$Signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Hornets in July of 2024.
Personal Bio/PreCareer Summary
Simpson spent the three years of his college career with Colorado. He endured a slow start in the program, starting just once as a freshman while logging only 21.3 minutes and averaging 7.4 points per game. Things took a dramatic turn for the better in 2022-23. He started in all but one of his 29 appearances as a sophomore and experienced a statistical uptick in the five major categories, most notably going from 7.4 to 15.9 points per game in 12 months. Simpson was even better in his junior year in 2023-24. He started in each of the team's 37 games and boosted his scoring numbers to a robust 19.7 points per game, the second-best mark in the Pac-12. Simpson also averaged 5.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game while being named to the 2023-24 All-Pac-12 First Team and the All-Pac-12 Tournament Team. He was also named a 2021-22 Pac-12 All-Freshman and a 2022-23 All-Pac-12 Second Team member. There are two ways to analyze Simpson. He's a player who can impact the game on offense with his passing and scoring, but he's not as advanced on the defensive end. Simpson has developed into a legit NBA prospect during his three seasons at Colorado. His ability to lead the offense, his above-average decision-making, and his solid skill set as a scorer make him a real threat on the offensive end since he's capable of performing as a three-level scorer with efficiency. However, at 6-feet and with a slender build, Simpson will be physically disadvantaged at the NBA level against bigger and stronger players. Even though his basketball instincts and quick hands will prevent him from being a liability on that end of the floor, Simpson doesn't project to be a lockdown defender. His lateral quickness is also a plus and should help him mask some of the deficiencies he'll endure on defense, but there's no question his real value lies on the offensive side of the ball. Simpson is projected to be a second-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, but don't be surprised if he ends up outplaying his draft position a few years into his career. While his role at the next level will be determined by how much he progresses at the beginning of his career, he figures to project as a solid reserve who can lead the second unit and knock down perimeter shots while not being a liability on the defensive end.
ANALYSIS With LaMelo Ball (ankle/wrist) out for the season, Simpson will draw the start Friday and offer some streaming value. Simpson has averaged 12.4 points, 4.8 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 31.7 minutes over five games as a starter this season.
2024 NBA Per Game Split Stats - Starting/Off Bench
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2024 NBA Per Game Split Stats - Days Rest
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2024 NBA Per Game Split Stats - Vs Opp
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2024 NBA Per Game Split Stats - By Result
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Advanced Stats
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2024
Stat Review
How does KJ Simpson compare to other players?
This section compares his stats with all players from the previous three seasons (minimum 200 minutes played)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.
True Shooting %
An advanced statistic that measures a player's efficiency at shooting the ball that takes field goal percentage, free throw percentage, and three point percentage into account.
Effective Field Goal %
A statistic that adjusts field goal percentage to account for the fact that three-point field goals count for three points while field goals only count for two points.
3-Point Attempt Rate
Percentage of field goal attempts from three point range.
Free Throw Rate
Number of free throw attempts per field goal attempt.
Offensive Rebound %
An estimate of the percentage of available offensive rebounds a player grabbed while they were on the floor.
Defensive Rebound %
An estimate of the percentage of available defensive rebounds a player grabbed while they were on the floor.
Total Rebound %
An estimate of the percentage of available rebounds a player grabbed while they were on the floor.
Assist %
An estimate of the percentage of teammate field goals a player assisted while they were on the floor.
Steal %
An estimate of the percentage of opponent possessions that end with a steal by the player while they were on the floor.
Block %
An estimate of the percentage of opponent two-point field goal attempts blocked by the player while they were on the floor.
Turnover %
An estimate of turnovers committed per 100 plays.
Usage %
An estimate of the percentage of team plays used by a player while they were on the floor.
Fantasy Points Per Game
NBA Fantasy Points Per Game.
Fantasy Points Per Minute
NBA Fantasy Points Per Minute.
True Shooting %
43.9%
Effective Field Goal %
39.0%
3-Point Attempt Rate
43.0%
Free Throw Rate
22.0%
Offensive Rebound %
5.5%
Defensive Rebound %
8.0%
Total Rebound %
6.8%
Assist %
18.9%
Steal %
1.7%
Block %
0.7%
Turnover %
11.8%
Usage %
19.5%
Fantasy Points Per Game
16.1
Fantasy Points Per Minute
0.8
Total
Per Game
Per 36
NBA Historical Fantasy Stats
How are these ratings calculated?
Our historical fantasy ratings are standard scores calculated using 8-Category settings with 12 teams and 13 players per team.
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NBA Per Game Historical Fantasy Stats
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NBA Per 36 Historical Fantasy Stats
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Historical ADP
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Hornets Depth Chart
Our full team depth charts are reserved for RotoWire subscribers.
Average Fantasy Points are determined when KJ Simpson was active vs. non-active during the season. Click here to view average fantasy points for a different time period.
Minutes
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo
FantasyDraft
Head2Head
Sorare
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring KJ Simpson See More
Thursday's top NBA DFS options on FanDuel include Luka Doncic as the Lakers prepare to host the Minnesota Timberwolves.
More Fantasy News
Hands out eight dimes in spot start
GCharlotte Hornets
March 22, 2025
Simpson produced 10 points (2-4 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 4-4 FT), one rebound, eight assists and one steal over 33 minutes during Friday's 141-106 loss to the Thunder.
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Starting sans Ball
GCharlotte Hornets
March 21, 2025
Simpson will start in Friday's game against the Thunder.
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Tallies 18 points in G League
GGreensboro Swarm G League (Hornets)
March 15, 2025
Simpson produced 18 points (8-17 FG, 2-5 3Pt), five rebounds and two steals across 28 minutes Friday in the G League Greensboro Swarm's 115-104 loss to the Maine Celtics.
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Turns in big game in G League
GGreensboro Swarm G League (Hornets)
March 8, 2025
Simpson logged 32 points (12-19 FG, 6-10 3Pt, 2-4 FT), seven rebounds and two assists across 37 minutes Friday in the G League Greensboro Swarm's 118-107 win over the Delaware Blue Coats.
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Efficient in G League victory
GGreensboro Swarm G League (Hornets)
March 4, 2025
Simpson recorded 34 points (11-16 FG, 8-10 3Pt, 4-5 FT), six rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks across 37 minutes Tuesday in the G League Greensboro Swarm's 111-102 win over the Capital City Go-Go.
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ANALYSIS Even though the Hornets might listen to offers for Simpson, they're not expected to entertain them seriously. According to Boone, Simpson is more of a long-term core piece on the Hornets roster due to his age and upside compared to Vasilije Micic. Simpson is averaging 14.5 minutes per game in eight contests off the bench as a rookie in 2024-25.