Weaknesses
If Simpson were 6-foot-4, you’re probably talking about a lottery pick. The shooting improvement looks real, he has a high basketball IQ and he tested extremely well athletically at the combine. His height will be the only thing that scares teams off.
Positional Fit
Simpson is a pure point guard. There’s a chance he’ll be able to guard up because of his strength and athleticism, but that will probably take time.
Draft Projection
Late first, early second round
Again, the only real knock on Simpson is size. With Tyrese Maxey already locked in as the Sixers’ starting point guard, it’s fair to wonder if Simpson makes sense. Then again, Simpson looks every bit like a Nick Nurse point guard. Might as well call him KJ VanLowry. He would be tough to pass up in a trade back scenario or if he somehow falls all the way to 41.
Before the 2024 NBA Draft, we’ll take an in-depth look at different prospects here at Liberty Ballers and try to figure out which players would be the best fit for the Sixers at Nos. 16 and 41. Next up in this series is Colorado’s KJ Simpson.
KJ Simpson was already an All-Pac-12 performer, but he took a huge leap during a stellar junior campaign. The Buffs point guard saw a steady increase in efficiency in each of his three seasons, making him a possible first-round pick.
Profile
2023-24 Stats: 37 games, 35.1 minutes, 19.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.1 blocks, 47.5% FG, 43.4% 3P, 87.6% FT
Team: Colorado
Year: Junior
Position: PG
Height (without shoes) & Weight: 6’0.25” | 187 lbs
Born: August 8, 2002 (21 years old)
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
High School: Chaminade College Prep
Strengths
Simpson had an outstanding junior year. He’s a quintessential lead guard, putting his teammates in their proper place and distributing the ball. He’s also a great scorer for a point guard, using a strong handle and plenty of craftiness around the rim. He took a huge leap as a shooter, knocking down 43.4% from three. What gives you confidence that the improvement is real is that he also made 87.6% from the line. That’s an elite number. His efficiency grew across the board without sacrificing playmaking for others.
Despite his size, Simpson is a strong point-of-attack defender because of his strength, athleticism and absolute bulldog mentality. He’s strong off-ball as well, averaging over 1.5 steals the past two seasons. He’s also an excellent rebounder for his size, averaging nearly six a game last season.
Sixers 2024 Draft Prospect KJ Simpson of Colorado
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