KJ Simpson Tells All – Rookie Season With the Charlotte Hornets, Jaylen Wells, Colorado, NIL & More
Joining me for today’s show is a man that’s been on the show before, but it’s been a little while now. He’s now gone through college, had a great three-year run, now he’s in the NBA with the Charlotte Hornets, and that is none other than KJ Simpson. KJ, I appreciate you for taking time taking time to come on today, man.
Well, no, I appreciate you for having me, man. Like you said, it’s been a minute, man. It’s been a minute. It’s been overdue, but
for sure. Well, I have to start with this, man. You know, you’re in the middle of the offseason. Your first offseason was hectic. You know, you get drafted. You go going through the NBA draft process. First of all, you get drafted, then you’re injured throughout the process, and obviously you have to get ready for the season. Now, it’s the first time you have a full offseason NBA. How’s it been so far?
It’s been great, honestly. I mean, like you said it yourself, uh, coming in it was a little obstacles, you know what I’m saying, right away.
Um, so this year to finally have a real off season and to
out and just I mean, just honestly, that’s really been it. I just been working out and
I love it. I love it. The journey of it. Um, obviously would would rather much be playing in the playoffs when
during that time that was really weird I got to say like when basketball was still going on but not playing if that makes sense.
Yeah.
So that was kind of weird but I mean this off seasonason’s been great man just like I said just been working and just been grateful for every day I have. Curious when you look at you know your f your first season in the NBA obviously there’s always things to improve on get better in. What were some of your goals? What are the things that you really wanted to emphasize and have been emphasizing over this past few months now?
Yeah, I mean I just honestly speaking I really just wanted to come in and just prove that I belong like
right you know the player I am I’m someone that’s kind of like a allaround person. So
there’s a lot of things I feel that I do really well and certain things that I feel stick out more than others. But uh at the end of the day I just want to come in and just prove myself. you know, I’m already um getting doubted just simply based off my size. Like that’s just fact for
um anybody who’s under 6’2.
So um just coming in, I knew I had that and then just
there’s always going to be opinions and things like that. But I just really want to come in just prove myself, show I belong. And
thankfully I was able to get opportunity right away. And
there was a lot of great that came out of that and there was some learning curves. But at the end of the year, at the end of the day, it’s just rookie year, you know,
and I’m just grateful for everything that I learned. But I definitely do think, you know, I showed Flash as a player I can be. And I know this off season’s been really big for me and it’s been really, honestly, I’ve been on a great path and I’m just excited to go out there and prove, show people why I do belong.
We were just talking backstage about the summer league. We know we’re now just a couple days out about one week exactly now out from summer league getting going. Now when you talk about that aspect, how excited are you able to get out there and for the first time in your career now be a part of summer league and play the whole the whole time?
I’m excited. I’m excited. I mean last year it was crazy. It was like a whole 2K cut scene. Honestly, it was just you see NBA players in every single hotel. Like
the fan base was just crazy. That was my first time ever being in in Vegas during summer league. So,
okay.
I wanted to play and be a part of it so bad I couldn’t, which sucked. But that’s why I’m looking forward to this year and u this summer and I can’t wait to get it going. Just put on a show in front of the fans and win some games, gel with the new guys, and just go out there and hoop. Man,
you know, the unique thing for a situation like you guys, there’s going to be a lot of guys that’s on the roster playing out there in summer league. You know, talk about the guys upcoming. You have four new rookies coming in. Then you also have yourself coming back and you’re going to be a player with them, Damian, as well. When you talk about just being able to be alongside some of these guys that you’re actually gonna be playing with next season, how more exciting does that make you know there’s gonna be some of that chemistry already in place?
Really good. Really, really good. Honestly, um obviously for them, I’m pretty sure they’re
everything’s moving fast, you know, getting drafted and going in. I just I understand literally being in their position a year ago,
right? Oh, I know it’s just going to immediately like we’re going to have that connection of, oh, I just went through what you’re going through right now. And um to be able to build chemistry early on before the season is is really big and I’m looking forward to it.
If you were to give advice to Ryan, SH, and Liam, obviously guys coming in as rookies now, what is their advice? How do you take in this moment? Because obviously this is a massive experience. You get experience something that you’ve always dreamed of, but still be focused on the craft, deal with all the whirlwind stuff going on. What’s your biggest advice to them? honestly just appreciate every opportunity, every experience. You know, when I get a chance to I haven’t met them yet because like I said, it’s been hectic. So,
when I do get to meet them, I’m pretty sure, you know, from the things I’ve heard, they’re great people and just pure hoopers who want to go out there and work, which you love, and that’s going to serve well in the NBA. But just go out there and just embrace every opportunity. Honestly, I know
I’m not no vet yet, but
Right. Right. the year of experience that I did have, there was a lot of gray in it and then a lot of a lot of up and down and obstacles that I faced, but it helps you. And I think you just have to be grateful for everything that you endure and go through within your experiences. So that would be the main thing for me because I’m still I’m still learning. You know what I’m saying? I’m still young, but
it definitely, you know, coming into year two, it definitely just feels completely different than coming in rookie year and not knowing what to expect.
How about for yourself now? as we talk about you didn’t get the overall rookie season for the for the summer league at least for yourself back this time around and we’ll talk about your first season NBA as well but obviously got a lot more minutes done this fresh season with the big guys and now you have this opportunity to go out there what do you want to improve what do you want to accomplish get done over the duration of you know the 17day NBA summer league
yeah I just uh honestly I just want to go out there and continue to prove myself I feel like I left a lot out there rookie year just trying to learn and
you know pick up on how the games played and uh like I said take advantage my opportunities. So, this year I feel like I’m more seasoned, I want to say. You know,
the year I had and I know what to expect. So, I want just want to go out there and just take my game up another level on all aspects. Uh, shooting definitely, I feel like I could have shot way better last season. Um, just coming in defensively being a pest. Uh, going out there and just proving to people like my height doesn’t matter and I can go out there and play with the best of them. and just going and showing and proving like why I feel as if I deserve to be in the NBA and why I got drafted, you know, showing I got drafted for a reason. And that’s just looking forward to year two. Like every year I feel like in my life through basketball I’ve experienced and where I look back at the year I just had and realize, okay, like and take those experiences better. And the offseason is is a big big moment for that. And so just honestly this has been no different just at another level. And so now I’m I’m really excited.
You brought up the height component a couple different times and that is dated all the way back to high school. And I was always on top of the recruiting aspect. People always say, “Well, you’re a smaller guard overall.” But then you go to college and we’re going to talk about that momentarily. You have one career in college to the point where you even get to make the NBA jump. You get drafted now you’re playing minutes in the NBA level. How have you continued to prove people wrong and still outperform the height that you’ve had throughout your entire career? I mean, I just I just look at it the simple fact like if my height was such a big issue, then how come I I I was able to make it to the NBA, you know? If it was so such a a negative to have, then how come I can go out there and do certain things that I can, you know?
And the re only thing I’m trying to do is to go out there and show I could do it more consistently.
Like that’s the step I need to take. I take and understand that. But
I mean, for me, all I need is just the opportunity to go show you. You can anybody can have the opinion that they want like you said. um going in from high school like going heading into college that was a big knock on me
and then you look and then seeing the season that I had my last year at Colorado nobody would have guessed other than the people around me obviously myself I knew I was capable of that my family everybody around me but like going into the NBA it’s no different it’s just a bigger stage to go out there and just prove to people that it doesn’t really matter
well let’s hop back to where we left off for those of they’re tuning in. Me and KJ had an interview right when he committed to Arizona. Actually pre-recorded and we released it right when he announced the commitment. But that’s not where we end up going to school. Obviously, Arizona ended up falling through later on. And so, I want to ask about that process because we’re heading back now about five years ago. Sean Miller was the head coach. You committed to Arizona and then things go down and he ends up getting removed, fired, whatever you want to call it. Tommy Lloyd takes over. Puts you in quite a predicament then as you’re getting ready to go to college. So, walk us through that original process. First of all, dealing with the coach that you committed to getting let go. What was that like?
Yeah, I mean it was tough honestly. You know, I built a good relationship with them um for the most part cuz considering everything, it was still during COVID, so I didn’t no visit at all. So, um, it was difficult. You know, I love the schools that I spoke to and, uh, but Arizona for me just stuck out and I had good relationships there with the coaching staff that I built and obviously Sean Miller.
But, um, yeah, it was just tricky. Honestly, the way I found out was I woke up and it was a bleacher report. Sean Miller, you know, uh, stepped down from Arizona and they the tires or whatever was cut. So then I I remember running down go to my telling my mom and then running down and telling my dad before he went to work or something like what does this mean like this means and um you know he kept a calm composure and just don’t worry we going to figure it out but um it was a tricky situation honestly.
Yeah. Um it was it was kind of hard to navigate at first and um I didn’t you know we didn’t hear from Arizona until like a week and or two later.
Really?
Yeah. because then uh when when Tommy Lloyd got the job like we we still didn’t hear and then he they reached out and then we had a conversation over the phone because I don’t like I said this previously but I don’t think a lot of Arizona fans really know this. I didn’t shut Arizona down like I didn’t it wasn’t a oh someone else is coming in the coach like let me just step down that wasn’t the case like I was still
So you could have possibly stayed at Arizona then like you weren’t you were open to staying I should say.
Exactly. I was
Wow.
And uh we had a conversation with Tommy Lloyd and you know uh he I believe he’s a great coach and a
great person. We’ve
built a kind of cool relationship as years went by. But just to keep
be honest at the time he just simply said he didn’t think I could have a role on the team. Um because
I guess he didn’t watch he wouldn’t get a chance to watch film on me and they would take a couple weeks to watch film on me and to see whether I would fit or not. And it just like the vibes wasn’t, you know, giving
Yeah. He wanted me to go there. So, I’m not somebody who’s going to hold a grudge or anything. It just it was so like clear that it would just be best if we just, you know, decommitted from there. And it was a little sticky situation trying to decommmit, but finally got decommitted. And um fun fact, I called every single coach that offered me before I committed.
Okay.
And just to thank them for offering me and saying I appreciate it. And you had your coaches that was obviously upset. You had
coaches that, you know, said, “Look, uh looking forward to your success and your journey.” And uh but the one coach that like he was like no matter what happens if things don’t work out like we’ll still feel the same way was coach Bole at
and they were in my top three.
It was Arizona, Colorado and SC. So
everything happened and sure enough coach Bole was the first one to call my high school coach and
yeah the rest is history. You know, I don’t think too many people know about the whole when you decommit, obviously you have to have your national letter of intent and obviously I guess get resigned by the school and all these things. It can get tricky. I feel like it’s gotten better the past couple years because of the transfer portal is made a lot simpler now,
but back then this was still new. All the stuff is still tricky. And I know that was a little bit difficult point as you kind of alluded to there for a little bit. So when you made up your mind said, you know what, I want to go somewhere else. This isn’t the right fit. How difficult was that situation for yourself? It was difficult for me honestly because the whole thing with me is I’m I’m such like a bought in person. So once I buy into you, I’m set on on that team or whatever I’m going into. And um I’m not somebody who second guesses things. So,
right,
after it happened, the reason I kind of committed at that time was it was around my birthday, but obviously I wanted to kind of commit before my senior season so I could just enjoy my senior year of high school, not worry about where I have to go to school. Obviously, it’s a it’s a blessing to get offers and scholarships, but it can be a little stressful on you when you want to make the right decision, you know?
Yeah. So I wanted to choose that before my senior season was started and on the way. So that kind of messed it up a little. And so into into some of the seasons or into some of the games that we had in that season, it was just like I still was trying to navigate, okay, the schools that are reaching back out to me now that I decommitted and
now having to figure out, okay, now pretty much doing this again, like where do I want to go? And obviously with coach Bole and his actions and what he said, it made it a lot little bit easier. I kind of knew I was going to go that route, but it still was a little difficult for me to navigate, you know, as a high schooler. Yeah.
Have you set in stone like, “Okay, I’m going here.” And then it just flips and changes. And so, yeah.
Now, did you know right away when coach Bole reached out to you, were you pretty much already said, you know what, I know Colorado’s a place or did you still take a little bit of time and say, you know what, what else is on the table? There could be other schools in the mix. or was it Colorado all the way?
I still have conversations. You can’t turn down certain conversations like uh I think I knew I wanted to play in the Pack 12 for sure just growing up uh watching the Pack 12 all my life and
um I kind of knew I wanted to play there. So majority of schools that reached out was mainly Pack 12 schools
and so but I wanted to hear everybody out. Um, I mean, we had schools like Oregon, UCLA, um, Washington State, like a bunch of schools reached out. So, I didn’t want to just shut everything down at first, but because of what Coach Bole said and how everything turned out and how I when I did have conversations with other coaches before I committed and just reading their kind of body language and things like it kind of did put Colorado, you know, first,
okay,
and it made it more comfortable to know like, okay, I know where they stand. Their actions speak louder than their words. So, um, I didn’t shut it down completely, but you know, like it did make them very high on my list.
You staying in the Pack 12 at that point in time, at least it was Pack 12. You had obviously Colorado, Arizona matchups. You got a lot of the different games with each other. I know you’re not really a person that holds a grudge, but was there ever some extra little motivation when you got to go face Arizona?
Yeah, especially especially my freshman year because it was still fresh.
Yeah. Well, I never forget like uh my freshman year when we were about to play Arizona the first time it was at Tucson. So, I was getting ready to hear like I’m having a conversation like they probably might boo me like
but I was excited. I was excited and I couldn’t wait. I just wanted to go out there and prove myself. But leading up to that, I actually was out with a concussion. I was like I was like trying to get right. I was like I got to play this game. Like I won
and I went in there and at the time I went in there and that was my careerh high for season. So, uh, we lost unfortunately obviously with that win. But, um, to go in there and play like with that mindset and the mentality and just go out there like not not saying I held grudges because I don’t really hold grudges, but
just going and proving again like
Yeah. And in all fairness and to be truthful like you didn’t think I could play for Arizona at the time. So, just going out there to show you like I could have and Right. And then that same year, we ended up beating Arizona at at Colorado number two. And then the crowd rushed and it was senior night. Like that was a highlight of my my career. I kind of joke about that with Josh Josh um a little bit from time to time because I think that was the only time we beat Arizona my years there. Mhm.
Always good battles, you know, and as years went by, like I never had hate or anything for Arizona, like still respected and loved and some of the coaches on the coaching staff who um were with Shawn Miller at the time, some of them were still there. So, like was always great to see them. Obviously, me and Tommy Lloyd, we had great relationship built each year. So even the guys on the team like who were going to be essentially my teammates still close with them like good friends with them. So but yeah it was a little bit of a a edge to me you know ch my shoulder if you will.
When you reflect back on your college career what would you say was your favorite college game you played in? Oh, my favorite college. Um, honestly, I want to say, man, I don’t know. It’s a lot of them because I mean, I don’t want to be cliche, but like I feel like nothing is going to top that Florida game.
That’s what I was going to say. The game winner. Yep.
Nothing’s gonna top that. And then the fact that like it wasn’t just me. Like everyone talks about the shot I made, but
my our whole team we I think the whole starting five and a couple guys off the bench had above 10 points like and that was it was like a big thing in March Madness and we were just it just felt like a together type of win like it wasn’t easy at all but in that in that environment it was just amazing. But me personally, I think it was when we played I think it was when we played Colorado State my first time my sophomore year.
Mhm.
Um because at that time it was just leading up to it. Uh Isaiah Stevens was still there. Who
wasn’t David? Was David Rody there? Was that he was gone that year? Yeah, David Rody wasn’t there.
Okay, so it was a second. Okay, gotcha. Yeah, I know what you’re talking about. Yep. Yeah. But um yeah, it just was Isaiah’s team. Obviously, I we’re we’re great friends, you know, I respect him. We built a really really great relationship over the years as well. And
even the success he’s having right now, you know, with the Heat, like I love it. Happy for him. He just signed a two-way with them during the season. Was great.
But leading up to it, like I’m not going to lie, Coach Bole was he was kind of lighting a fire in me because he was we were watching film. He was like, “Ah, this is a real point guard.” Like elite point guard. Like, and he knew what to do to to get me going. And I and I knew it was on purpose. So, leading up to that game, I was like, “Come on.” And this is Colorado State rivalry. Like, the crowd was
And coach Prime, that was he pulled up to the game. That was his first time pulling up.
Right. Right. Even sat in the stand, so it was mad loud. Yeah. That was that was an unbelievable experience. And I had like a out of body type of game where I was just like out there just trying to just just prove myself again. Like it was just great, man. It was great. That was a top top memory for sure.
You’re talking about the Coach Prime aspect. Obviously the whole world saw it from the outside looking in, but you being a fellow athlete on campus when Coach Prime gets there. What was the vibe like with him just being on campus? It was great.
It was great. I mean, uh, I shared this story a couple times, but the coach prime like he is as advertised, you know, just because a camera is out or if a camera isn’t out, he’s going to be the same person like, and I can respect that. And but one of the things that showed me the kind of person he is is this is when me and coach Bryan we didn’t really like we obviously we may have spoke but it wasn’t much like it was just a hello and something but um he had a team dinner with the 76ers at the time
and cuz they were practicing in Colorado for the altitude during training camp.
Okay. So, uh, he had a dinner set up, just him and the 76ers, but he invited me, Tristan, and Cody at the time, which was my junior year. Yeah. So, it just he was like he came up to us, approached us when we were eating lunch, and he was like, “Uh, I’m having this dinner with the 76ers. I feel like it will be beneficial to you guys. you guys should come ask questions, you know, learn a lot and I just feel like it’ll be good for you.
So, I mean to do that like he didn’t have to do that, you know, at all. So, that kind of showed me who he was as a person and he just wants the best for people. So, when he did that, it was great and I had a great time. I remember I had great conversations with Danny Green and and Kelly Ubé who I was sitting with at the table and next to me was the the head table with Coach Prime and Joel Embiid and Titus Maxi and I’m like dang like I remember telling uh Danny Green and Kelly Uri like man I’m I’m trying to get to where y’all at man like this is crazy but that just showed so much for me. I was so thankful for that and I made sure to to thank him and show my appreciation because it did go a long way and he’s a great person but his effect was crazy though.
Mhm.
It just and it carried over to basketball honestly.
You know, you just talk about that aspect of thinking back and saying, you know what, I want to be in your position. I want to be an NBA guy. Obviously, that is the shoes you’re in now. And I was actually going to even go back to I remember asking you when we did our last interview, you know, what’s some of your goals, your dreams you want to accomplish? And one of those were being in the NBA one day. But I said, I’m curious if at that point in time, if we go to back five years ago now, did you ever think you’d actually be in this position, like did you truly believe that, you know, you would be in the NBA playing, making money from the NBA, playing on the NBA court?
Honestly, humbly, I say yes.
Okay.
Um, that’s just like I just wanted it to happen that bad. And in my mind, there was nothing that was going to stop me from doing it. Obviously, I understand, you know, there’s so much like there’s so much I don’t want to say luck, but it’s just such a blessing and a miracle. Like, it doesn’t happen to everybody,
right?
And uh I know it as a especially being young, like it’s almost everyone’s dream to be a professional athlete when you play a sport. So like when it happens like it just I humbly say like I knew it was going to happen but at the same time I’m so grateful but that’s just how confident I was like nothing was going to stop me you know from you also brought up like I think expression a little bit ago when we were talking about the fact that the Colorado Buffaloos are no longer in the Pack 12 anymore. Obviously, you got out a little before this craziness happened now, but now you know that Pack 12, all the schools you were mentioning that were recruiting, USC, Washington, Oregon, all them, they’re in the Big 10 now. Colorado, Arizona, they’re in the Big 12 now. What’s your thoughts on all that? That’s crazy, man. That’s crazy cuz I when I was growing up, it was still pack 12. You know,
that’s what I was used to. I know obviously Colorado, they went back to the same conference that they came from.
Yeah. that I grew up on the Pack 12 and it just was it was honestly kind of sad but it was kind of cool to kind of be the last wave of it I guess
right
uh for the last season. I just wish we would have won our Pack 12 championship cuz that put the cherry on top. Um but I mean we got there but we just came up short but it kind of is crazy. Yeah, it’s crazy to think about, but at the same time, um it’s a lot of good competition in the conferences that the schools went to. Yeah.
Now, it just heightens, you know, more teams there, so a little less room for error. Um but I like it though. I just I kind of wish a part of me wishes that I was able to go up against those schools.
Yeah.
When I could. Um but obviously I’m happy decision I made. Yeah. But yeah, it is kind of kind of crazy.
You know, you talked about the aspect of when you were going through the recruiting process, you knew you wanted to be Pack 12 and I have to imagine a lot was because of obviously grow up in California, you stay closer to home. When you if you were to go through the recruiting process today, would that have changed anything now? Because the new current Pack 12, I know they’re rebuilding now, Gonzaga’s heading in there, a couple other teams as well. Would you still have an emphasis on being a part of the Pack 12 or would schools like USC, you know, Washington, Oregon, even Arizona, Colorado still been employed even though they’re no longer Pack 12 schools?
Um, that’s a good question. Honestly, I I want to I want to say I agree with both sides. Okay.
A part of me was like growing up and see the Pack 12 schools like I knew I wanted to play in the in that conference.
Yeah. So, you know, if it was different and turned around, like I I was familiar with the schools that were playing in the current Pack 12 Conference, I guess.
Um, then maybe maybe. But at the end of the day, I honestly want to say like it just was more so about the opportunity I would get.
Okay.
You don’t want to say it’s I don’t want to say it’s too much of the school. I just knew growing up like I was I love the Pack 12, so I was just fortunate to get offers mainly from there. But I just at the end of the day like if it was just any other school that seemed like best fit for me and best opportunity then by all means I would have went there. The other aspect too I feel like the most drastic aspect of this whole conference expansion thing is the traveling thing. Obviously you’re now in the NBA so you get that aspect but balancing academics with that traveling has got to be a little bit difficult. Would that have played an impact on you? I mean ah it’s hard to say because I will credit you know being at Colorado we had an amazing academic adviser her name was Mindy
okay
she was just kept us on our toes like honestly so she helped instill in me and like a little bit of importance of like time management and understanding okay you got a game you got practice you don’t want to worry about school work you know leading up to that. So, she helped me kind of
I don’t want to say get my life together because it was I was good at that, you know, I went to a good high school, but um just like in college, it’s a different level. So, I think she just taught me to just be very communicative to like my teachers and just try and piece things out and plan things accordingly before like situations like that happen. But at the same time though, I wouldn’t I wouldn’t be traveling like how these teams are right now. and traveling in the NBA, I can tell you
like it’s a huge adjustment. It is.
And um that’s a long a lot of hours in the air and a lot of time away from things that you could be doing. So
I think it’s just a balance of having to have good time management, but I don’t think it’s just a one person thing. Like I definitely think a lot of people have to play a part in that, right? is it is kind of difficult to think about.
Would that have impacted your recruiting process? I mean, I know the Big 12, I feel like, is a little bit more better set up. It’s a little more, you know, closer and they have the different sections and all that. So, you wouldn’t be traveling too often. I mean, UCF and Arizona is probably the furthest distance you get out there. But, I mean, that Big 10 one, you have the Ruckers and New Jersey all the way out to USC and California. That’s a hectic one. Would that have impacted recruiting now if you were to go through that process again? I don’t know. Maybe.
Because here’s the thing. Here’s the thing.
Obviously, I know Arizona and Colorado, they’re like kind of close to each other. But I’ve been to Arizona before. So, when I was choosing schools, like that comfortability of knowing like I’ve been to Arizona before.
It’s not too too far from California. So obviously Colorado isn’t either, but that familiar familiarity like made me more comfortable going or choosing Arizona because I didn’t know much about Colorado. So
to know like how far of a school, you know, Ruckers is compared to USC, something like that. Like
that’s that’s a big jump. That’s a big that’s like I don’t know if my honestly I might have been okay. I don’t know if my parents would have been okay. But um yeah, that’s that I think that does you have to take things like that into consideration,
right?
You also got thrown right into the college scene when NIL came into play and that’s obviously a massive thing and now it’s even become bigger now that you have shared revenue coming into play. I guess just happened yesterday came into play.
How about that aspect when you just talk about being thrown right into the mix with this entire transfer portal, NIL expansion, everything kind of going on at the same time. What was the NIL portion like for yourself? Yeah, I mean it was kind of it was kind of crazy honestly. Like I came in my first year it wasn’t it was normal college like nor and then
like things just started to ramp up. NIL came in, transfer portal came in and now you look now it’s still looks like another league like and it’s crazy to think about. Um I know for us at Colorado um it’s for the basketball team at the time like it wasn’t too much NIL.
Yeah. So I mean for me for me though it was always about like making the most opportunities and just get into the NBA. Like I knew the money aspect would come in. So uh even right now like I know guys at Colorado right now are probably making more money than I was when I was there.
Yeah. And that’s okay because I mean it honestly is a blessing because it’s like you know that team the teams that I was on and the teams that were there before like we kind of paved the way for that to happen.
So um it’s kind of cool but yeah I mean it kind of also sucks to think about you know cuz missed out on a lot of NIL that obviously schools like you know Duke and the Kansas of the world like obviously you knew they had that. So, um, when you look back, it could have been different, but
it still was. I mean, we still had some NIL. I’m not going I’m going be grateful for the I got, you know,
right? It was cool. And then the transfer portal, it was it wasn’t it was starting to get hectic, but not how it is now. Yeah.
I got out just in time because
now it it just it’s turning too much of into a business for for me, honestly. So, it’s kind of crazy. I want to actually follow up with that point you just brought up there. You look at the new college landscape, like I said, I believe firmly believe that guys should be getting paid. I like the shared revenue. I think those are all massive things, but there probably should be some form of structure. I’m not sure exactly how it’s going to happen, but when you look at the new college basketball team, which in my opinion almost is like a second professional league in America now. What is your thoughts? Does change more order need to be brought into this? Is this okay where we’re at right now? What’s your thoughts overall on the landscape?
Yeah, I mean there’s so many things that go into it. Honestly, I’ve made like PowerPoint uh like homework assignments on this even when I was in college. Like,
okay,
it’s it’s very it’s there’s a lot of things that go into it cuz it’s like obviously being an athlete myself,
I feel like you I definitely want to get paid for your name, image, and likeness. Definitely feel like that’s justified. and you know athletes way before who kind of were fighting for that and trying to pave the way for that like you definitely feel for them for missing out on it. But I think what I think what comes with it is the fact that then it start to turn more into a business and like you said you have to add like a certain certain things to kind of like take a step back on it and be like hold on this is still college. Like
that’s why I feel like it’s so difficult to navigate right now because it’s it’s hard to put like it’s hard to put a little bit of like what am I trying to say? It’s hard to like put certain things in motion to kind of not stop it from happening but like put a little bit on hold.
Sure.
Because like it it’s happening at a fast rate and
you know it there’s the pros of it but there’s also some cons with it. So,
I definitely think it’s like a difficult conversation to be had, especially as an athlete who definitely wants to get paid off their name, but
um I definitely see the other side of it and how it can get too hectic. So, I just I think it’s something that’s going to be talked about for a really long time, honestly. Just like how we wanted to play college athletes for a long time, I think this is definitely going to be talked about about how it’s turning more into a business. Now
when you look at yourself, you know, your freshman season, you’re coming off a really solid overall year. You get all freshman team, but you know, you take the massive jump your sophomore season. That’s when the portal gets going. That’s when NIL gets going. And as you said, I know I don’t know the exact numbers, but I know Colorado obviously does not have as much of an NIL as some schools out there. At least schools that probably would have been interested in yourself. So why why did you want to stay at Colorado for all three years when I know and you probably know as well, there could have been a lot larger payments at bigger schools available to yourself?
Yeah, I mean definitely. I mean there’s no shying away from that. That was definitely, you know, a thing or conversations that happened. But, uh, for me, I just, that’s not how I’m built, you know. I mean, we talked about it, you know, a long time ago. Like when I went to Shamanad, the reason I went to Shamana was I just I’m big on culture. I’m big on I’m big on loyalty. And when I commit to something, like I don’t I don’t look the other way or I don’t, you know, um just change change my tune. Like I’m just when I commit to you, like I’m loyalty. You got my 100%. And
so I did that. That’s been all my life. You know, it was so hard to even for my dad to get me to switch AA teams. Like you know what I’m saying? Like that’s just how I was and how I was raised and how I grew up and how I believed. So, uh, even in college, like it just was the same way. Colorado, they gave me the best chance and opportunity and they bought into me when a lot of other schools didn’t, right? And so it’s almost like a thing of like I appreciate schools that take the chance on me or just teams in general that take the chance on me when a lot of other people pass up on me and then all of a sudden when they see the player I’ve become a little bit from when when it happened or when I was and then all of a sudden you want me to be on your team and I understand how that goes. You know, you see the potential of people and you see if they’re going to pan out to be what you know they can be. But um that’s just not how I’m wired, man. In Colorado, they gave me the chance and the opportunity and I was going to give them my all. I wasn’t going to turn the other way.
I know it happens. It’s always been rumored that it happens. For yourself, were there ever schools, whether that be through representatives that reached out to your agents, your family, whatever it was that tried to get you out of Colorado? Oh, yeah. I mean, definitely.
So, that stuff is happening then?
Yeah, definitely. Definitely. But um the thing about my my great you know circle that I have is I let them handle it and
let them hear all the noise and all that and they just kept me focusing on basketball
and it stands even to this day like
just continue to work on basketball continue to get better and just that’s the thing you can focus on focus and control what you can control and they can handle all the outside stuff and that’s been a beautiful balance in my life and helped me
stay focused and locked in. So, um, but I mean definitely there was, you know, there were schools that reached out, uh, even when I was trying to see if I wanted to obviously go through the process of declaring for the draft, like it was big conversations of if you don’t go to the draft and you want to come back to college, like
this could be your situation, things like that. And obviously, um, you know, when people throw numbers at you that you have never you you dream about making,
right? Obviously, it’s like eye opening especially for me because I know it’s not just me in this like I have a family and people around me that I want to you know take care of and things like that. It’s always been my dream to do but at the same time I feel like kind of making decisions based off money kind of isn’t always the best I feel like.
Mhm. And that’s what just what made it so easy to kind of go into the NBA honestly because hearing those numbers and everything. I thought about, you know, how I could take care of my parents and the people around me. But at the same time, it’s like this is my dream. Like money will come. Money, I’m not worried about money. I don’t want to make a decision based off money. So that’s what kind of made it a little bit easier for me.
You know, that one situation you kind of gave that idea about, you know, you declared you still had one more year of eligibility available if you so wanted to do that. You know, we’ve seen a lot of those guys in this past year. I think we saw more so than ever before. At least one of guys ever enter the draft process. And you had guys like Yakel, obviously he was someone that went to the NBA draft process, could have been a late first round pick, early second, goes over to Michigan. And I know the numbers have been thrown out there that’s it’s a significant amount of money to get him to go out there to college. Is that making it more enticing now where you see yourself, you know, you could go to the NBA, you could earn a two-way, you can get a second round contract, whatever that might look like. These guys in college are paying quite a bit. Was that an easy decision for yourself or what was going through your mind when that was something presented to yourself?
Um, for me personally, I I think it was it was a little bit easier for me just cuz
um with the season that I had and it just would simply mean I would have to replicate and do the exact same thing that I did, which I had no doubt in my mind I was capable of doing. But who’s to say, you know, my stock would would drop or raise, you know? And for me, I was confident in where I was at the time. And when if you hear even the slightest that you could get drafted or there’s a high chance you are, then that’s all I needed, you know, and I let the the rest be what it is. But um it kind of made it easier for me to just just declare and just go because at the end of the day this is my dream. You know if I have the chance to go out there and especially feeling like I have the best chance to go and make my dreams happen and turn it into reality then you know why why not? But I will say like even talking to some like of friends college friends that I have like it is changing now though. I feel like the money that they’re making now in college, it’s like, okay, the NBA isn’t going anywhere. Let me make money right now because you never know what can happen.
Yeah.
And honestly, it’s it’s just kind of crazy to think about, you know, because it changes things. It changes things like when you have the position to make millions of dollars in college
and then and then you can declare for the NBA and pretty essentially already be a millionaire.
Yep. That’s crazy to think about and that’s not something that I was used to hearing growing up like. Gotcha.
So, um I think definitely on other people right now like you see guys staying in college, you know,
least amount of guys to declare for a draft and money is being thrown around in college and might as well stay. But I know for me that’s just not how I was wired and when the chance presented itself, I wanted to go to the NBA. Would there have been a number that had somebody proposed it to yourself that I said, you know what, that might be something I cannot pass down. And if so, what would that number have had? Because I we’re seeing numbers right now where there’s rumors of guys getting two, five million, even someone like AJ, obviously that was the number one recruit getting seven. What would the number have been for yourself?
That’s insane. I don’t I don’t I don’t know what the number would be. Honestly speaking, I I don’t know what the number would be. I feel like when you see anything after a meal or something, then that’s something that would catch your eye,
right?
Um I don’t know what that number would be. I don’t know. But I just know like the way I’m wired, it would be more difficult to stay than it would to go to.
But the higher the number goes,
there’s always a price.
At the end of the day, like I’m thinking like, man, I can take care of my girlfriend. I can take care of my family, my aunt, cousins, like I I can be good like take care of them. And yeah,
that’s difficult to think about as well, especially because you never know where kids are coming from and
um you know, people they have around them and you know how much how much how bad they need money at that time, you know. So, um but I’m going just say no, we’re going to the NBA. That’s that’s how
I love that. You know, I was going to bring this up that they’ve had obviously so many guys from high school to college players, obviously NBA as well now. And so often in this new era, I feel like some of the guys that have truly genuinely a mindset of saying, you know what, the money didn’t matter want to go to the NBA. So therefore, I’m going to pick the best fit for myself, the best situation, more often than I’ve seen than not, those guys end up going to the NBA. And obviously, you’re another testament to that story there. So I’m curious, what ingrained that mentality inside yourself where you said, you know what, my goal is NBA. whether that means the most amount of money or not, I’m going to go pursue the NBA. What kept you so driven on that goal?
Um, just I just love basketball so bad. I think my parents obviously, but mainly my dad. Like he was my role model. He was the person who taught me how to play basketball,
right?
Um, and he was really really really like hard on me, you know, growing up. Not to say he was crazy or nothing that I couldn’t, but you know, he just pushed me to be the best version of myself and and he loved basketball so much. He’s one of those people that he it’s his passion like he
eat, sleep, think basketball. So when I remember him asking me, are you sure this is what you want to play? Because I’m going to and your dream because I’m going to push you if that’s really your dream. I want you to accomplish your dreams. And that’s my goal as a parent. That’s that was what he told me. and that I really meant it and I really wanted to and so that was just it made it easy for me to stay on basketball and you know continue that path. And then just also the sacrifices that they made. Like I’ll never for I have so many like I don’t know if they know this but I have so many like notes and like reminders on my phone of like nights when my dad had to go to work or
days where my mom had to get up really early and take the bus to go to work. Like and not to say, you know, we weren’t blessed and fortunate growing up, but like I knew the sacrifices that they made just so I can play basketball. just so I could go to a AAOU tournament that was in Atlanta or even session. Like, so I think their sacrifice and just seeing that up close and personal like made it really comfortable for me to just want to make it so bad, not just for myself, but for them as well. And that’s why when I drafted, like I knew I was crying, but my parents, man, they made I knew they was going to bust out in tears more. But when I I really meant it when I said like I didn’t just get drafted like we got drafted because
I wouldn’t be here without them. So I think that’s just made it, you know, really easy for me to kind of stay on path.
Right. All right. So I do want to ask you a couple more things before before we get to the NBA first season you had there. One of which is Tad Bole. You talk about the fact of him being in your life three years, how he was consider I guess more than three years, but three years as your coach obviously.
When you reflect back on your time with him, what’s your favorite memory with him? Oh man, coach Bo, you know, uh, my favorite memory, honestly, my favorite memory, man. Honestly, my favorite memory was probably I have a bunch, but um, the one that kind of stuck stuck out most with me, and it’s more recent because like as a as a freshman, you know, and sophomore, you’re still learning. And obviously my dad was always so hard on me. So
Mhm. nobody else could top him. Like you can say anything in the world except if you I’m not even going to say that out loud because fans will start saying it and getting mad. But like what I mean is like my dad he was the top one. He pushed me to the limit. Like so he was the ultimate boss. So any coach I’ve ever had or can like push me to the limit. I won’t I have a poker face. Like I won’t I won’t hold a grudge or nothing. I know what it means and I know it’s constructive criticism and anything. So I know that’s how coach Bole was and it made me better for it. Um so but my junior year was when you know that was the year I was obviously playing at my best
and I forget he he like went on a rant and he was saying like how I was playing some of the best basketball excuse me that he’s ever seen in his life. And um he was he was going in on reporters saying like, “I don’t know how KJ’s not an all-American.” And I could see the frustration. He was like, “It pisses me off.” Like
it was so like funny to see how furious he was and how upset it really made him,
right? fact of just simply like I wasn’t getting the credit still that I he thought that I deserved honestly even with the year I was having just simply based off the fact that we were playing in the pack 12 and it was Colorado. Mhm. So, um that was honestly it meant a lot to me because it showed like how true and how he will always be in my corner and to this day like still talk on the phone like have great conversations and he’s always in my corner. But like when he did that like it just it meant so much more to me than I think he understood and he was just being genuine like speaking his mind on how he felt and it meant a lot. There was a lot of great memories though that I had. I mean, funny memories. Memories where I got cussed out. Like, it just it’s been it’s been great, man. But I definitely thank Coach Bole because he was kind of like the perfect coach I needed to help me get here.
I feel like Tadpo is such an underrated coach overall because you look at what he’s done. You know, the resources we already discussed, they’re not one of the top in this in the entire nation. You know, they have good resources. They are in the Big 12 now, but in the comparison, that’s not obviously top tier. But yet you look at the just in your own career time span. You play a guy like Jabari Walker who’s in the NBA. Tristan Dil is in the NBA. Yourselves in the NBA. Cody Williams is in the NBA. That’s not an easy task to do when you have not the amount of funding that he has. At least the least amount of fun he has.
Yeah.
How does he do this? And what is he like as a coach both on and off the court?
He’s just old school. He’s just old school. Like he keeps it straight up with you. And for the players and people that can endure that, they you see them get better for it. And um that’s just I can respect that. I can respect that aspect. Like he’s just going to be someone who’s upfront with you and he’s just going to push you. And there’s going to be days you don’t like him. Like and I know he has no doubt in my mind. Like there was days where I was just like like I’m tired of coach. Like but like it we it was just a like he was just trying to get us better. That was the end that was the main thing. And so the the players that come through through the program like they have to see that and buy into that. And he’s somebody who was so built on like not changing his ways either.
He like he’s built on recruiting high school players and developing them and um seeing them blossom and turn into who they are. But obviously now with the transfer portal at NIL, he has to kind of adjust his ways a little bit. I know that was kind of difficult for him to do because like I said, he’s old school. Um, yeah, that’s just how he’s wired. Like he’s just even off the court, off the court, he’s a great person, you know, he’s a great person. Just wants the best for you and he wants to help you grow and be the man uh that you’re going to be, you know, years later. And so I could respect that and appreciate him and forever, you know, will have that relationship with him for that. But yeah, I mean even even I even throw like Meek in there. That’s right. Yep. Absolutely. Y
I know we all had conversations like that’s crazy we all like were on the same team. I
But it’s it’s just like I feel like he just helped us get to this point whether it was positive for certain people or even negative for certain people. Like he he’s going to push you to be the best version of yourself. And right
and that’s all you can ask.
The last question I have for you about college. When you look at these numbers, I just want to hear your thoughts because you only played three years at Colorado yet you finish you finished your three-ear career at Colorado ninth in assists, 11th in three-pointers, 13th in steals, 15th in points in program history. You accomplished all that in three years. Is that all are all the stats that you expected to have? Does that shock you when you think about what you accomplished in just three years? What’s your thoughts on your Colorado career overall? Yeah, it’s crazy cuz I mean obviously my mentality was just go in there and just play play to win, play the best version of me I can and you know obviously I everyone has individual goals like I had a goal of making all freshman team all pack 12.
Sure.
But um like it wasn’t my goal to try and go and break records and things like that. like I just I just wanted to go out there and play basketball. And by the way, I knew I can play and the opportunity that I had, I was able to go out there and do that. And so to hear that, it kind of is great. You know, there’s no doubt in my mind that if I would have stayed, you know, I definitely would move up. But um it just is great you know to even be sketched into you know history or tied into history with players like you know McKinley and Chanty and Spencer Dy and Derek White like Alec Burks like guys like that you know it just it means everything and um it’s kind of great and crazy to think about.
Absolutely man. Well let’s go into this NBA process because one year ago you were getting drafted. One year ago you know you trying to go NBA draft process. yours was a little bit cut short because from the injuries and all those different aspects, but what was the NBA draft process like for yourself?
Yeah, I mean it was great. I enjoyed it. I uh I mean um I I was still at college and I I left I left early to go in to LA. I signed with Clutch and start my pre-draft early. And so I was still trying to balance school out while
my pre-draft stuff. But shout out to the teachers that I had. and they were once I told them I was going to declare for the NBA and I would still be doing school work and obviously the relationships that I built with them being overcommunicative and things like that always emailing them they were like so helpful for me to make it easy on me so um but yeah it was great I mean the pre-draft process was great working out was great so grateful to get invited to the combine that was great and I knew I was somebody that wanted to play at the combine. Obviously, for me, I was in a I was in a big gap spot where my projected draft or my projected pick was like anywhere from like late first to early second. So, that’s a big window.
So, I knew for sure like I was going to play and
I definitely feel like I could I was going to improve myself by playing and which I did.
Yeah.
Um and it was great, you know, and the few workouts that I did have were was excellent. Like I was enjoying it and I was honestly doing really well. And then uh unfortunately I got hurt. I hurt my strain my hamstring and that kind of sucked and I didn’t realize the severity of it and it ended up being a four almost five month process and coming back from that injury. So, I went from like all-time high of like getting, you know, talking to agents, talking to this certain teams and like how they’re saying they love me and they want to come have me for a workout. But when I got hurt, I wasn’t able to go work out. And so, it just kind of it went from like being up here to like just sink. Um, I didn’t feel helpless because I felt like I I did enough, you know, obviously to I had a good resume behind me. I think playing at the combine, like I said, helped me a lot.
Definitely.
And um, so at the end of the day, I still got drafted and I was thankful for that happening. You know, obviously that’s such a blessing and I dreamt about that all my life. And for me, I it didn’t matter where I got drafted, what team. Like I said, I’m whoever drafted me believed in me and I was going to give them my all and it ended up being the Hornets and I’m so grateful for that for pick number 42 and that will always mean something to me. So yeah, I want you to go a little bit deeper and elaborate a little bit more on that aspect of getting injured because you know you talk about this you’re at the high of highs that’s a huge thing for yourself and obviously getting injured at that point in time is probably one of the worst times if you could pick a time is probably one of the worst times you want to get hurt
for real. when this all goes down for yourself, you know, you’re talking late first round pick, early second round pick, you still obviously get drafted, all worked out at the end of the day, but from a mental standpoint, how did that impact you and how did you get through it from that standpoint?
Man, it was so tough. It was so tough,
right?
Um, you know, when I when it happened, it happened at uh it happened in Orlando during a pre-draft workout and then after that, I didn’t know what it was. Like I thought it was just uh like my hamstring I thought it was just tight, you know, like in Orlando I didn’t really it wasn’t a crazy crazy strain. So I was able to finish the workout but I end up having to do another one in Minnesota right after that. So I flew to Minnesota let them know hey like um we didn’t you know in Orlando I kind of did something to my I’m kind of tight a little bit in my my legs like can we like get a a little more in-depth warmup in? And uh we did that and I was stretching like crazy. I mean the night before icing ordered a a a what’s the the the gun? I order
massage gun. Yeah,
massage gun. Like I ordered that. I was getting the hyper thing. I was getting ready the hypervolt. I was getting ready and and ended up going through a little warmup and I felt a little bit in my hamstring, but I was dunking in the warm-up. So, I’m like, “Okay, this going we going to get through it.”
Mhm.
And then sure enough, the first thing we did, I took off on my right leg and I felt immediate like just ah and it just felt like a cramp that couldn’t go away and I was like I didn’t know what happened. Yeah. So, it was it was very difficult because you know the things that I learned about hamstrings that was so tricky about it is even when it feels like it’s fine because you’re off of it and you’re not doing nothing, it still hasn’t fully healed.
So, um at the time I went back to LA and was uh just rehabbing and shout out to Sports Academy and the the trainers that were there and you know just Dr. Tyler and everybody that helped me, you know, uh, just get the proper treatment that I needed. And it was just something I was important on and trying to work on getting better. But it was frustrating because I had teams that were in my, you know, projected where I was going to get drafted
and their the picks that they had and I couldn’t go work out for them. And I would still get invited to come down and do interviews. And I love doing interviews. So, I was like that was easy to do, but I wanted to go out there and show like now I am the player as advertised if not more
and I couldn’t do that because it was hurt. So, you even had teams reaching out
like a week later asking like, “Yo, is he healthy now? Can he come back for a workout?”
And I couldn’t. And it just sucked because it just I was trending at a upward motion, you know, leading up into the draft. And um it’s difficult. I mean, everybody could do whatifs. Everyone can do like maybe if I don’t get hurt, I get picked somewhere else. And but I mean, I’m not I’m not going to bank on that. I’m not going to, you know, live off whatifs. I feel like, you know, I got drafted to where I got drafted to and I’m thankful for that and I’m never going to get upset about that, but I am gonna get kind of upset about like coming in hurt because that was just an immediate obstacle.
Yeah. even just rookie year like like I told you that span of trying to get back that rehab it took a really long time and um I wasn’t able to do no pickup the whole time I wasn’t able I barely got into training camp a little bit
you know um so my first time really getting to go up and down was honestly the preeason games and I was like I was just like like you know as a rookie and like coming into the NBA, I’m trying to navigate all this and so it just it was a lot, you know, but I I appreciate everybody from the Hornets organization, from the coaches to the owners to my teammates to the the training, you know, staff. like everybody they saw how bad that I wanted to come out and play but they just gave me the proper treatment and you know uh kept my mind at ease and just we slowly gradually like was working out and things like that. So, um, thankfully, you know, I’m fully healthy, you know, a year later.
But, yeah, what it was very difficult and like led up to even the the first part of that little rookie year that I had early in the when the season started, like it was so much that that went into it that I don’t think a lot of people know about. But, it was hard. But, like I said, credit to everybody, my family, my girlfriend, agents, like everybody around me supported me. So, it was great. you know, you go back at that moment in time. Obviously, you can’t go back. It all works out. But, you know, the draft process is, it puts so much pressure on guys. And obviously, you’re living for your dream. You want to impress scouts. You want to impress GMs. And obviously, if you go back, you know, you would have wanted to continue to work out. You wanted to keep doing these different things. Knowing what you know now, and I guess it could also be advice for guys going through the NBA draft process in the future. If you have some form of injury as you had in the exact example you provided, would you have still done that workout or would you said, “Hey, can I take a day or two off?” Well, knowing if it was my hamstring that was something like serious like that.
Yeah. So, obviously not knowing the exact extent of the injury yet, but obviously if something is kind of like you know something’s not right.
Yeah. I think I definitely I would go back in time and not take that workout. For me, it was like the end of the world like
I got to have these workouts, you know, I gotta go out there and prove to these teams that I can and and can be the player that, you know, you think I’m going to be, right? and I I would be considered to some as someone you would draft.
So obviously, yeah, it was that’s something I would kind of go back in time and kind of like not do maybe, you know, be
um but I mean at at the end of the day though, I didn’t know the severity of it. I didn’t even know
I was able to finish the workout the first time when it happened. So
I just simply thought like my hamstrings were just a little more tight and cuz it wasn’t a pain thing. It wasn’t I didn’t know what happened at all. So, um but definitely a learning experience, you know, definitely um something you have to take into consideration, you know, for knock on wood, but like things looking forward if anything ever happens, like speak on it,
right?
Just be a little bit more smart about how you navigate it.
Well, let’s go back almost exactly a year ago, draft night. And the unique thing is the NBA on your year separated the two days. obviously that you were on day two and so you guys opportunity of actually like being in the green room and those type of things.
Take us to that night. 42nd pick comes around, Charlotte Hornets announced KJ Simpson. What was that experience like?
Yeah, it was crazy. It was crazy. I mean, what was crazy about it was my range was late first to early second. So it was like on the first day it could have been a opportunity or you know space where I could have been drafted even not working out for teams that you know uh was interested in me. So it was like a I kind of thought by getting hurt that maybe I kind of fell a little bit.
Sure.
But I still was watching like you know you never know. You never know. Certain guys get picked before they’re supposed to or things like that. But um day two came and it was definitely different from what I grew up on. I grew up on everything the first day. So
um how ironic. I’m the the first of the draft class that was there to go experience that. So it was great though. It was great. Um obviously getting drafted, you know, the emotions are very high. you don’t know, you don’t know where you’re going.
And um you know, sitting in those seats, you know, you’re you’re happy, you’re excited, but you’re also, you know, eager and like sweating, you know. So, and the thing about the second day was I can only have um a certain number of people at my table. There was like a a green room for the the like the second day.
Yeah. So you would have like certain people who were projected, I guess, to were the best or next available to get picked. That would be
like the top 14. Yeah. Yeah. Like that would be in the green room area. So I was fortunately able to be one of those people. So I could only have pretty much my parents at the table with me. I didn’t have my agent with me or anybody else. My girlfriend with me, my aunt, cousin, like everybody was back at the hotel um waiting on me to get back. So I’m just like I’m tech I’m not trying to be seen on camera but talking to my agent like just hearing going back and forth. This is what this team says. So it was like a up and down thing. But um man I remember I’ll never forget like when my agent told me I was going I was getting next getting picked next for the Hornets. I just I didn’t even like I was like, “Oh my god.” Like my like it just I didn’t know it didn’t feel real.
The fact that I was getting drafted even though I dreamt of this and like always getting drafted and making it here like it just was still like to hear it about to happen was crazy. So leading up to it, I’ll never forget waiting and knowing that I’m going to be hearing my name get called.
Mhm.
And I was just like, “All right, don’t cry right now. Don’t cry. and they got called and it was just like wow and hug my parents and it was great man. It was a great feeling. I got to shake the commissioner’s hand and everything after that was so fast. Interviews press conference things uh social media like it was so fast. And then I got to go back and celebrate with the rest of my family at the hotel.
And then come to find out you got to fly out the next day. Like it’s just
it was too much. But I was just so happy. I felt
for that night like I got to just enjoy like everything. I got to enjoy everything and the blessing it was and I’m so thankful that it happened.
Would you say it’s the best moment of your entire life to this point? Honestly, it’s hard to top that. Yeah. Cuz I’ve been I’ve been thinking about this all my life. Like life. And I’ll never forget I’ll never forget I was in the seventh grade and I had a teacher tell me we were having conversations of what you want to be throughout the whole class and I said an NBA player and okay and then someone else said NFL player like so he stopped and he spoke to the class and he was like like these are great things you guys want to be. I’m never gonna demolish your dreams, but you guys might want to start like have a plan B
because you never know if it’s going to work out. It’s a really really high high dream and a lot of people dream for that to happen and it’s a small window of people that get to go, right?
And humbly, you know, I I understood that. I know there’s only 450 players in the league and one of them right now is is unbelievable. coming out. That’s why I think I work out so hard because like opportunities like this just don’t come around.
But when he said that in my mind like plan B, you ain’t I’m f to go to the NBA. You tell me it’s not happening. No way. So like to look on that and just always have that mentality. Um, it definitely like reassured me like like everything’s going to be good and it just kept me steady and um like in my in in my head about you know just focusing and keeping the main thing the main thing.
Let’s hop into your rookie season in the NBA as you already kind of alluded to a little bit. It was difficult. Rookie seasons for anybody is tough. It’s a massive transition. Everything’s going on. You know, it’s it’s hectic. It’s crazy to say the least. you go in with the injury and so there’s a lot that people don’t even realize is going on in your life.
Yeah. Now that you look back at hindsight, what would you what do you think of your rookie year? How was it overall for yourself?
Um I mean rookie year was I mean it was everything that you would expect honestly. You know there was a lot of highs that came out of it, a lot of great moments. Um a lot of lows, a lot of in the middle inbetweens. A lot of learning experiences. a lot of things you remember forever. Um, but I just feel like it’s everybody’s experience to figure out. You know, you can talk about how the NBA is going to be. You can talk about the things you’re going to challenge and be faced with, but I just think until you go through those moments, you really won’t know like how it is.
And I definitely think I’m just a hard critic on myself. Like I definitely think I like the player I was, let’s put it like this, the player I am right now, even it’s just in this off season would kill my rookie year. So, all right.
So, I Yeah, people could quote me on that if they want, but um I just feel like, you know, my rookie year, I don’t want to say I left a lot on the table. I just was going in not knowing what to expect and making the most of opportunities that I had. And I feel like I did that, you know, to a certain degree. And there’s a lot of things I could learn from definitely
um and get better at, but you know, rookie year was was rookie year, man. It is what it is. And um I’m happy. I’m happy. Honestly, I’m happy. Uh wanted to do better,
right?
Not just individ individually, but like as a team as well.
Sure.
But like I’m just happy, you know, I learned so much rookie year that’s going to help me moving forward. Like I said, the injury thing coming in, that’s going to help me moving forward. Even the the positives that I had like throughout my rookie year was it helped me give me the confidence to show like no, I do belong. And it also proved to people like, oh, he can play, you know? So, I’m just excited to continue and doing that each year. I have. You had a split time on the two-way contract between Greensboro Swarm and obviously with the Charlotte Hornets. What is that like having to go balance between the two different teams? Yeah, it was it was like I said, it’s not something you you can you know how to navigate until experiencing it, right?
Um I don’t mean to keep banking on it, but like it just that was my rookie year. Like when I came in hurt, it was hard to navigate and especially being in the NBA right away during preseason like it just high tempo.
So I just this is my first time ever learning it and get to get I didn’t get a chance during summer league or during training camp. So, this is my first time ever experiencing it. So, um I do think going down to the G- League helped me, you know, find myself
and get into a rhythm because each time I would go back and forth, I got better. Definitely. And I like, you know, I might have started off slow and then went down to G-League, found a little bit of a rhythm, came back up, showed some spurts and signs of what I can be, went down again, was even better. Then come back up. Then you look up, he’s like, “Oh shoot, like he can play.” And, you know, I’m adding a lot and doing a lot to help the team. And then going back and just continue to get better. And also I want to speak on the jingle because I feel like it has a there’s a negative rep on it because
obviously it’s not obviously that’s not the end goal. that’s not where you know I want to be or see myself playing
right
but you know especially for an early young player like there is benefits of it and you if you approach it as a punishment then it’s going to treat you bad I feel like and the way I approached it was this is an opportunity for me to get into a rhythm this is an opportunity opportunity for me to play on a team where I may not be able to have minutes right away there was some DMPS there was a five minute stretch here and there like not knowing if I’ll play or not. So now this is a chance for me to get in rhythm, get in shape
and to play highlevel minutes and then when my name is called be ready. And that’s how I approached it. And I feel like if you look throughout my season, my rookie year that I had, that’s it shows. Definitely. You get a lot more minutes. You know, obviously towards back end of the season, the guys start getting shut down and there’s a lot more opportunity for yourself. And as you said, I feel like you looked a lot more comfortable. You know, your season stats overall for the whole year were 7.8 eight points per game, just about under eight points and three rebounds, three assists. Obviously, those numbers were a lot more inflated those final, you know, month or so of the season.
When you talk about just getting to end your season essentially on the high note, I know it wasn’t the most successful overall as a team, but on a high note for yourself getting, you know, NBA minutes against other great players at that level. How big would you say that that time span was for yourself now as you head into your sophomore sec season? Yeah, it was everything honestly because I mean you look at some guys who were drafted ahead of me, you know, they they might have not even got the same chance or opportunity that I got just simply because of the situation that they’re in, you know, at the time, whether that’s people that are ahead of them or the way the team is made up. And unfortunately, you know, guys went down for us and, you know, it sucked, but my name was called and I had opportunity there to go out there and play. And now it’s a chance for me to go make the most of it. I mean, to to even say like I was starting for almost like a certain point in my rookie year, almost half of it starting starting certain games. Like it was crazy to think about cuz now I’m getting experience that a lot of other people may not have been getting at the time. And that’s heading into year two. Like I feel I’m very high on myself because the experience and opportunities that I did have, you know, you look back on it, it’s it’s hard to not acknowledge and learn from. I also want to ask another tough part about your season last year. Obviously, you know, the Jaylen Well situation happens, but I want to ask about what happened from a mental standpoint for yourself because that was probably one of the most, you know, attacks you’ve ever been at one point in your career. Obviously, I don’t know how much you went through social media, but obviously a lot of people had the different thoughts and whatever there might be. Yeah.
When you had an be in the situation you’ve seen so many former athletes be in where you’re being attacked, that had to be difficult as a rookie.
How did you just get through the mental standpoint of trying to still perform, do your job, and knowing that you had to deal with something that I know you didn’t even intend to do? Yeah, I mean I appreciate you asking that because I think this is the first time I get to like actually speak on it.
Okay. And um it was very difficult. I don’t want to make it too much about me because um the thing about it, it’s a sensitive topic because the thing about it is I don’t think a lot of people know this, but me and Jay are actually really good friends. like
we played against each other, I want to say three or four times during this Pack 12 season,
right? Yeah.
Uh when he was at Washington State and obviously when you’re one of the players on your team going against another one of the players on the other team, like you start running into each other a bunch and then you start to build a relationship. And ironically, we were on the same team at the combine for our scrimmages. So, I hung out with him and um it was just like we excuse me, we built a good relationship. And um the thing that was most difficult about the situation was like it was a complete and total accident. Like I never went in a million years the person I am, I would never do that to anybody. I would never go out of my way to maliciously harm somebody or pull somebody out the way. And I can explain it to the best of my ability all I want. I tried to go and make an effort because what I don’t think what people understand is we were literally at the free throw line next to each other right before that and you know we’re shooting free throws and we missed and he took off. So essentially, that’s someone I’m who I’m guarding. And me being the player I am, I’m on a two-way contract. I’m a rookie. I’m I can’t go up. I can’t not give my all on the play. That’s my mentality. And I just try to go. And all I simply tried to do was I wasn’t trying to I I didn’t think I was going to go and like pin his his shot on the backboard. Like all I simply was trying to do was was jump over, reach my hand over him and try and get him to pump fake or something so somebody can come and I think it was Mark at the time who was trailing make a second contest that I like I I tried my best to do that and unfortunately like I didn’t see the way he took off and I didn’t expect him to take off from how far he did. Mhm.
And so, um, yeah, I mean, last second when I jumped and I realized I was in his trajectory and I was going to hit him, I tried to get out the way. Unfortunately, I I clipped him and uh when he went up, he came down and I immediately was ran to him and to to see if he was okay. And it was just a scary feel. Like honestly speaking, like I still like to this going back to it is kind of crazy cuz that was like a lot for me. And it wasn’t about me at all. I’m not trying to make this about me. Jaylen’s a great person. Like like I said, we’re great friends. Um and my immediate reaction was just like I wanted to make sure he was okay. And when he was on the floor for a long time, it was it was just hard to to see and I didn’t know what to do. Like I was just in shock. Like I was everyone’s coming up to me and telling me like are you okay? Like don’t worry we know you didn’t do it intentionally like and all that and all that but you know it was scary. And then obviously to see the stretcher come out like
just all over the place. And then um I wasn’t even thinking about the ejection like or anything like that. Um I was just hoping that he was okay. And honestly like the moment like the moment I don’t know if it’s it’s on someone caught it but like I immediately when I was walking off like apologized prayed for him and then I immediat when I hit the tunnel I’m not somebody who’s a big crier but when I hit the tunnel I immediately started balling because it was like I know how great of a person Jaylen is and
like I said we’re great friends and I know he comes from a great family when He got drafted the second day. Like his table was literally right there. I saw how happy his family was, how they all, you know, shed tears of joy and all that and like we said congratulations and everything like it was it was I was happy for him you know to have that moment. So to feel the way that I did you know that we about him and for that to happen it really sucked. And um my main thing like immediately after was how do I get in contact with him? I want him to know like it was a complete accident,
right?
And that was the first thing on my mind. Even my I asked my agent, can you please find a way to get me in contact with him? Cuz the only thing I had at the time was we followed each other on Instagram. And at that time, Instagram, he could be flooded with comments and DMs about, you know, what happened. And so I I got his number and I was able to apologize. And uh immediately, you know, thankfully he knew it wasn’t malicious or intentional. Like he knew obviously we close friends. So it just sucked, you know, it sucked. And then to get onto the like whole social media aspect thing of it, it was I’m it was crazy, bro. Like
it was insane. Like usually things on social media don’t bother me. And uh it was it was a lot, you know, that was a lot to go through and um see like the things that people were saying like um like it kind of I was in a dark place. It like obviously it wasn’t the end of the world, but it just felt like there was no coming back from it at the time. Um because at the end of the day, like I just wanted Jaylen and his family to know like it wasn’t malicious and that’s all. Like I just wanted them and the Memphis Grizzlies like I wanted like I think Grant spoke on my behalf to them to let them know like I it was a complete accident. And what’s crazy is I got word back that the Grizzlies they they knew it wasn’t on on purpose and everything like that and it was just a unfortunate accident situation that happened. But that social media like it was it was a lot. I mean, I didn’t want to turn my comments off cuz I felt like in doing so that would like promote more people to feel like they got to me,
right?
But I mean, you could ask anybody that was around me. Um, it was just difficult. It was difficult. It was really difficult. Um, teammates supported me though. Obviously, my family supported me, my girlfriend supported me and her family, my family, just everybody. Um, agent my circle supported me, but it was it was really hard. It was um I had people check up checking up on me every day and um it was just tricky because like the people I knew and who knew me
I didn’t mean to do it but the world like knew or pointed me to be like like just this ugly person I guess because of the situation, right? So yeah,
I still get a little bit like I don’t want to say emotional, it’s just like difficult cuz it’s like the person I am, I would never do that and
know me, you know, no, I wouldn’t do that. But
it meant everything that Jaylen, you know, accepted my apology and I wanted to publicly do it as well. Mhm.
Um because I just wanted to find a way to reach out to his parents and get there. And actually, you know, you know, his sister actually reached out to me and you know, she said that, you know, she obviously we don’t know each other much, but she knew I didn’t mean to do it,
right?
Accident. So to have her say that and Jaylen forgive me and the people like like I said who knew me knew I didn’t mean to do it. Like it was everything. myself. But it was difficult. It was a really hard time. You look at the games after like I didn’t it didn’t feel like I could get away from it. Usually when I play basketball, I can get away from things that happen in life. But because it was a basketball situation that happened and it was on my mind, it was difficult. It felt like kind of hard, right? uh those games after it did mess with me a little bit mentally and that was kind of the first time something really really hit me like that
where I had to go through and figure out but again it was unfortunate and it sucked and if I could take it back obviously I would 100 times I swear to God I would but um I’m glad Jaylen you know and I you know I know he knew I was it was an accident and uh we’re great man I still reached out to him and even like recently I reached out to him not too long ago to see how he was doing, you know, check up on him, make sure he was like recovering really well. And obviously don’t mean to say it like in this way, but thank God it was, you know, just the injuries that he had. I don’t mean to say it like that, but like
Yeah, I know. I know what you mean. Yeah,
it could have been a lot worse. And um I’m just glad that he’s he’s doing really good and he’s looks seem fully recovered and I know our relationship I I hope gets closer because of it. Um,
right.
And yeah, it was it was a difficult time obviously to end the year like that, but um, you learn from it and you know, I just prayed on it was was big on it and I’m really big on my faith as you know.
Mhm. So, I just try to pray on it and heal through it and ask for forgiveness because I didn’t would never mean for that to happen. But yeah, that was and that’s kind of like the first time I ever get to talk about it like openly out on like any platform,
right? And I don’t want to make it like a big big thing. You know, it’s not something I want to be remembered by. And so, um, but I definitely I definitely am grateful, you know, for Jaylen and his family, and I’m glad he’s okay and doing good. The last thing I want to touch up on this real quickly is you talk about the faith component there and like you said when that all happened I know you pretty well and obviously I knew you didn’t intend to do that but I know some people a lot of people most people in the world do not know you don’t have a personal relationship at all with you and so you have all these things happening and when you’re having your integrity who you are as a person as a man being attacked because of some people that don’t know you off of this one scene and I get they could see the scene whatever it is but how do you deal with that knowing instead of staying factual to yourself saying you know what I’m not this type of guy yes it was a it It was a horrible situation, but I’m not that type of guy. How did your faith come into play kind of trusting God in that time span kind of saying, you know what, how do I take this burden in a sense off of me now?
Yeah, I think it was um it definitely wasn’t an overnight thing. You know, I uh each day felt a little bit better. Um like I said, my teammates and coaching staff and everybody with the Hornets um really helped me. You know, they they always ask me, “Am I doing okay?” and um do I feel better today? Do I want to talk about it? Do I not want to talk about it?
And um so I know that that helped me out a lot. But just, you know, talking with my parents and everything, just praying on it, you know, like I said, all I could do in that moment was pray for Jaylen, pray for his family, um ask for forgiveness, and uh just pray that it get it gets better. You know, I for me it just it felt like in that moment it was like the end of the world almost because it just was so fresh that I just felt like I don’t know. I just felt like in that moment there was no other side to it like the the social media aspect of it and people reaching out to it won’t stop. Like it just was every day every day. And now like even like with ESPN and everybody and Bleacher Report all posting it, it just got more global and more global and it just was a lot. So just all I could do was just pray on it and obviously um in the moment um it was hard but each day got better you know and uh like you said I’m big on faith and just being able to talk you know to God by myself and even in the prayer services that we we would have the chapel before the game like going up to it and going into it and just praying on it and uh knowing because it was a heavy heavy thing on my heart and um even those games after like I credit um and I give thanks like certain players would come up after the game and pull me to the side and just tell me like they knew it wasn’t, you know, on purpose.
They knew it was difficult to kind of go through in that moment. So to have NBA players who I’ve never really spoke to ever help speak on my character and try and lift me up, you know, even even certain pe like I didn’t I tried to stay off the social media, but like even all the people who reached out, people who didn’t know me like and the people who would fight the other people in comments and be like you can clearly see it was an accident and all that and like it meant a to have and understand that there were people out there who understood and saw it from how it actually was. Um, but yeah, like I said, it was just a thing where you just got to sit with God and it’s not an overnight thing and you got to continuously, you know, talk your mind and speak your mind and don’t shy away from it. Um, it was hard, but you know, thanks be to God and the people around me, you know, I was able to break through it mentally. But at the end of the day, like I think the main thing was I never was really worried about me. I was just worried about Jaylen the whole time.
Like that’s all I that’s all I really worried about. Like people will have their opinions and everything that they said on social media. And yeah, it sucked to see because they’re almost like diminishing my the person I am and that’s nowhere near who I am.
And um that was difficult because I don’t like to be, you know, talked about in that manner of ever being like a dirty player or anything like that,
right? But like in all in all like the only thing I was worried about was really like Jaylen was like making sure he was okay, making sure it wasn’t bad and everything. But um just to get back on the faith thing like yeah, it just was a a continuously like everyday type of thing of praying on it and I was to myself a lot. You know, I was on the we were on the road after that that stretch because that was the very last home game. on the road. I was just
kind of in my hotel room and just just, you know, just kind of being by myself and just just kind of leaning on it, praying that it all works out and we get past it and everything. Jaylen was okay.
Absolutely. Well, I know it’s kind of a difficult thing to transition off of, but we do have 15 before I let you go, man. And one of those things is you have a coach, Charles Lee. He obviously was his first year last year. You’ve now spent a year with him and that’s a little bit more than a year now. What is he like as a coach overall?
Yeah, I mean, he’s just a player’s coach, man. He’s he one of them coaches who’s gonna um who’s going to suit it up and go out there and guard you, you know, like and um he’s just great, honestly. He’s great. He’s somebody who came from, you know, winning culture, you know, winning winning with the Bucks and then winning with the Celtics. And
so coming over, he’s trying to obviously change the culture. And being in Charlotte for a year, I can feel and sense like how bad this this city wants to win, you know, and I I want to win just as bad as they do, you know, just not only for myself, but for them. Uh cuz there’s to see this constant support that they would come out to games for no matter what the record was, no matter who was playing, like it meant a lot. M
um Coach Lee, yeah, he’s just trying to instill that I think you’ve seen it like that Hornets DNA type of culture and you see it with the people he’s drafted that um he’s trying to change things around and you know, put the Hornets back in the map, you know, and just um bring winning here, bring a different side and different culture. And you can feel it. It was difficult this past year, obviously. I can imagine, you know, being a first year coach and guys going down and
yeah,
knowing who’s going to play, you know, today and having to deal with a bunch of different roster changes and different starting lineups and things like that. So, um, I know it was a lot and I think and I hope that, you know, the players and everybody just gave him constant reassurance that like we trust him, you know,
right?
Great great person. um somebody who just wants the best out of everybody and you know that makes you play a little bit harder for a coach like that who’s going to challenge you and push you um but just for the betterment of not only the team but for yourself
and well like I said he he’ll just go out there one day just to get you shooting better he’ll start talking trash and do a shooting competition with you. So, I mean, how could you not want to play for a coach like that who gives it their all? And and um I mean, my first impression of him was just simply when he first year coach just going out there and coaching a couple summer league games
um last year just to get acclimated with certain guys on the team and just get everyone comfortable with the system that he was bringing in like that. I feel like that spoke volumes because, you know, you don’t see a lot of head coaches doing that or the couple times that he would come out to G-League games or swarm games like when we were when they didn’t play.
It kind of meant a lot. And so, um,
he’s just somebody who you would love playing for and I I’m excited for this season, you know. Um, definitely think, you know, it’s going to head in a different direction under his leadership. Well, let’s head into this team now because obviously we’re in the middle of the offseason right now. Lots move to happen. Obviously the probably the biggest one. Mark’s obviously been traded out now. So now you have a new center coming in. Mason Plumbley is returning. Just added in Spencer Dimity who I know you talked about earlier from Colorado. You guys have a little bit of ties there together. He’s not on this team. Also you guys have added Colin Ston. The rookies we talked about Pat Con has been traded. A lot of different shifts and sh and stuff going on this locker room right now. When you look at this, how excited does this new look roster seem to yourself?
Great. Great, man. I mean, um, obviously, like I said, they’re trying to change things around and, you know, you can definitely see it in the moves that they’re making,
right?
And, um, obviously love the guys that I was able to share the court with this past year. They brought me in as a rookie and, you know, took me under their wing and, um, just they made transition into the NBA a little bit easier for me, you know, coming in banged up already as it was. So, um, it was just great. I built great relationships with the guys, but um you definitely see the moves they’re making, the people that they’ve drafted, like they’re trying to change this thing around and you know, you can commend them for it. And I’m all in for it, man. I just I think my main thing is just I just want to like all my life, all my life, all the teams I’ve went to, I mean, you could see even AA teams I went to or played for. um high school teams I played for or the not high school team Shamani playing for Shamani playing for Colorado like it wasn’t I don’t want to say not successful but like just places where you got to make a name for yourself you know
right
and I feel like what better franchise to do it for me personally than the Hornets who you know a city in Charlotte who’s like eager to just win and
a whole new coaching staff and training staff and just everybody like bought into changing everything around and that’s everything I’ve kind of been about, you know, all my life. So, it’s just it’s special and I just
really want to be a part of that cuz it’s like
who doesn’t, you know, that’s that’s just some memorable stuff. So, um but yeah, it’s just definitely exciting times, you know. Um, not just even with the Hornets, just to see the NBA, like everything that’s happening today, like it’s kind of crazy to see, but you just it gets you excited that, you know, the season’s around the corn and man,
it’s going to go by fast, you know. I have no doubt, but I’m just excited, man. I’m excited for sure.
You are obviously a very competitive guy and when you see a depth chart, you know, with a lot of guards on the team, you know, you talk about lamel obviously out there. Now you got in Dim Woody, Trey Mann’s coming back. You obvious section coming in, Khan is obviously rookie. Nick Smith obviously he’s back. Scion Josh Kogi, a lot of these guys. Now some of you guys obvious can run other positions too, but you see all these different guards on this roster. What goes through your mind? Um, first off, I just want to say shout out to Trey Man. You know, welldeserved contract. Um, somebody who
like that’s one of my main people, you know, on the team. I’m really close with everybody on the team, but Trey man was somebody who immediately took me under their wing, you know. Um, he just was right by my side. Like I learned from him. I can ask him any question I want. And to see him go down when he did with the season that he was going to have cuz he was up. I had him for um six man of the year already. Most improved all those all those awards. Like I knew for a fact he was he was going for it. And uh I’m just happy that he got the contract that you know isn’t back in Charlotte cuz you know he’s a great person and I know he deserves it. Um but yeah, I mean like you said obviously it just speaks competition you know and me being a competitive person like I’m just at the end of the day I’m just going to go out there and show you know what I’m about and who I am and the values and things that I bring. you know, obviously the NBA is the NBA. Um, but you know, I’m not gonna the main thing is the main thing and I’m just gonna go out there and hoop, man. That’s just me. You know, I’m gonna go out there and do what I need to do to help the team win. And I think especially with this next year coming up, like having the year of experience that I have under my belt, you know, as a rookie and all the ups and downs that I did go through and even the the great great stretch that I was having, there was a stretch that I kind of want to talk about, you know, that month of February, you know, where
I was just hooping at a at a high level and um like I just in going through that, I know what I need to get better at my second year.
And I just been here in Charlotte just grinded it out the whole time. Like it hasn’t been much of a vacation for me. I mean, I went back home after the season,
spent time with family, but other than that,
got back in Charlotte, I’ve been here ever since. Like
just working out, working out. Understand how important summer league is.
And um just just working out, man. That’s just who I am, you know? So, uh, at the end of the day, I feel like everything’s going to happen for a reason and whatever happens, you know, be thankful for, but I just for like I’m just going in hooping. Like I’m a competitive person and I’m just going to give everybody my best. I’ll run through a brick wall for anybody. I told Charlotte that when I got drafted and I mean that. So, I’m going just continue to keep proving myself. You know, you’ve given bits and pieces of what people can kind of expect for you next season, but I just want to formally ask this question now, and it’s probably one of the last questions before I let you go, and that is you look at your second season NBA. What do you want to accomplish? What do you want to get done? Your goals, you know, team- wise, personally wise, everything. What’s the dream, best ultimate goal for yourself for your sophomore year?
Yeah, I definitely um I’ll speak team-wise first because I think that’s just very important. Like, I definitely want to make the playoffs. like
just just that was it was kind of weird like not playing and seeing the playoffs happening and obviously growing up I’ve watched NBA all my life but like now being in the NBA and now watching the playoffs is is a completely different feeling than watching it when I was growing up because it’s like
oh my god like
the the level of high play that’s happening from certain teams like the run that the Pacers was on like watching their the way they execute and things like that, how together they were, like it just made me want to get there so bad. And even the conversations I had with um when Josh Green when he first got here and
I was stoked about uh like meeting him cuz you know our backgrounds we go f all the way back to Ryan Silver in West Coast
West Coast Elite. Yep.
So yeah, it was just um getting a chance to meet him and that’s like my big bro. I mean, when I was had shorter hair, people kept confusing me. I was at Walmart, someone was like, “Josh Green, can I take a photo?” It’s crazy. But
did you tell him who he wasn’t at that point?
No, man. I didn’t want to hurt his soul, you know, make him embarrassed. I took the photo and I just took it on the gym, man. You know what I’m saying? But um now to get back on it, like I definitely just want to make the playoffs because Josh was telling me like coming from Dallas the year before and being in the finals, there’s nothing like it.
And I was like, man, I want to get there. And seeing it, you know, this off season, definitely want to get there. So I know that’s on the top of everybody’s list, you know, right now as a team. and just definitely win more games, you know, just um nobody likes to lose. Sore loser, I don’t care. Um you can and there’s not really an excuses. Obviously, we did get guys that were injured. I mean, it’s really unfortunate, you know, um because the guys that got injured were like key guys and people who were on pace to have a really good year, but um it is what it is. you know, things happen and uh it’s not going to be an excuse for us. And I think you can kind of feel the energy shift this year um even in just the workouts that we’ve been having. And um so that’s the main thing definitely winning and and making it to the playoffs. But um I know me individually uh I have a couple things like definitely just want to I’m I’m someone who likes to improve like each year in every aspect of my game. I feel like I can get better at everything. But definitely um I say the first thing is definitely just shot making and being more efficient, consistent. I mean you look at my years at Colorado like people people you look at it and then you see my last year and it’s like how efficient I was. I mean I was there was a stretch where I was 50 40 90 you know that wasn’t on accident and it just was it just was by work and no excuses. you know, I came in banged up and it was a slower start and but at the end of the day, like I know this next season I’m I’m going definitely be better in that aspect. I’ve been working on that all year or all summer, I should say. And I know I need to get better in that aspect. And um so definitely being, you know, more reliable scoreer or shooter. I I would say just being more consistent, you know, making sure that that field goal percentage is where it needs to be, especially that’s one less thing, you know, somebody needs to be knocking me off when already talking about my height, you know,
right? So definitely that’s one of the main things. But I would also say just being more of a pest defensively like been watching a lot of film and you know how ironic they’re in the they made it all the way to the finals. But TJ McConnell like the dis the disruptor he is his height and even playing against him and seeing how he changes the game. like it’s not all about, you know, being a scorer. Like he he’s somebody who knows his role,
right?
And somebody who’s excelled in his role to the point where if the Patriots would have won, you could talk about him being finals MVP just because of the impact he had.
So there’s no doubt in my mind I can be that type of person,
you know, just be a disruptor on defense, like absolute pest. And that’s something that I think people are going to see in summer league and people are going to see this next up and coming year. But um I’m just like I’m just somebody just I just put my hard hard hat on my work hat and just go to work and just get better and everything, man. But um definitely those two things I will say just being also a better I don’t want to say reader like decision maker I guess.
Sure. because, you know, coming in rookie year, it was fast. It was fast. But that doesn’t mean I have to use, you know, my my speed at 100 miles an hour, you know, so find a way to change pace and um just read the game a lot better and definitely felt like I’ve been doing that and taking strides in that. So, I’m I’m excited, man. I’m just excited to go out there and show and prove what I’ve been working on this this off seasonason.
Absolutely. Well, KJ, have one final question for you. question like wrapping up every interview with and that’s talking about your legacy. When the day does come, you step away from basketball. Obviously going to be a long long future down the road, but when the day does come, what do you want the legacy of KJ Simpson to be?
Yeah. I mean, uh, I just I’m somebody who’s very very high on myself and, um, I just want I just want to be like one of the best that I could have been, you know, and that’s everybody can have their opinion like one of the best like you’re not going to be better than this person or whatever, but that I I don’t really look at it like that. like I feel like, you know, I’m the only person who knows my potential
and what I can be and so I’m just going to go out there and continue to prove myself and
and that’s another legacy I want to have is just, you know, somebody that a lot of people can respect. You know,
everyone can have their opinion, but respect the way I I approach basketball. Like the person I am, I’m not someone who complains. whatever situation I’m dealt with or any situation or obstacle I have, I don’t complain. I I I go through it and I come out better for it and I just continue to prove myself. And I think I want my legacy to be, you know, everyone had their opinion on me and whatever saying they had on me and they whatever knocks they had on me, but I went out there and I proved to everybody like that wasn’t the case. And I think that’s just the main thing honestly. Like all my life I just been told what I can’t do or what I can’t be because of this or um what I need to always get better at. And then it’s crazy cuz when I get better in that that same thing you told me I wasn’t good at, then all of a sudden it’s this thing that’s a problem, you know? So, everyone’s going to have opinions and I just want my legacy to be like I went up there and I I went and faced them all and I I proved to them like no like KJ Simpson belongs like
got to stop writing KJ Simpson off and he’s somebody who should be well respected for that. Obviously, I know I got long ways to go, but um that’s just my mentality and I’m going just that’s the way I play. And if you can’t see it when I’m playing, then I’m going just make sure you do. So, that’s that’s my legacy, man. I just want to go out there and keep proving people wrong, bro.
I love that. Well, KJ, I appreciate you so much for taking time to come on, man. It’s been a blessing and honor having you here on here. I cannot wait to see what God’s got in store for you in the summer league and year two in the NBA, man. Yes, sir. I appreciate it. You know, I thank you for having me. This is long overdue. Like,
yep,
man. We we go way back back we was on Instagram live, man. Yep.
Yeah. It’s been good, man. I’ve been glad, you know, you’ve been doing well and um I just thank you again for having me. I appreciate you, you know, taking the time and allowing me to be on here, man.
Of course. You’re all welcome on, man. God bless.
God bless, man. Thank you.
Yes, sir. See you soon, man. Sir.
This is a conversation from The SchuZ Show where KJ Simpson Tells All – Rookie Season With the Charlotte Hornets, Jaylen Wells, Colorado, NIL & More
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On The SchuZ Show:
The SchuZ Show
Hosted by Zach “SchuZ” Schumaker, this channel delivers hard-hitting boxing content every day, from fight previews and post-fight breakdowns to exclusive interviews and unfiltered takes. Expect authentic conversations, under-the-radar prospects, and a front-row view of the sport’s rising stars.
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Chapters:
00:00:00 – Introduction to KJ Simpson
00:02:34 – Summer League Excitement
00:07:48 – Reflections on College and NBA Transition
00:18:07 – Memorable College Moments
00:44:27 – Favorite Memories and Influences
00:54:53 – Overcoming Challenges and Injuries
01:07:31 – Rookie Year Reflections
01:15:13 – Handling On-Court Incidents
01:23:20 – Personal Growth and Relationships
01:30:28 – Trust and Team Dynamics
01:35:50 – Future Aspirations and Legacy
01:39:13 – Playoff Ambitions
01:43:32 – Closing Thoughts
1 Comment
KJ ❤️