Wikipedia

KJ Simpson

Kenneth Dwayne "KJ" Simpson Jr. (born August 8, 2002) is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Grand Rapids Gold of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Colorado Buffaloes.

KJ Simpson
Simpson with Colorado in 2024
No. 25 – Denver Nuggets
PositionPoint guard
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (2002-08-08) August 8, 2002 (age 23)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight189 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High schoolChaminade College Prep
(Los Angeles, California)
CollegeColorado (2021–2024)
NBA draft2024: 2nd round, 42nd overall pick
Drafted byCharlotte Hornets
Playing career2024–present
Career history
2024–2026Charlotte Hornets
2024–2026→Greensboro Swarm
2026–presentDenver Nuggets
2026–present→Grand Rapids Gold
Career highlights
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Early life and high school career

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Simpson grew up in Panorama City, Los Angeles and attended Chaminade College Preparatory School.[1] He was rated a four-star recruit and initially committed to playing college basketball for Arizona.[2] 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.[3] He ultimately signed to play at Colorado.[4]

College career

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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.[5] 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.[6]

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.[7] 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.[8]

Professional career

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On June 27, 2024, Simpson was selected with the 42nd overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2024 NBA draft.[9] On July 7, Simpson signed a two-way contract with the Hornets.[10] He made 36 appearances (including 15 starts) for Charlotte during his rookie campaign, recording averages of 7.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.1 assists.[11]

Simpson made 14 appearances (including two starts) for the Hornets during the 2025–26 NBA season, averaging 6.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists.[12] On February 6, 2026, he was waived by the Hornets.[13]

On February 19, 2026, Simpson signed a two-way contract with the Denver Nuggets.[14]

Career statistics

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Legend
  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

NBA

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2024–25 Charlotte 361523.4.346.254.8203.03.1.9.27.8
2025–26 Charlotte 14215.9.348.308.6252.12.51.1.06.0
Denver 605.7.300.000.5001.31.3.2.01.2
Career 561719.6.345.265.8202.62.8.9.16.7

College

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2021–22 Colorado 32121.3.377.254.7702.52.7.8.17.4
2022–23 Colorado 292831.8.396.276.8174.33.81.5.215.9
2023–24 Colorado 373735.1.475.434.8765.84.91.6.119.7
Career 986629.6.429.347.8344.33.91.3.114.6

References

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  1. ↑ 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.
  2. ↑ Pascoe, Bruce (August 15, 2020). "Four-star guard K.J. Simpson commits to Arizona Wildcats". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ "Four-Star Recruit K.J. Simpson Gives Commitment To CU Buffs". CBS News Colorado. April 28, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. ↑ camellis (March 12, 2024). "Colorado's KJ Simpson named to first team All Pac-12". ralphiereport.com. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  8. ↑ 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.
  9. ↑ Williams, Cameron (June 27, 2024). "KJ Simpson's undersized, not undermotivated". The Charlotte Post. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Charlotte Hornets Sign KJ Simpson To Two-Way Contract". NBA.com. July 7, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  11. ↑ "K.J. Simpson 2024-25 Stats per Game". espn.com. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  12. ↑ "K.J. Simpson 2025-26 Stats per Game". espn.com. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Hornets Waive KJ Simpson". hornets.com. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  14. ↑ "NUGGETS SIGN KJ SIMPSON TO TWO-WAY CONTRACT". nuggets.com. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
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