Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed forward Diamon Simpson for the remainder of the season. Simpson will wear jersey #20 with the Rockets.
Simpson (6-7, 230, Saint Mary’s) joins the Rockets from the Adelaide 36ers of Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL). In 27 matches with the 36ers in 2011-12, Simpson averaged 14.3 points (.592, 155-262 FG), 8.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. He also posted 12 double-doubles and five 20-point performances this season with Adelaide. Simpson collected 22 points and 10 rebounds in leading Adelaide to a 96-84 win over Perth, capturing the inaugural Paul Rogers medal as the game MVP between the league’s oldest rivals. Prior to the 36ers, the 6-foot-7 forward spent part of the 2010-11 season in the Turkish Basketball League with Türk Telekom. He actually began his international career with the Alaska Aces of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) for their 2010 campaign.
As a collegian at Saint Mary’s (CA), Simpson finished his career as the school’s all-time leader in rebounds (1,130), blocked shots (239), steals (174), free throws made (470) and free throws attempted (777). He helped the Gaels to an 87-41 (.680) mark in a school-record 128 career games over his four years, ranking tied for the most wins in school history for a Saint Mary’s player (87 by Ian O’Leary). Simpson also ranked third all-time in scoring at Saint Mary’s (1,603 points) and was second in the West Coast Conference in career blocks (239).
Following a successful collegiate career, he was invited to training camp in 2009 with the Golden State Warriors before joining the D-League’s L.A. D-Fenders in 2009-10. Simpson averaged 15.5 points, 9.6 rebounds (8th in D-League), 2.2 assists, 1.80 steals and 1.40 blocks in 30 games (30 starts) with the D-Fenders that season. He was also selected to participate in the 2010 NBA D-League Shooting Stars competition.
