Ralph Simpson

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Ralph Simpson
No. 44, 10, 32,

Shooting guard / Small forward
Personal information
Born	(1949-08-10) August 10, 1949 Detroit, Michigan
Nationality	American
Listed height	6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Listed weight	200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school	Pershing (Detroit, Michigan)
College	Michigan State (1969–1970)
NBA draft	1972 / Round: 1 / Pick: 11th overall
Selected by the Chicago Bulls
Pro playing career	1970–1979
Career history
1970–1976	Denver Rockets / Nuggets (ABA)
1976–1978	Detroit Pistons
1978	Denver Nuggets
1978–1979	Philadelphia 76ers
1979	New Jersey Nets
Career highlights and awards
5× ABA All-Star (1972–1976) All-ABA First Team (1976) 2× All-ABA Second Team (1972–1973)
Career ABA and NBA statistics
Points	11,785 (16.7 ppg)
Rebounds	2,616 (3.7 rpg)
Assists	2,357 (3.3 apg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Not to be confused with Ralph Sampson, who played in the NBA from 1983 to 1992

Ralph Derek Simpson (born August 10, 1949) is a retired American basketball player. He played professionally in the ABA and NBA from 1970 to 1980.

Basketball career

Simpson, a 6'6" guard/forward, was a star at Detroit's Pershing High School, where he teamed with Spencer Haywood to win the Michigan state championship in 1967.^[1] He was offered a tryout for the 1968 United States Olympic team, but turned it down.^[2] After two strong years at Michigan State University, he signed a professional contract with the ABA's Denver Rockets (later the Denver Nuggets), and he would represent the franchise in five ABA All-Star games.^[1]^[2]

Simpson had his finest season in 1971–1972, in which he averaged 27.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. After the ABA-NBA merger in 1976, Simpson joined the Detroit Pistons, but his level of production dropped significantly, from 18 points per game in 1975–1976 to 11 points per game in 1976–1977, and after one-and-a-half seasons, he returned to the Denver Nuggets, now one of the ABA teams who had joined the NBA. However, he averaged only 5.5 points during his second tenure with the Nuggets,^[3] and after two more seasons as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets, he retired in 1980.

Simpson scored 11,785 combined ABA/NBA points in his ten-year career. His 9,953 points were the most for the Nuggets during the team's time in the ABA.^[2]

Personal

Simpson currently lives in Denver, Colorado.^[1] His daughter is Grammy Award-winning soul singer India.Arie.^[1]

References

↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Ellis, Vince (August 16, 2012). "Ex-Spartan, Piston Ralph Simpson fond of his ABA, Pershing days". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Ralph Simpson". remembertheaba.com. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
↑ "Ralph Simpson". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 19, 2012.

External links

Career stats at basketball-reference.com
Ralph Simpson at Remember the ABA

v t e 1972 NBA Draft

First round	LaRue Martin Bob McAdoo Dwight Davis Corky Calhoun Fred Boyd Russ Lee Bud Stallworth Tom Riker Bob Nash Paul Westphal Ralph Simpson Julius Erving Travis Grant

Second round	Bob Davis Harold Fox Jim Price Chris Ford Joby Wright Sam Sibert John Gianelli Steve Bracey Paul Stovall Brian Taylor Steve Hawes Tom Patterson Dave Twardzik Dennis Wuycik Mike Ratliff Chuck Terry Ollie Johnson

Persondata
Name	Simpson, Ralph
Alternative names
Short description	American basketball player
Date of birth	August 10, 1949
Place of birth	Detroit, Michigan
Date of death
Place of death

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