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 on August 10, 1949, is a former American basketball player. He played professional basketball from 1970 to 1980. He was part of both the American Basketball Association (ABA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Contents
Playing Career Highlights
Ralph Simpson was a talented player who stood 6 feet 6 inches tall. He played as a guard and forward.
High School Success
Simpson was a star at Detroit's Pershing High School. He played alongside 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. However, he decided not to go.
College and Early Pro Years
After two strong years playing for Michigan State University, Simpson signed a professional contract. He joined the ABA's Denver Rockets. This team later became known as the Denver Nuggets. Ralph was a key player for them. He was chosen to play in five ABA All-Star games.
Best Season and League Merger
Ralph Simpson had his best season in 1971–1972. During this time, he scored an average of 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. This was called the ABA–NBA merger. After the merger, Simpson joined the Detroit Pistons. His scoring dropped from 18 points per game to 11 points per game. After a season and a half, he went back to the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets were one of the ABA teams that joined the NBA.
Later Career and Retirement
During his second time with the Nuggets, Ralph averaged 5.5 points per game. He then played for the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Nets. He played two more seasons with these teams before he retired in 1980.
Ralph Simpson scored a total of 11,785 points in his ten-year career. This includes points from both the ABA and NBA. His 9,953 points were the most for the Nuggets when they were in the ABA.
Personal Life
Ralph Simpson lives in Denver, Colorado today. His daughter is India Arie. She is a Grammy Award-winning soul singer.
See also
In Spanish: Ralph Simpson para niños
