Last Updated on August 7, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

KJ Simpson developed into a reliable lead guard by combining scoring ability with the vision to create opportunities for teammates. His confidence in big moments and steady improvement throughout his college career helped establish him as one of the key players in his program’s success.

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)

Scouting Report

What stands out with KJ Simpson is how often he creates advantages without needing overwhelming size or explosive burst. He plays with a patient rhythm, changes speeds well, and keeps defenders guessing with subtle hesitations before turning the corner or stopping on a dime for a pull-up. He looks most comfortable operating out of high ball screens where he can read the low man, slip pocket passes through tight windows, or snake the dribble into the middle of the floor before making a decision. He’s not the type to overpower defenders at the rim, so he relies on touch, angles and timing rather than force, and that trade-off shows up when longer defenders can meet him early or shrink his finishing space. Off the ball, he doesn’t disappear, relocating intelligently into catch-and-shoot opportunities and keeping the offense connected instead of demanding every possession. Defensively, he’s competitive at the point of attack and does a nice job navigating screens without giving away driving lanes, but bigger guards can simply shoot over him or back him into uncomfortable spots, forcing help that changes the geometry of the possession. To me, his best role is alongside a larger initiator where he can alternate between secondary creation and lead-guard duties depending on the matchup rather than carrying every possession himself. That’s where his decision-making, pace and shooting become far more valuable because defenses can’t load up on his size limitations. The interesting thing is that Simpson doesn’t need a fast game to be effective; in fact, he often looks better when possessions slow down and his ability to manipulate defenders becomes the feature instead of raw athleticism. His style brings to mind a blend of Jalen Brunson’s reliance on craft rather than physical tools, with flashes of Monte Morris in the way he values clean decisions and rarely speeds himself into trouble.

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