Simpson with Colorado in 2024 | |
No. 25 – Charlotte Hornets | |
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Position | Point guard |
League | NBA |
Personal information | |
Born | (2002-08-08) August 8, 2002 (age 22) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Listed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
Listed weight | 189 lb (86 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | Chaminade College Prep (Los Angeles, California) |
College | Colorado (2021–2024) |
NBA draft | 2024: 2nd round, 42nd overall pick |
Selected by the Charlotte Hornets | |
Playing career | 2024–present |
Career history | |
2024–present | Charlotte Hornets |
2024–present | →Greensboro Swarm |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com | |
Stats at Basketball Reference |
Kenneth "KJ" Simpson Jr. (born August 8, 2002) is an American professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Greensboro Swarm of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Colorado Buffaloes.
Early life and high school career
Simpson grew up in Panorama City, Los Angeles and attended Chaminade College Preparatory School. He was rated a four-star recruit and initially committed to playing college basketball for Arizona. After Arizona head coach Sean Miller was fired, Simpson requested and was granted a release from his National Letter of Intent and reopened his recruitment. He ultimately signed to play at Colorado.
College career
Simpson was named to the Pac-12 Conference All-Freshman team during his first season playing for the Colorado Buffaloes after averaging 7.4 points per game and also leading the team in total assists and steals. He was named second-team All-Pac-12 after averaging 15.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game as a sophomore.
As a junior, Simpson was named to the first-team All-Pac-12, averaging a team-high 19.7 points per game and shooting 43% from three-point range this season. In the first round of the 2024 NCAA tournament against No. 7 Florida, Simpson hit a game-winning jumper with less than two seconds left to secure a 102–100 victory.
Professional career
Charlotte Hornets (2024–present)
On June 27, 2024, Simpson was selected with the 42nd overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2024 NBA draft. On July 7, 2024, Simpson signed a two-way contract with the Charlotte Hornets.
Career statistics
GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
College
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021–22 | Colorado | 32 | 1 | 21.3 | .377 | .254 | .770 | 2.5 | 2.7 | .8 | .1 | 7.4 |
2022–23 | Colorado | 29 | 28 | 31.8 | .396 | .276 | .817 | 4.3 | 3.8 | 1.5 | .2 | 15.9 |
2023–24 | Colorado | 37 | 37 | 35.1 | .475 | .434 | .876 | 5.8 | 4.9 | 1.6 | .1 | 19.7 |
Career | 98 | 66 | 29.6 | .429 | .347 | .834 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 1.3 | .1 | 14.6 |
References
- Fattal, Tarek (November 11, 2020). "Signing Day: Chaminade's KJ Simpson, Keith Higgins accomplish childhood dream together". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- Pascoe, Bruce (August 15, 2020). "Four-star guard K.J. Simpson commits to Arizona Wildcats". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- Pascoe, Bruce (April 19, 2021). "Arizona signee KJ Simpson to look elsewhere after receiving release from letter-of-intent". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- "Four-Star Recruit K.J. Simpson Gives Commitment To CU Buffs". CBS News Colorado. April 28, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- Rooney, Pat (October 24, 2022). "CU Buffs' Tristan da Silva, KJ Simpson earn Pac-12 MBB preseason all-conference honors". The Denver Post. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- Sarles, Jesse (October 26, 2023). "4 basketball players in Colorado make CBS Sports list of nation's best men's college hoopers". CBS News Colorado. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- camellis (March 12, 2024). "Colorado's KJ Simpson named to first team All Pac-12". ralphiereport.com. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- Owens, Jason (March 22, 2024). "March Madness: No. 10 Colorado holds for 102-100 thriller over Florida on late KJ Simpson game winner". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- Williams, Cameron (June 27, 2024). "KJ Simpson's undersized, not undermotivated". The Charlotte Post. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
- "Charlotte Hornets Sign KJ Simpson To Two-Way Contract". NBA.com. July 7, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
External links
- Career statistics from NBA.com and Basketball Reference
- Colorado Buffaloes bio
Charlotte Hornets roster | |
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Greensboro Swarm current roster | |
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- 2002 births
- Living people
- 21st-century American sportsmen
- American men's basketball players
- Basketball players from Los Angeles
- Chaminade College Preparatory School (California) alumni
- Charlotte Hornets draft picks
- Charlotte Hornets players
- Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball players
- Greensboro Swarm players
- Point guards