KJ Simpson helps lead Hornets to NBA Summer League Championship

Simpson played a major role in Charlotte’s undefeated run in Vegas

Former Buffalo legend KJ Simpson has earned himself some new hardware, playing a major role in the Charlotte Hornets’ 2025 NBA Summer League Championship.

Simpson, who was drafted in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft by Charlotte, played all three of his college seasons with the Buffaloes, cementing himself as one of the best point guards in program history. In his three seasons as a Buff, Simpson averaged 14.5 points per game and shot nearly 15% from deep.

In his junior season, Simpson was arguably the best guard in the Pac-12, averaging 19.7 points per game and earning himself first-team all-conference honors. Simpson’s steady hand was one of the major reasons for CU’s late-season resurgence, leading to an NCAA tournament birth, where Simpson hit the biggest shot in Colorado basketball history to beat the Florida Gators in the first round.

Simpson bounced back and forth between Charlotte and the G League Greensboro Swarm during his NBA rookie campaign, having some solid games with the Hornets, averaging 7.8 points and 3 rebounds and assists per game off the bench.

As accustomed for second-year NBA players, Hornets brass shipped Simpson off to Vegas to play in the NBA Summer League against fellow rookies and young players. To the surprise of many around the league, Charlotte got off to a hot start in summer league and never slowed.

The Hornets ripped off a five-game win streak in Vegas, earning the squad a spot in the finals against the Sacramento Kings and fellow former Buffalo Nique Clifford. Charlotte would go on to beat Clifford’s Kings 83-78. Simpson finished the contest with 11 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and a block.

Hornets’ first-round draft pick Kon Knueppel won Finals MVP, but told media afterwards that he believed Simpson was the real MVP. Simpson shut down the notion, saying that the former Duke superstar and fourth overall pick deserved the award.

When it was all said and done in Vegas, Simpson finished Summer League averaging 16 points per game, 5.5 rebounds, 5.7 assists and shot 41.8% from the field.

In the grand scheme of things, the NBA Summer League means very little, but KJ took home a shiny new ring and got valuable experience ahead of his sophomore season. Everything is shaping up for Simpson’s second season to be a big one, which makes the wait for the NBA to come back feel even longer.

Congrats, KJ!