Hornets’ KJ Simpson ruled out of summer league with injury

Charlotte Hornets rookie KJ Simpson will not play in summer league due to a hamstring injury sustained during the predraft process, the team announced on Monday.

The Hornets begin summer league on Saturday with three games in the California Classic from Sacramento. The team will then play at least five games in the NBA Summer League on the campus of UNLV starting on July 13.

Simpson, the 42nd pick in the 2024 NBA draft , is expected to be fully recovered and available for the start of training camp in September. The team will also be without Tidjane Salaün , the sixth pick, for the California Classic after suffering a minor laceration near his knee.

Simpson was drafted after averaging 19.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists on 43.4% shooting from 3-point range as a junior at Colorado. He was named to the All-Pac-12 first team and set several single-season program records, including double-digit-scoring games (35).

Salaün was highly touted after dazzling with Cholet Basket in the French League. He ended the season on a tremendous run and produced 19 points, eight rebounds, three assists and one steal in a Game 1 win over Paris in the playoffs.

The Hornets will tip off their schedule in the expanded California Classic with the San Antonio Spurs and then face the Chinese national team (Sunday) and Sacramento Kings (July 9).

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