Charlotte Hornets Sign Guard After 4-Year NBA Absence

He's certainly got a legendary basketball name. But he's been out of the NBA for four seasons. Now, Kobi Simmons is back in the Association, signed by the Charlotte Hornets.

The Charlotte Hornets are signing guard Kobi Simmons on a two-way contract out of their NBA G League affiliate Greensboro Swarm, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 29, 2023

Simmons gets a two-way contract with the Bugs, signed out of their G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm.  He was averaging 18.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists with the Swarm, while shooting 38% from long distance. 

The 25-year-old Simmons is a 6'5" shooting guard who went undrafted in 2017 out of Arizona, and played his rookie season in 2017-18 with the Memphis Grizzlies. He scored 6.1 points with 2.1 assists in 32 games, averaging 20 minutes per contest.

He played one game with the Cleveland Cavaliers the next season, but has spent most of the last four years playing in the G League, aside from one stint overseas in Poland in 2021. 

The Hornets have just four games left in the season, but given his fine performance in the G League, they're obviously hoping to evaluate Simmons for a possible role for next season.

Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports