I didn't know I was the first. You know, that's amazing. Just actually -- we've got a couple guys that were already in the Dunk Contest, great dunkers, so it's just a blessing to be the first Portland Trail Blazer to win the Dunk Contest. I didn't know that.

Q. Obviously you've never taken part in the Dunk Contest at an All-Star Game, but the experience of doing it in an essentially empty arena, what was it like trying to get yourself hyped up to be ready for this competition?

ANFERNEE SIMONS: I don't think -- I think just the fact that I made the Dunk Contest got me pretty hyped up. I think all the excitement came from within. Obviously it was a good scene. They did a good job of creating a good atmosphere, especially with some of the fans out there and the big screen in the back. I think they did a good job of recreating a great All-Star Weekend atmosphere. When I was nervous I think I jumped higher, so I think it helped me out a lot.

Q. Could you hear your teammates on the sideline? Dame [Damian Lillard] was there, with no crowd were those guys yelling stuff at you? Could you hear them?

ANFERNEE SIMONS: Yeah, I could hear them a little bit. Not when I was going to go up to dunk. I was kind of zoned out then, but when I came back to the side I would go and talk to them, and not ask them for advice but just wondering how was that and seeing their feedback.

Q. I'm glad you referenced going back to the sidelines because that was my question. We saw you go over to Zach LaVine multiple times. Was he giving you tips since he's been here before? What is your guys' relationship and why did you go to him so often?

ANFERNEE SIMONS: I was just going to him saying, was that worthy? Because he's a guy that is arguably a part of the greatest Dunk Contest of all time, so he knows when he sees a great dunk and a dunk that's worth 40, 50 even. I was going to him like, how was that, should I do this, come down next time. And then I asked other people that won, like Donovan [Mitchell]. Then I would go to my teammate Dame that would also tell me which things I should do next.

Q. When we talked on Thursday you said that you'd talked to both Dame and RoCo [Robert Covington] about potentially using them in the All-Star -- in the Slam Dunk competition but they both told you the advice was make your first one and then make sure you lean into your strengths. What was the thought process for you in each of your dunks trying to figure out what you were going to do to lean into your strength, which is how high you can jump?

ANFERNEE SIMONS: Yeah, thinking of different ways I can showcase that in a creative way, using the mini hoop to show how high I can jump. It's a creative way to show my athleticism. And the T-Mac tribute actually was something I just wanted to do because T-Mac was my hero growing up, so I wanted to honor him with a dunk, as well.

And then the last dunk was something that was like jokingly thought of, just something that we just came up with out of nowhere. I kind of committed to it that day.

I had two dunks in the bag just in case I didn't want to do the kiss-the-rim one. I think I had a good shot with that kiss-the-rim dunk, and gladly it worked.

Q. You said this was going to be your coming-out party in the NBA. Do you feel like you did what you wanted to accomplish on All-Star Weekend?

ANFERNEE SIMONS: Oh, 100 percent. I accomplished the main goal.

Q. What does this trophy mean for you as a player and about the sacrifices you made through the years? How were your emotions when you wear that Tracy McGrady shirt?

ANFERNEE SIMONS: Oh, just dealing with so much excitement and joy coming in here and being a part of this great event and just winning it, it's surreal. I'm still in shock that I just won the Dunk Contest.

You know, just all the sacrifices I've made throughout the years, just working out when I didn't want to, doing things that a normal kid didn't do. I think I'm very blessed to have my parents with me and in the position I am today.

Q. Can you kind of critique your three dunks? Did you feel like you nailed all three of them?

ANFERNEE SIMONS: Yeah, I can critique them. The first one, I think I didn't get a good grab on the ball. Like I didn't grab it like fully the way I should have. I grabbed it just enough to where I could get it to grab it out the mini hoop and get it down.

And then I think the second one, the T-Mac tribute, I've been trying the whole week to try to flair my legs out a little bit more to make it seem more grand. But I mean, that's pretty much it.

And the last one obviously if I wanted to be perfect, just actually kiss the rim, like actually make contact with the rim. That's pretty much it.

Q. I think in the three years you've been in Portland, this is the most I've seen you smile. Can you maybe put in perspective why you're so happy right now?

ANFERNEE SIMONS: I mean, I didn't even think I would be here honestly. It's just crazy. A week ago, two weeks ago if you would have told me I would have been in the Dunk Contest and I would have won it, I would have looked at you crazy, like really? Like I had the opportunity to go last year and I didn't get invited. Coming into this year I didn't really expect it at all until obviously last week, a week and a half ago when I got the call that I was going to be in it.

You know, just trying to let my pure joy come out a little bit.

Q. You were able to pay homage to T-Mac tonight. You may not have had time to reflect on this, but what do you think about five years down the line some other young players paying homage to you?

ANFERNEE SIMONS: I didn't even think about that, you're right. I mean, that would be an incredible honor. You know, just shows that you're leaving a legacy behind. You know, that would be amazing. That would be kind of one of the highlights of my career if somebody paid homage to me. That would be a blessing for sure.

Q. The kiss-the-rim is your new logo, your new motto.

ANFERNEE SIMONS: You said is it?

Q. Yeah, do you believe it is your new logo, your new motto after that Slam Dunk contest?

ANFERNEE SIMONS: I mean, if people run with it, let's run with it then. I'm the guy that kissed the rim.

Q. Can you kind of explain how Tracy McGrady became an important player for you?

ANFERNEE SIMONS: Yeah, just growing up when I finally recognized who were the good players on the court, him playing for the Magic, that was kind of the first person I saw and I kind of fell in love with the game after that. He was the first jersey I had, him and LeBron were the first two jerseys I ever had, and he was just a big impact in my life.

Especially for him being from Florida, as well, you know, that was everything for me. I had a chance to meet him a couple times when I was younger but I was too scared to meet him. Hopefully one day I'll get to meet him.