Last Updated on April 17, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Kenneth “KJ” Simpson Jr. is an American professional basketball player, currently a guard for the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA.

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Kenneth Simpson Jr.
  • Nationality: American
  • Date of Birth: August 8, 2002
  • Hometown: Panorama City, Los Angeles, California
  • Height: 6 feet 0 inches (1.83 meters)
  • Weight: 189 pounds (86 kilograms)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 6 inches (198cm)
  • Shoe Size: Size 10 (US)
  • Position: Point Guard
  • Jersey Number: 25
  • High School: Chaminade College Preparatory School, Los Angeles, California
  • College: University of Colorado (2021–2024)
  • NBA Draft: Selected by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2nd round, 42nd overall pick, in 2024
  • Professional Teams:
    • Charlotte Hornets (2024–present)
    • Greensboro Swarm (NBA G League affiliate, 2024–present)
  • Championship Rings: None as of January 2025
  • Children: Information not publicly available
  • Siblings: Information not publicly available

Player Archetype / Play Style

KJ Simpson’s player archetype is that of a scoring point guard who blends shot creation, confidence, and enough playmaking to run an offense in stretches. At around 6-foot-0 to 6-foot-2 and roughly 187 to 189 pounds, he is undersized by NBA standards, but he compensates with strength, balance, burst, and a fearless style that shows up both in the lane and on the glass. Defensively, his role projects as a scrappy point-of-attack guard who competes, pressures the ball, and plays with enough toughness to avoid being an easy target, while offensively he is most comfortable creating off the dribble, knocking down perimeter jumpers, getting to pull-ups and floaters, and making solid reads as a secondary organizer. Overall, Simpson plays like an attacking lead guard with real shot-making instincts, the ability to heat up quickly, and the kind of edge that gives him a chance to outperform his draft slot despite lacking ideal size. (NBA)

Sources:

NBA.com — NBA 2024 Draft Prospects | KJ Simpson
NBADraft.net — KJ Simpson
NBADraftRoom — KJ Simpson
NBADraft.net — 2024 NBA Draft Combine: Anthro Measurements
NBA.com — KJ Simpson | Guard | Denver Nuggets