KJ Simpson didn’t walk away with the hardware, but make no mistake — he was the engine that made Charlotte’s Summer League run go.
The former Colorado Buffaloes guard, now in his second year with the Hornets, played a central role in Charlotte capturing its first-ever NBA Summer League championship Sunday night in Las Vegas.
It was a tight 83-78 win over the Sacramento Kings, and while Duke rookie Kon Knueppel earned MVP honors for his 21-point performance, it was Simpson who left the biggest impression over the course of the tournament.
KJ Simpson after Kon Knueppel said he should've won MVP:
— NBA (@NBA) July 21, 2025
"Na he deserved that... it was a good team win."
Hornets are the #NBA2KSummerLeague champs 🏆 pic.twitter.com/uUnL9EbCIL
Anyone who watched Charlotte this past week could see it. And Knueppel agreed.
“I probably didn’t deserve it if it was a whole-week award,” Knueppel told reporters. “KJ was our best player all week. Props to him, man. He made me look good.”
Simpson’s response?
“Kon, nah, he deserved that, man. He played excellent this game,” Simpson said in a postgame interview. “We all played excellent — it could’ve been anybody. I just wanted to help lead the team, be a good vocal leader. It was a team win.”
Buffs fans always believing in KJ
This performance is a continuation of who KJ Simpson is. He showed up and reminded us of the kind of talent he has.
We saw him develop under Tad Boyle, and blossom into one of the most dynamic guards in the country. His junior season was special — 19.7 points per game, first-team All-Pac-12, and a cold-blooded game-winner to knock off Florida in the NCAA Tournament.
What’s happening in Charlotte now is just a continuation of what started in Boulder.
Over six games in Vegas, Simpson averaged 16.0 points, 5.7 assists, and 5.5 rebounds per game. He shot 41.8% from the field and led the Hornets in assists in the title game. Every time they needed a steady hand, he delivered.
From Boulder to Buzz City
Drafted 42nd overall in 2024, Simpson signed a two-way deal with the Hornets and saw limited time in his rookie season — 7.8 points per game across 36 appearances. But Vegas was a chance to showcase his growth.
He did exactly that.
Simpson ran the offense and got his teammates involved. He made winning plays on both ends. He looked like a player who deserves NBA minutes.
And in a Charlotte team still trying to find its identity behind LaMelo Ball, Simpson’s performance couldn’t come at a better time.
A bigtime summer for Buffs
KJ wasn’t the only Buff to play well in Vegas.
Cody Williams averaged over 20 points per game for the Jazz and looked every bit like a lottery pick. Tristan da Silva had solid flashes for Orlando. And Nique Clifford — the Buff to CSU Ram— showed out with 15.2 points per game for Sacramento.
There’s a wave of CU talent making noise at the next level. It’s a reflection of the job Tad Boyle has done building a sustainable program in Boulder. He's producing serious pros.
So, what’s next?
Simpson is still on a two-way deal, which means he'll split time between Charlotte and their G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm. But after what we just saw, he might be playing regularly sooner than expected.
The Hornets have a rebuilding roster. They need steady, smart guards, and Simpson showed he can be that.
No, he didn’t win the MVP trophy. But if you ask those who watched all week, they’ll tell you: the best player in Vegas was KJ.
That’s something to celebrate.
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