Tag: KJ Simpson

Former Buff KJ Simpson flying high in NBA G League

KJ Simpson is working toward a full-time NBA roster spot

Former Colorado men’s basketball point guard KJ Simpson is carving out a place on a pro roster after being drafted No. 42 overall by the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets last summer.

The high-flyer is currently signed on a two-way contract and has bounced back and forth between the Hornets and their G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm. Simpson has shined for Greensboro, averaging 17.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.9 steals in nine games.

On Monday, Simpson scored 34 points in the Swarm’s 112-111 win over the Grand Rapids Gold.

While Simpson has logged more NBA appearances (12), his spot with the Hornets is still reliant on the squad’s health situation and his long-doubted 6-foot frame. In limited action with Charlotte, Simpson is averaging 4.3 points per game. He scored a career-high 11 points against the New York Knicks on Nov. 29 before tallying eight points, six rebounds and nine assists against the Philadelphia 76ers on Dec. 3.

The Los Angeles native was one of three Buffs drafted last year. Tristan da Silva and Cody Williams are seeing consistent rookie minutes with the Orlando Magic and Utah Jazz, respectively.

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Hornets’ Tidjane Salaün, KJ Simpson threw out first pitch for Charlotte Knights

Hornets rookies Tidjane Salaün and KJ Simpson threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Charlotte Knights on Thursday.

Charlotte Hornets rookies Tidjane Salaün and KJ Simpson threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Charlotte Knights, the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.

Salaün and Simpson were on hand to watch the Knights host the Toledo Mud Hens at Truist Field on Thursday as part of their six-game homestand. They took the mound donning custom-made Knights jerseys, and both delivered their pitches.

With the two draftees in attendance, the Knights took down the Mud Hens 3-2 in the 10th inning on a walk-off single by Bryan Ramos. The Knights have taken two out of their first three games against the Mud Hens and improved to 53-61 on the season.

Salaün debuted with the Hornets in the NBA Summer League, averaging nine points and seven rebounds on 42.3% shooting from the field in three appearances. The sixth pick produced his best game on July 16 with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Simpson, the 42nd pick, was ruled out of playing with the Hornets in summer league after suffering a hamstring injury during the predraft process. He is expected to be fully recovered and available for the start of training camp in October.

Salaün and Simpson join a roster headlined by LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, Grant Williams, Brandon Miller and Mark Williams, among others. The team will be guided by first-year head coach Charles Lee.

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Colorado’s three NBA draft picks officially sign rookie contracts

All three of the new NBA Buffs have signed their rookie contracts

All three former Colorado Buffaloes men’s basketball players selected in the 2024 NBA draft have officially signed their rookie deals.

Cody Williams, the highest draft selection of the three at No. 10 overall, was the first to agree to terms with his new team, the Utah Jazz. Tristan da Silva, selected with the No. 18 pick by the Orlando Magic, and KJ Simpson, the No. 42 pick of the Charlotte Hornets, have inked their contracts since then. Simpson signed a two-way deal, meaning he’ll spend time with the Hornets’ G League affiliate Greensboro Swarm.

Contract details have yet to be announced, per each team’s policy. However, sports contract database Spotrac says Williams and da Silva signed four-year contracts. Williams’ deal is potentially worth $24.9 million total and da Silva’s could be $17.6 million.

Two of the Buffs’ top three scorers from last season will see their first NBA action in the summer league while Simpson recovers from a pre-draft hamstring injury. Williams and the Utah Jazz play Monday (July 8) at 7 p.m. MT (ESPN) while da Silva and the Orlando Magic open on Friday at 2 p.m. MT (NBA TV).

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KJ Simpson to miss entirety of NBA summer league with injury

KJ Simpson’s first NBA action will have to wait

If Colorado fans were wondering why KJ Simpson didn’t play in the Charlotte Hornets’ first NBA summer league game, it’s because the former Buffaloes guard is dealing with an injury.

The Hornets released the news at the start of July, reporting that Simpson injured his hamstring during the pre-draft process and will miss the entire summer league. The good news, however, is that Simpson is expected to be fully healthy by the beginning of training camp.

While the injury is unfortunate, especially for Simpson as a second-round selection, missing the summer league isn’t anything to be too worried about. After all, the Hornets still drafted the 6-foot guard despite the injury.

In the meantime, former CU teammates Cody Williams and Tristan da Silva are supposed to be active for their respective summer league rosters. Williams and the Utah Jazz play their first game on Monday (July 8) at 7 p.m. MT (ESPN) while da Silva and the Orlando Magic open on Friday at 2 p.m. MT (NBA TV).

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Hornets’ KJ Simpson ruled out of summer league with injury

Hornets rookie KJ Simpson will not play in summer league, the team announced on Monday.

Charlotte Hornets rookie KJ Simpson will not play in summer league due to a hamstring injury sustained during the predraft process, the team announced on Monday.

The Hornets begin summer league on Saturday with three games in the California Classic from Sacramento. The team will then play at least five games in the NBA Summer League on the campus of UNLV starting on July 13.

Simpson, the 42nd pick in the 2024 NBA draft, is expected to be fully recovered and available for the start of training camp in September. The team will also be without Tidjane Salaün, the sixth pick, for the California Classic after suffering a minor laceration near his knee.

Simpson was drafted after averaging 19.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists on 43.4% shooting from 3-point range as a junior at Colorado. He was named to the All-Pac-12 first team and set several single-season program records, including double-digit-scoring games (35).

Salaün was highly touted after dazzling with Cholet Basket in the French League. He ended the season on a tremendous run and produced 19 points, eight rebounds, three assists and one steal in a Game 1 win over Paris in the playoffs.

The Hornets will tip off their schedule in the expanded California Classic with the San Antonio Spurs and then face the Chinese national team (Sunday) and Sacramento Kings (July 9).

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What the Charlotte Hornets can expect out of KJ Simpson

How high is KJ Simpson’s NBA ceiling?

After a career-best season with the Colorado men’s basketball program, KJ Simpson became the third Buff selected in the 2024 NBA draft on Thursday, going to the Charlotte Hornets with the 42nd overall pick.

Simpson lands with a team that could certainly use his outside shooting and playmaking abilities. Last season, the Hornets were 21st in the league in 3-point field goal percentage (35.5%). Although he’s a good ball handler and playmaker, the Hornets have veteran point guards on the team, so Simpson could slot in as an undersized shooting guard with Seth Curry now waived from Charlotte.

On the defensive end, Simpson’s lack of size isn’t ideal, but the former Buff has shown great defensive intensity that should allow the Hornets to keep him on the court for his scoring abilities.

Because of the new NBA rules for second-round contracts, Simpson could be signed to a three or four-year deal or a two-way contract. A two-way contract allows players to move between the NBA and its developmental G League. I could see Simpson landing a similar contract to what Hunter Tyson received last year with the Denver Nuggets (four years, $7.7 million).

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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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KJ Simpson: NBA draft scouting report

2002 | 6’0 | 6’4.5 | 187 LBS Team: Colorado Agency: Klutch Sports Best aggregate mock draft rank : 31 / Worst rank: NR 2023-24 stats: In 2023-24, Simpson averaged 19.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 0.1 block, and 1.6 steals per game. He shot …

2002 | 6’0 | 6’4.5 | 187 LBS

Team: Colorado

Agency: Klutch Sports

Best aggregate mock draft rank: 31 / Worst rank: NR

2023-24 stats:

In 2023-24, Simpson averaged 19.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 0.1 block, and 1.6 steals per game. He shot 47.5 percent from the field, 43.4 percent from three, and 87.6 percent from the foul line.

Projected second-round pick KJ Simpson to remain in 2024 NBA draft

Colorado junior KJ Simpson will reportedly forgo his remaining college eligibility and stay in the 2024 NBA draft.

Colorado junior KJ Simpson will reportedly forgo his remaining college eligibility and stay in the 2024 NBA draft, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.

Simpson was named to the All-Pac-12 first team after averaging 19.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.6 steals on 43.4% shooting from 3-point range. He set single-season program records for free-throw percentage (87.6), minutes (1,298) and double-digit-scoring games (35).

The 6-foot-1 guard was the only player in a Power Five conference to average at least 19 points, five rebounds and four assists this past season. He ranked second in the Pac-12 in scoring and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.2) and third in assists.

Simpson has capitalized on a strong predraft process after emerging as one of the standouts at the combine this month in Chicago, Illinois. He played with great control, averaging 13.5 points, five rebounds and two assists in two scrimmage games.

The 21-year-old is considered a potential second-round pick. He is highly touted as a scorer, given his burst and ability to finish at the rim, and he has shown some flashes on defense. He registered the seventh-highest max vertical jump at the combine (40 1/2 inches).

Simpson has worked out with the Denver Nuggets so far in the predraft process. He will continue to schedule other team visits, especially those in his draft range.

The 2024 NBA draft will take place June 26-27 in New York City.

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KJ Simpson posts impressive max vertical at NBA draft combine

KJ Simpson’ vertical caught some eyes at the NBA draft combine

Former Colorado men’s basketball point guard KJ Simpson kept his legs fresh since the end of his junior season with the Buffaloes, jumping 40.5 inches in the max vertical drill at the 2024 NBA draft combine on Monday.

The 6-foot-2 guard’s big leap marked among the combine’s highest but was no surprise to those who watched his college career. Simpson’s measurement sat only 1.5 inches behind Reed Sheppard’s (Kentucky), Keshad Johnson’s (Arizona) and Trentyn Flowers’ (NBL), who all notched a combine-best 42-inch max vertical leap.

Simpson has reportedly performed well throughout Monday’s athletic testing, per DraftExpress director of scouting Jon Chepkevich.

A good showing at the combine could boost Simpson’s draft stock, which currently projects him as an early second-round pick. Simpson emerged as a potential first-round pick this past season with the Buffs. He earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors and made a strong case for the final Pac-12 Player of the Year award while leading Colorado to a program-record 26 wins.

The results of fellow former Buffs Cody Williams, Tristan da Silva and Nique Clifford have yet to be released.

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