Ralph Simpson facts for kids
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| No. 44, 10, 32, | |
|---|---|
| Shooting guard / small forward | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | August 10, 1949 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| High school |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Listed weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Michigan State (1969–1970) |
| NBA Draft | 1972 / Round: 1 / Pick: 11th overall |
| Selected by the Chicago Bulls | |
| Pro career | 1970–1979 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1970–1976 | Denver Rockets / Nuggets |
| 1976–1978 | Detroit Pistons |
| 1978 | Denver Nuggets |
| 1978–1979 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1979 | New Jersey Nets |
| As coach: | |
| 1985–1987 | Metro State (assistant) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career ABA and NBA statistics | |
| Points | 11,785 (16.7 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 2,616 (3.7 rpg) |
| Assists | 2,357 (3.3 apg) |
Ralph Derek Simpson (born August 10, 1949) is a former American basketball player. He played professionally in two major leagues: the American Basketball Association (ABA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA). His career lasted from 1970 to 1980.
Contents
Ralph Simpson's Basketball Journey
Ralph Simpson was a talented player who stood 6 feet 6 inches tall. He played as both a guard and a forward.
High School Success
Ralph was a big star at Pershing High School in Detroit. There, he played alongside another famous player, Spencer Haywood. Together, they helped their team win the Michigan state championship in 1967. Ralph was even invited to try out for the 1968 United States Olympic team, but he decided not to go.
College and Professional Start
After high school, Ralph played two strong years at Michigan State University. Then, he signed a professional contract with the Denver Rockets. This team was part of the ABA, which was a rival league to the NBA at the time. The Denver Rockets later changed their name to the Denver Nuggets. Ralph played for this team for many years and was chosen to play in five ABA All-Star games. This shows he was one of the best players in the league!
Best Seasons and League Merger
Ralph had his best season in 1971–1972. During that year, he scored an amazing 27.4 points per game. He also grabbed 4.7 rebounds and made 3.1 assists per game.
In 1976, the ABA and NBA leagues joined together in what was called the ABA–NBA merger. After this, Ralph joined the Detroit Pistons in the NBA. However, his scoring dropped a bit in the NBA. He went from averaging 18 points per game in his last ABA season to 11 points per game with the Pistons.
Later Career and Retirement
After about a season and a half with the Pistons, Ralph returned to the Denver Nuggets. By this time, the Nuggets were also part of the NBA. His scoring was lower during his second time with the Nuggets, averaging 5.5 points per game. He then played for the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Nets for two more seasons. Ralph Simpson retired from professional basketball in 1980.
Career Highlights and Records
Over his ten-year career in both the ABA and NBA, Ralph Simpson scored a total of 11,785 points. He was a very important player for the Denver Nuggets during their time in the ABA. In fact, his 9,953 points were the most scored by any player for the Nuggets while they were in the ABA.
Ralph Simpson's Life Today
Ralph Simpson lives in Denver, Colorado. His daughter is India Arie, a talented soul singer who has won a Grammy Award.
See also
In Spanish: Ralph Simpson para niños
