KJ Simpson watched the Nuggets celebrate their first NBA championship during the team’s 2023 parade, and now he finds himself part of the organization with an opportunity to contribute to another title run, writes Bennett Durando of The Denver Post.
At the time of the celebration, Simpson was playing collegiately at the University of Colorado and shared a high school rivalry with Nuggets wing Peyton Watson.
Seeing Watson ride through the parade left a lasting impression on Simpson, who envisioned experiencing a moment like that himself someday.
“That was the closest I had been to seeing or being there to experience a championship team, I guess,” Simpson said. “Seeing them just go by. The job is finished. That was mad inspiring to me. Like, man, I want to feel that one day.”
Simpson entered the NBA last season after being selected 42nd overall by Charlotte. After being waived on February 6, he quickly found another opportunity, signing a two-way contract with Denver on Thursday.
He made his Nuggets debut Friday in Portland, finishing with three points and four assists in seven minutes of action.
Returning to Colorado carries special meaning for Simpson, who spent three years at CU and developed a strong connection to the area during his college career.
“I’m just excited to play in front of that fan base,” Simpson said. “It’s bigger than just CU Boulder. Colorado in general. … I was there for three years. First place I lived other than home. So to me, that was considered like home.
“I loved my time there. I loved everything about it. The people. And we would go to Denver a lot just to go see games. … So I’ve always felt that connection to Colorado. It’s just crazy how full-circle it is.”
Nuggets Notes: Simpson, Jokic, Murray, Gordon https://t.co/ToYaQVX0Pj
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) February 22, 2026
