Charlotte Hornets guard KJ Simpson (25) gestures after making a three point basket against the Toronto Raptors in the second half at Scotiabank Arena. Dan Hamilton USA TODAY NETWORK
Even before the latest news dropped, signaling an early end to the season for star guard LaMelo Ball, KJ Simpson was nearly bursting through his warmup uniform.
“Just seize the opportunity,” the Charlotte Hornets’ rookie said. “It’s nothing but an opportunity to finish out this season. Looking back at this season, it’s kind of crazy how fast it’s gone. So, just make the most of these last games and these opportunities. It’s nothing more than that. It’s just keep being special, keep doing what I’m asked and doing what I need to help the team and, obviously, win. That’s the main thing.
“But at the end of the day, just finish out the season strong and seize the moment, the opportunity. They don’t just come by. Going down to the G League (and) to finish out the season with the Hornets is pretty special.”
Stepping in for Ball with the face of the franchise headed for surgery on his right ankle and right wrist, Simpson made his seventh start of the season Sunday night in the Hornets’ 98-94 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center, posting nine points and four assists in 35 minutes.
A year removed from the thrill of the NCAA Tournament with Colorado, the Hornets’ 2024 second-round pick is now immersed in climbing the player improvement ladder. He was forced to play catch up since he didn’t play in summer league nor participate during the team portion of drills in the early portion of training camp at Duke in October due to a hamstring injury.
But he’s emerging from the cocoon he’s been wrapped up in for the better part of these last six months, a slow metamorphosis that’s traceable to some seasoning with the Hornets’ G League affiliate
In Simpson’s initial 10 games through Dec. 31, he registered 4.1 points, 1.9 assists and 1.7 rebounds in 13.4 minutes. Those numbers have risen to 9.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 25.4 minutes in his last 17 outings leading into the Hornets’ matchup with the Pelicans.
New Orleans Pelicans forward Bruce Brown (00) calls for a foul while shooting against Charlotte Hornets guard KJ Simpson (25) during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Matthew Hinton USA TODAY NETWORK
Apparently, the 19.6 points — while shooting 45% overall and 37.4% from 3-point range — along with 5.5 rebounds, four assists and 1.5 steals he averaged in 24 regular-season games with the Greensboro Swarm were a big boost.
“I’ve definitely benefited, “Simpson said. “Honestly, I think that if I hadn’t gone down to the G League I’d be able to find that confidence and that rhythm that I was able to come out and show fans, ‘Oh shoot, that’s the spark and that’s what he got drafted for’ because it was definitely hard. Especially when you are coming in injured, you already feel so far behind.
“And I felt like I had so much to learn and things were moving so fast. That’s why the beginning of the year was moving fast a lot. So, when I got sent down to the G League, that was my way of calming down and taking things day-by-day and putting my head down working with Coach (DJ) Bakker, and all the coaching staff down there and the players. They gave me unbelievable confidence and they welcomed me with open arms.”
Simpson, Bakker insists, made it relatively easy. Along with an assist from coach Charles Lee.
“It all starts with alignment and communication,” Bakker said. “When a player comes to play for the Swarm, it’s the same exact messaging as Coach Lee. ‘Hey, you are going to have this player for this many games, this is what we have to get done.’
“The messaging has to be the same, the goals and the objectives of what the player has to get better at is the same. And then we mirror the Hornets’ system. So, offensive plays, offensive terminology, the defensive system — it’s all identical. It all mirrors it.”
The incremental growth and lessons learned over the Hornets’ final seven games, including Monday night’s tilt with the Utah Jazz at Spectrum Center, is one of the things to keep an eye on. Making better decisions on both sides of the ball is going to be a necessity and Lee wants to assist with providing different avenues for Simpson to generate offense and be productive in a variety of circumstances.
“No, 1, trying to just help alleviate some pressure,” Lee said. “Sometimes allowing Miles (Bridges), sometimes allowing Nick (Smith Jr.) and some of these other guys to get it back to him where he has a live dribble and he can play pick-and-roll because he’s such a great pick-and-roll player.
“I think he’s improved his ability to get downhill, he’s a really good passer, too, and I think we got to see last game (against Toronto) his ability to also shoot off the dribble if you go under a screen, So, very dynamic, multi-faceted in a pick-and-roll situation. I think also having, too, just having bigs come up and screen for him a little bit at halfcourt to give him a little bit of pressure release is also another way we can help him bring it up.”
Whenever Simpson goes through a tough moment, all he has to do is draw on that inner strength he gained with playoff-bound Greensboro, doing what he can to transform into that same player whose self-assurance was reinforced during every dribble as a member of the Swarm.
“I definitely feel like that’s where I found my confidence and ability to come back up here and understand who I am,” Simpson said, “and just go out there and just play and just be who I am.”
While helping push the Hornets across the 2024-25 finish line.
“The year is the year and a lot of games we’d obviously like to have back,” Simpson said. “But for the most part, the way things are going around here and the structure that we are trying to build and the DNA we are trying to have is special.”
The Charlotte Observer
Roderick Boone joined the Observer in September 2021 to cover the Charlotte Hornets and NBA. In his more than two decades of writing about the world of sports, he’s chronicled everything from high school rodeo to a major league baseball no-hitter to the Super Bowl to the Finals. The Long Island native has deep North Carolina roots and enjoys watching “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” endlessly.