North Charlotte Today

Former Colorado point guard KJ Simpson has been selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the 42nd overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Simpson, known for his impressive improvement in 3-point shooting, expressed his dedication to achieving his dream of playing in the NBA. "My dream is to play in the NBA, and I fought so hard to get here," said Simpson. "To hear my name called and share this moment with everyone around me and getting all the support back home, it means everything."

Simpson's performance as a junior earned him First-Team All-Pac-12 honors. He averaged 19.7 points on 47.5% shooting, along with 5.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.6 steals over 37 starts for Colorado Buffaloes.

"I'm somebody who can bring a burst of speed, who can help the team play at a fast pace," Simpson explained regarding his playing style. "This team is going to get an all-around type of guy, somebody that wants to win and who's going to do whatever it takes to win."

Hornets' Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Jeff Peterson praised Simpson: “Super, super excited about KJ,” he stated. “He’s an ultimate competitor...There’s a lot to be excited about and his characteristics are exactly what we want the Hornets to be about.”

Overcoming challenges like an ankle injury and illness during his sophomore year, Simpson improved his shooting from a combined 26.9% from beyond the arc in his first two years to 43.4% last season.

The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor describes Simpson as "a small guard with an ‘it’ factor about him who impacts every facet of the game." Sam Vecenie from The Athletic highlighted how improved shooting opened up more opportunities for him.

Simpson aims to contribute significantly to Charlotte's roster: “Honestly, keep doubting me...I’m going to go out there and prove [people wrong].”

His determination mirrors that of fellow rookie Tidjane Salaün as they both look forward to their professional careers with optimism.