Category: Buffs in NBA

KJ Simpson selected by the Charlotte Hornets in 2024 NBA draft

Colorado’s KJ Simpson is headed to the Charlotte Hornets after a stellar junior year

KJ Simpson was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets with the 42nd overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft on Thursday, marking the first time the Colorado Buffaloes have had three players drafted in one year since 1981.

“I just went through so much to get here,” Simpson said through tears after being drafted. “(My dad) taught me to be an all-around player and I wanted to do that at every level. At Colorado I showed it and in the NBA it’s not going to change. I’m just going to be an all-around player, go out there and do whatever the team needs me to do. I’m going to run through a brick wall for them.”

After a disappointing sophomore season, Simpson hit the gym to raise his draft stock and lead the 2023-2024 Buffs. His hard work paid off, leading the black and gold to historic heights and performing at a Pac-12 Player of the Year level. Most notably, he hit the game-winning shot that lifted the Buffs over the Florida Gators in the NCAA Tournament first round.

While playing the most minutes ever played by a Buff in a season (1,298), Simpson averaged 19.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game, all of which marked career highs. Simpson made huge leaps offensively, posting some of the best shooting splits of anyone in the country while bettering his assist-to-turnover ratio. He also made bounds defensively, earning an All-Pac-12 defensive-team honorable mention.

Simpson joins an interesting backcourt situation in Charlotte, one that endured injuries throughout a 21-61 campaign last season.

Colorado Teammates Cody Williams (No. 10, Utah Jazz) and Tristan da Silva (No. 18, Orlando Magic) were drafted in the first round on Wednesday.

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Tristan da Silva heads to Orlando Magic in first round of NBA draft

After four years at Colorado, Tristan da Silva is taking his talents to Orlando

Not long after watching teammate Cody Williams go to the Utah Jazz, Colorado men’s basketball forward Tristan da Silva was selected by the Orlando Magic with the 18th overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft.

Da Silva spent four years developing his game in Boulder before shaking NBA commissioner Adam Silver’s hand on Wednesday evening. The German-born talent tested the draft waters last summer before ultimately returning for his senior season at the college level.

Across four seasons with the Buffs, da Silva played in 124 games (98 starts) and was a member of two NCAA Tournament teams. He closed his senior season with career-high averages in points (16.0), rebounds (5.1) and assists (2.4) per game.

Led by former Colorado forward Jamahl Mosley, the Magic finished 47-35 last season and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

Colorado fans will likely see point guard KJ Simpson selected early in the second round on Thursday.

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One-and-done Colorado star Cody Williams selected by Utah Jazz in NBA draft

Welcome to the NBA, Cody Williams

Cody Williams, the first-ever one-and-done player in Colorado men’s basketball history, was selected by the Utah Jazz during the first round of the 2024 NBA draft on Wednesday evening.

With Williams on hand at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, Utah dedicated its 10th overall pick to the 19-year-old forward from Arizona.

The former five-star prospect becomes the fourth-ever former Buff selected in the first round. Derrick White, who recently helped the Boston Celtics to an NBA championship, was Colorado’s last first-rounder, going 29th overall to the San Antonio Spurs in 2017.

During his lone season with the Buffs, Williams played in only 24 games (19 starts) while fighting through multiple injuries. He finished the year averaging 11.9 points (55.2% field goal shooting), 3.0 rebounds and 1.6 points per game.

Williams’ older brother, Jalen, was selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder with the 12th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft.

The Jazz finished 31-51 last season under head coach Will Hardy.

As of this writing, fellow former Buffs Tristan da Silva and KJ Simpson have yet to be selected in the NBA draft.

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How to watch Colorado players’ big night at the NBA draft

Three Colorado players are expected to be drafted either tonight or tomorrow. Here’s how you can watch the NBA draft:

Three former Colorado men’s basketball players — Cody Williams, Tristan da Silva and KJ Simpson — are set to hear their names announced in the 2024 NBA draft.

Projected first-round picks Williams and da Silva have accepted green room invitations to attend the first-round festivities at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Wednesday evening. Both forwards, Williams spent only one season with the Buffs while da Silva played four years in Boulder.

Simpson, an All-Pac-12 point guard coming off a stellar junior season, will likely be selected early in the second round on Thursday.

Here’s how you can watch the first round of the 2024 NBA draft:

First Round Time: Wednesday, June 26 at 6 p.m. MT

Location: Barclays Center (Brooklyn, New York)

TV Channel: ESPN, ABC

Live Stream: fuboTV (try it free)

The second round will be held at ESPN’s Seaport District Studios in New York on Thursday at 2 p.m. MT. ESPN will provide the broadcast.

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Best photos of Colorado’s Derrick White winning his first NBA championship

Check out the best pictures from Derrick White’s special night

 

On Monday evening, Derrick White became the first former Colorado Buffaloes men’s basketball player to win an NBA championship since Chauncey Billups led the Detroit Pistons to glory in 2004.

White, a Colorado native who began his college career at Division II University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, played a major role in the Boston Celtics securing their 18th title. He started in 73 regular season games and was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive second team for the second straight year.

White is the fourth Buff to win an NBA Finals, joining Billups, Scott Wedman and Matt Bullard.

Check out the best photos of White in the Celtics’ clinching Game 5 win over the Dallas Mavericks:

Derrick White a potential Team USA replacement player, per report

Derrick White may be sporting the red, white and blue at the Summer Olympics

Amid his fight to become the fourth-ever Colorado men’s basketball alum to win an NBA title, Boston Celtics guard Derrick White has reportedly emerged as a potential Team USA replacement player for the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics.

Well-respected ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski broke the news on Sunday, adding that White is in the mix to replace Kawhi Leonard if the Los Angeles Clippers star isn’t healthy.

Wojnarowski also mentioned that White will be eligible for a four-year, $126 million contract extension with the Celtics following the season.

The former Buffalo has built quite the reputation since being traded to Boston, warranting his Team USA consideration and potential NBA extension. Through five games in his second NBA Finals, the two-time NBA All-Defensive second-team selection is averaging 13.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists as the Celtics lead the Dallas Mavericks 3-1 in the series. White also sealed Game 2 of the series with a last-minute chase-down block.

With just over a month until the Olympics begin in Paris, White is first looking to help his Celtics secure their 18th championship banner.

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Colorado’s Cody Williams receives green room invite to attend NBA draft

Colorado’s first ever one-and-done player will reportedly attend the NBA draft later this month

Cody Williams, Colorado men’s basketball’s first-ever one-and-done player, and his family have been invited to attend the 2024 NBA draft in Brooklyn, per ESPN’s Jonathan Givony. The projected lottery pick was among the first set of players to receive a green room invite.

Williams is the second player of the head coach Tad Boyle era to receive a green room invite. Alec Burks was invited in 2011 (No. 12 pick, Utah Jazz).

The Barclays Center will host the NBA draft from June 26-27.

Williams, a 6-foot-7 forward and former five-star prospect, is projected to go in the latter half of the lottery, potentially to the Oklahoma City Thunder with the No. 12 pick. Williams’ older brother, Jalen, was drafted by the Thunder two years ago with that same pick and will presumably join Cody at the draft.

Williams averaged 11.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists for the Buffaloes last season despite dealing with multiple injuries.

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Tristan da Silva tabbed as first-round pick in USA TODAY Sports’ latest NBA mock draft

With only two weeks left until the NBA draft, see where Tristan da Silva landed in USA TODAY Sports’ latest mock

The 2024 NBA draft is only about two weeks away, and it appears likely that three former Colorado men’s basketball players will hear their names called.

Most projections have one-and-done college forward Cody Williams being the first Buff selected, but three-year Colorado starter Tristan da Silva is typically close behind. In USA TODAY Sports’ latest mock draft, the 6-foot-8 forward from Germany went to the Orlando Magic with the 18th overall pick.

The Magic, led by former CU hooper Jamahl Mosley, is coming off its winningest season in 13 years and could benefit from the upside da Silva owns. In his fourth and final season with the Buffs, da Silva averaged 16.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 34 games played.

Here’s what USA TODAY Sports’ Jeff Zillgitt and Scooby Axson wrote on da Silva:

Displays a versatile and savvy skillset offensively, including ability to shoot 3s, cut to the rim, post up and run the offense. He played well in the tournament, making 9 of 16 3s.

Williams went 12th overall to the Oklahoma City Thunder in that same first-round mock draft. Former Colorado star point guard KJ Simpson was not mentioned, but many are projecting him as an early second-round pick.

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NBA mock draft projects Cody Williams to join brother in Oklahoma City

Could we see Cody Williams join his brother in Oklahoma City?

USA TODAY Sports’ updated 2024 NBA mock draft has former Colorado men’s basketball forward Cody Williams headed to an intriguing destination.

Draft analysts Jeff Zillgitt and Scooby Axson currently project the Oklahoma City Thunder to select the one-and-done college player with the 12th overall pick, setting up a reunion between Williams and his older brother Jalen. The elder Williams averaged 19.1 points, 4.5 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game as a second-year player with the Thunder in 2023-24.

Oklahoma City finished the regular season with 57 wins before falling to the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference semifinals.

During an injury-riddled true freshman season with the Buffs, Cody Williams averaged 11.9 points while shooting 55.2% from the field. In part due to Williams’ strong perimeter defense, Zillgitt and Axson also see a world in which Colorado’s star forward goes top-10:

Williams’ perimeter defense and scoring ability make him a prime candidate for a top-10 pick. Can get to the rim with ease, and finishes with power although listed at 6-6, 178 pounds. Has 3-point range, and his mid-range game is solid at the college level.

The first round of the 2024 NBA draft is set for June 26.

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Derrick White seals Game 2 of NBA Finals with iconic chase-down block

Colorado great Derrick White added another iconic playoff moment to his resume

Since joining the Boston Celtics at the 2022 NBA trade deadline, former Colorado Buffaloes men’s basketball star Derrick White has become instrumental to Boston’s chase for banner No. 18. In Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, White helped them get one game closer to accomplishing that feat thanks to another iconic playoff moment.

The former Buffalo, playing in his second NBA Finals, saw 38 minutes of action in the Celtics’ 105-98 Game 2 win, posting 18 points, five rebounds, two assists, three steals and two blocks. In the final minute of the fourth quarter, White magically flew through the air for his second swat of the night to help put the Celtics up 2-0 in the series.

When a block set up a Mavs’ fast break with 55 seconds to play, it appeared that Dallas forward PJ Washington would make it a one-possession ballgame. However, as Washington rose for a two-handed jam, so did White, slapping the ball away in chase-down fashion and leaving legendary play-by-play announcer Mike Breen exclaiming, “Blocked by White!”

About three minutes earlier, White had seemingly put the game away, hitting his fourth 3-pointer to put the Celtics up 14. However, Luka Doncic and the Mavs didn’t go away as they scored nine unanswered points heading into the final minute.

While the Celtics still have two more games to win before lifting the Larry O’Brien trophy, White’s block will live in the organization’s legendary history. The block joins his buzzer-beater tip-in that won Game 6 of the 2023 Eastern Conference finals.

With Boston on the way to Dallas for Games 3 and 4, White will look to continue his stellar performance in hopes of becoming the fourth CU alum to secure an NBA Finals ring and the second to do so with the Celtics (Scott Wedman).

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