As it often happens, the Charlotte Hornets have players down with an injury. This includes face of the franchise LaMelo Ball, who has had a sensational season thus far. Ball, who sustained calf strain, is out for at least another week. However, backup Tre Mann will be sidelined for at least as long as him due lower back soreness.
OFFICIAL: LaMelo Ball has been diagnosed with a left calf strain. Additionally, further evaluation of Tre Mann’s low back soreness has been diagnosed as disc irritation.
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) November 30, 2024
This has led to former EuroLeague star Vasilije Micic being promoted to the first unit.
In his first game as the Hornets’ starting point guard, Micic tallied nine points and eight assists. Yet, he was unable to consistently connect from beyond the arc, going 1-5 from three. As a career 27.4 percent three-point shooter in the NBA, the 30-year-old likely won’t look like a Splash Brother anytime soon. Still, he holds plenty of value as a playmaker due to his basketball IQ and passing prowess.
So, with rookie KJ Simpson the only other point guard in the roster, his experience is all but invaluable at this juncture. However, Simpson has a terrific opportunity in front of him.
Hornets Rookie KJ Simpson Has Terrific Opportunity In Wake Of Injury Updates
Drafted 42nd overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, the Hornets signed Simpson to a two-way contract. If he has aspirations of having his deal converted to a standard deal, his performance while Ball and Mann are sidelined can go a long way towards making that a reality.
On Friday, he played his third career game. For the first time, was on the floor for over 10 minutes. In those 16-plus minutes, he recorded 11 points, two assists, two steals, and one block. Though he went just 1-5 from three-point land, he was 5-10 overall because of his ability to make plays happen inside the circle.
KJ Simpson had a career night with LaMelo out, dropping 11 points on 50% shooting in 16 minutes. Showed good scoring instincts, especially when attacking downhill, and was super active on defense as well, getting 2 steals and a block. One of the Hornets’ intriguing young weapons. pic.twitter.com/pwxjuzkDYK
— HornetsHoops (@hornetshoops_) November 29, 2024
Call it youthful energy, but his hustle and enthusiasm helped him outshine even a player of Micic’s stature. His sheer ability was notable as well. Perhaps because he’s more seasoned than the average rookie after spending three seasons at Colorado, he wasn’t deterred by the Knicks rotations or afraid to attack their defense. With Simpson averaging 19.7 points per game in his junior season, the second-highest mark in the Pac-12, its not hard to see why.
Forcing his way onto the Hornets’ roster will take a fair bit more than that. Regardless of that though, he’s already flashed the ability to be a rotation-caliber player. With the Denver Nuggets showing interest in Micic, Simpson could earn a standard contract by or after the trade deadline.
He just has to prove he deserves it.
