KJ Simpson hit the biggest shot in the history of Colorado Buffaloes basketball, now he’s a player for the Denver Nuggets.
The Nuggets are signing the former Buffs standout to a two-way contract, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday, bringing the Boulder fan favorite back to the Front Range less than two weeks after he was waived by the Charlotte Hornets.
Simpson, 23, fills the two-way roster spot vacated earlier in the day when Denver converted Spencer Jones to a standard contract. It’s a move that addresses the Nuggets’ need for backcourt depth heading into the stretch run while rewarding a player who had his biggest moments just 30 miles up the road.
The 6-foot-2 guard was the 42nd overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft and spent a season and a half in Charlotte, appearing in 50 games and averaging 7.3 points and 2.9 assists in 21.3 minutes per contest.
This season, Simpson had logged 14 games with the Hornets before a hip injury sidelined him in mid-December. Charlotte waived him Feb. 6. Before that, he had his season high 16 points against the Nuggets just before getting hurt in a Hornets home loss
For Buffs faithful, the signing is a reunion with one of the most decorated players in recent program history. Simpson finished his three-year Colorado career ranking ninth in assists (378), 11th in 3-pointers made (133), 13th in steals (129) and 15th in points (1,424).
His junior season in 2023-24 was nothing short of spectacular. Simpson earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors while averaging 19.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game, shooting 43% from 3-point range. He was named to the Naismith Trophy and Wooden Award watch lists and delivered one of the signature moments of March Madness when he dropped 23 points — including a game-winner — in Colorado’s wild 102-100 upset of Florida in the NCAA Tournament.
I never posted this but here’s KJ Simpson’s game-winner for the Colorado Buffaloes against Florida to win an NCAA Tournament game. One of the best moments I’ve covered from one of my favorite athletes I’ve covered. Welcome back to Colorado, KJ. Should be a great add! pic.twitter.com/kEOKpvD1Zb
— Jake Shapiro (@Shapalicious) February 19, 2026
Simpson will be eligible for up to 16 regular season games if the deal is finalized on Thursday.
For a Nuggets team navigating a bunch of injuries and looking to shore up its guard rotation before the playoffs, Simpson offers a high-level college player who has had some nice moments in the NBA. Moreover, he has something to prove and could do so behind Jamal Murray, Jalen Pickett and Bruce Brown.
