BIO: Justin Simon was born in Temecula, California (USA)

NBL EXPERIENCE

Justin Simon made his NBL debut with the Illawarra Hawks at 24 years of age. He scored 13 points in his first game.

In April 2020, the Illawarra Hawks entered voluntary administration before creditors voted to liquidate the club the following month. The NBL ensured the franchise survived and on June 17 announced that Dorry Kordahi, Bryan Colangelo and Michael Proctor had been awarded the licence. Under the new ownership the team was renamed The Hawks and six-time NBL championship-winning coach Brian Goorjian was appointed head coach.

Sam Froling and Emmett Naar were the only full-time players from the previous season to return, with Goorjian rebuilding the roster by adding Cameron Bairstow (via Rytas Vilnius), Deng Adel (via Long Island), Next Star Justinian Jessup (via Boise State) and imports Tyler Harvey (via Ulm) and Justin Simon (via Windy City). Simon signed a one-year deal after playing with the Windy City Bulls, where he had been coached by former Sydney Kings coach Damian Cotter, with the 2019 Big East Defensive Player of the Year signed to handle the Hawks’ toughest defensive assignments. AJ Ogilvy and Tim Coenraad, who were initially left off the rebuilt roster, also returned as injury replacements. “I’m a blue collar guy who is always trying to get after it and I’m always going to play with a lot of energy.” Simon said.

The Hawks opened the season at Nissan Arena on January 16, where Simon (13 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals, and 1 block) produced a defensive masterclass off the bench as Illawarra defeated Brisbane 90-84. Froling (19 points and 4 rebounds), Naar (17 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Harvey (16 points) led the scoring, while Nathan Sobey (19 points) and Victor Law (17 points and 9 rebounds) led Brisbane. Simon became the first player in NBL history to record at least five assists and five steals without committing a turnover on debut, while the Hawks recorded their first Round 1 road victory since 1995.

Two days later Simon (10 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 blocks) made his first NBL start as Illawarra defeated Cairns 92-76, with Harvey (25 points, 7 assists, and 2 steals), Jessup (24 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Froling (11 points and 7 rebounds) leading the Hawks, while Majok Deng (20 points and 4 rebounds), Cameron Oliver (16 points and 13 rebounds) and Scott Machado (11 points, 4 rebounds, 11 assists, and 3 steals) led Cairns. Simon finished the opening two games with a combined 23 points, 20 rebounds and 8 assists as the Hawks started 2-0.

Simon (8.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.8 steals across 39 games) became the Hawks’ defensive anchor, regularly being assigned the opposition’s best perimeter scorer and appearing in every one of Illawarra’s 36 regular-season games and all three semifinals. He did not miss a game through injury during the season. Illawarra won its opening four games while public backlash continued over the removal of “Illawarra” from the team’s name, with a campaign from the new ownership increasing memberships and corporate support before the NBL reinstated the Illawarra name ahead of the club’s first home game.

Simon produced one of his biggest moments against Sydney at Qudos Bank Arena on February 14, where Simon (12 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals) came off the bench after losing his starting spot and grabbed two crucial offensive rebounds for putbacks late in the game. His second putback put Illawarra ahead with 19 seconds remaining before he secured the final defensive rebound as the Hawks won 85-82 and ended a two-game losing streak. Harvey (25 points) led Illawarra, with Bairstow (13 points and 10 rebounds) and Jessup (12 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) also contributing, while Casper Ware (21 points and 6 assists) and Dejan Vasiljevic (18 points) led Sydney.

Simon was also regularly given the assignment on reigning MVP Bryce Cotton. At RAC Arena on March 26, Simon (7 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals) held Cotton to nine points through three quarters, but Cotton (22 points and 5 assists) scored 13 points in the fourth as Perth defeated Illawarra 81-70. Jessup (15 points and 6 rebounds), Harvey (13 points and 8 rebounds) and Bairstow (13 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks) led the Hawks, while John Mooney (17 points, 16 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Clint Steindl (17 points and 5 rebounds) supported Cotton.

Simon’s best statistical game of the regular season came against Sydney at the WIN Entertainment Centre on April 24, where Simon (16 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals, and 2 blocks) helped an undermanned Illawarra side force overtime despite Adel, Bairstow and Jessup being unavailable. Froling (22 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 blocks) and Harvey (18 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) joined Simon in leading the Hawks, while Ware (18 points and 4 assists), Jordan Hunter (16 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks) and Craig Moller (12 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks) led Sydney. Simon produced a late steal to give Illawarra the opportunity to force overtime before Moller hit the decisive three-pointer as the Kings won 79-75.

Simon continued to drive Illawarra’s defence against Adelaide on May 11, finishing with 12 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks as the Hawks defeated the 36ers 71-66. Simon’s pressure helped force Adelaide into 10 first-quarter turnovers and 24 for the game, while Harvey (23 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals) hit three three-pointers over the final five minutes and Deng (10 points and 9 rebounds) provided support. Tony Crocker (16 points) and Jack McVeigh (11 points) were Adelaide’s leading scorers as Illawarra moved to 14-14 and drew level with Sydney and South East Melbourne in the playoff race.

Four days later Simon (11 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 steals) produced another game-saving defensive play against New Zealand at the WIN Entertainment Centre. With Illawarra leading 72-71 and the Breakers holding possession in the closing seconds, Simon stripped Tai Webster before being fouled as the Hawks held on for a 73-71 win. Harvey (24 points and 2 steals), Froling (12 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 blocks) and Jessup (12 points and 2 steals) provided support, while Finn Delany (20 points and 11 rebounds), William McDowell-White (14 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists) and Rasmus Bach (13 points and 4 rebounds) led New Zealand.

Simon. Says. No.@simon_Says_so with a game saving stop and don’t the home crowd love it ?#NBL21 live on ESPN pic.twitter.com/fSFs01YFu3

— The NBL (@NBL) May 15, 2021

Illawarra dealt with several roster issues throughout the season. Bairstow (11.4 points and 6.2 rebounds across 14 games) was eventually ruled out for the remainder of the season after missing nine consecutive games with a minor hip issue, leading Coenraad (5.5 points across 11 games) to come out of retirement as an injury replacement. Grida (3.3 points across 18 games) returned on April 3 after spending more than 12 months recovering from the ACL injury suffered the previous season, while Adel (5.9 points and 3.6 rebounds across 23 games) requested his release in May after struggling with injuries and inconsistent form, hoping to preserve his future NBA opportunities. Ogilvy (4.9 points and 4.8 rebounds across 39 games) provided experience throughout the season after initially returning as Grida’s injury replacement.

Harvey (20 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.5 steals across 37 games) led Illawarra in scoring and was named to the All-NBL First Team, while Jessup (13.2 points and 3.6 rebounds across 38 games) was the Hawks’ second-leading scorer. Froling (11.3 points, 7 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks across 39 games) won the NBL Most Improved Player award, while Deng (6.4 points and 3.8 rebounds across 39 games) provided further depth. Only Harvey, Jessup, Bairstow and Froling averaged double figures as Illawarra’s scoring fell from 90.5 points per game over its first ten games to a league-low 81.5, with the Hawks also finishing last in field-goal percentage at 42.5 percent, shooting 47.8 percent from two-point range, 33.2 percent from three and 69.4 percent from the free-throw line.

Simon led the NBL with 67 steals during the regular season and was awarded the Damian Martin Trophy as the league’s Best Defensive Player, receiving 56 votes to finish ahead of Tom Abercrombie (29) and Mitch Norton (26). He was also the unanimous choice as Illawarra’s Defensive Player of the Year, with his ability to guard players such as Cotton and Ware becoming a major part of a defence which carried the Hawks into the postseason. From Round 16 Illawarra won eight of its final ten games, never fell below fifth place during the season and returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2017.

Illawarra clinched its finals position against defending champion Perth at the WIN Entertainment Centre on June 1, where Simon (2 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal) played 12 minutes as the Hawks won 81-79. Harvey (27 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists), Froling (14 points and 2 blocks) and Jessup (12 points and 4 rebounds) led Illawarra, while Clint Steindl (15 points), Mooney (14 points and 16 rebounds) and Jesse Wagstaff (12 points) led Perth. It was Illawarra’s only victory in four regular-season meetings against the Wildcats after losing the previous three by double figures, with the Hawks finishing third with a 20-16 record.

The semifinal series opened at RAC Arena, where Simon (16 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) delivered one of the biggest performances of his season as Illawarra defeated Perth 74-72. Jessup (17 points and 4 rebounds), Harvey (10 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Froling (10 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) helped the Hawks overcome Todd Blanchfield (24 points), Mooney (13 points and 15 rebounds) and Luke Travers (12 points and 6 rebounds). With Illawarra trailing for most of the night, Simon sparked the Hawks late before grabbing an offensive rebound and throwing down the match-winning putback dunk with 15 seconds remaining, giving Illawarra only its second victory in 24 games at RAC Arena.

Game two moved to the WIN Entertainment Centre, where Simon (8 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals), Harvey (24 points and 4 steals) and Jessup (11 points and 1 block) led Illawarra, while Mooney (18 points and 10 rebounds), Travers (13 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Steindl (12 points) led Perth. Steindl scored all 12 of his points during a 32-point Wildcats third quarter as Perth won 79-71 and levelled the series.

Game three returned to RAC Arena, where Simon (9 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists), Froling (14 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks), Harvey (10 points) and Grida (9 points and 2 steals) led Illawarra as the Hawks reduced a 16-point deficit to one early in the fourth quarter. Blanchfield (24 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals), Mooney (16 points and 15 rebounds) and Mitch Norton (15 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals) responded for Perth as the Wildcats won 79-71.

SYDNEY KINGS
2022/23
After winning the 2021/22 championship, Sydney lost Jaylen Adams (to Belgrade), Jarrell Martin (to Tel Aviv), Ian Clark (overseas) and Makur Maker (to Washington). Championship coach Chase Buford retained Xavier Cooks, Dejan Vasiljevic and Angus Glover before signing Derrick Walton Jr (via Detroit), Tim Soares (via Europe), former Illawarra Defensive Player of the Year Justin Simon (via Ludwigsburg), Kouat Noi (via Cairns) and Jackson Makoi (rookie) as the Kings rebuilt their import group for their title defence.

Simon signed a one-year deal with Sydney in July after spending the previous season with MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg, where he was named the German Bundesliga’s Best Defensive Player. His addition gave the Kings a versatile defender capable of guarding point guards, wings and forwards. “I’m pumped and hyped. It’s an unreal feeling and I can’t wait to get there,” Simon said.

Sydney opened the season at the WIN Entertainment Centre, where Simon (19 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 steals), Walton Jr (32 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1 steal) and Cooks (24 points and 4 rebounds) led the Kings to a 106-97 victory over Illawarra, while Lachlan Dent (19 points) was the Hawks’ leading scorer.

Simon (10.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.5 steals across 35 games) started alongside Walton Jr and Vasiljevic on the perimeter, regularly taking Sydney’s most difficult defensive assignment while leading the team in steals. No injury-related absence was confirmed during the campaign.

The Kings remained unbeaten after defeating Melbourne 91-71 at John Cain Arena, holding United to six points during the second quarter while producing a 25-0 run. Cooks (23 points and 9 rebounds), Vasiljevic (15 points) and Simon (12 points and 5 rebounds) led Sydney, while Jordan Caroline (10 points and 10 rebounds) was Melbourne’s best as the Kings extended their road winning streak to 14 games.

Simon’s best scoring game came against Brisbane on October 16, where he made eight of his 10 field-goal attempts and finished with 23 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks as Sydney defeated the Bullets 102-85 at Nissan Arena. Vasiljevic (16 points and 5 rebounds) and Walton Jr (13 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists) supported him, while DJ Mitchell (20 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks) was Brisbane’s best as Sydney collected its fifteenth consecutive road win and set a new NBL record.

Sydney appeared headed towards a third consecutive home loss against Cairns before Noi (13 points and 4 rebounds) made a three-pointer at the buzzer to complete a 106-103 victory. Simon (4 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal) recorded his season-high for assists, while Cooks (18 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) helped the Kings improve to 8-2. Hogg (27 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks) led Cairns.

With Cooks sidelined by an ankle injury, Sydney escaped with an 83-82 victory over Illawarra after Shaun Bruce (8 points) made a three-pointer at the buzzer. Simon (10 points and 8 rebounds), Glover (13 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Walton Jr (12 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals) helped the Kings recover after trailing by four points with 10 seconds remaining, while Tyler Harvey (32 points and 5 rebounds) led the Hawks.

LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE ⚡

THE SYDNEY KINGS HAVE DONE IT AGAIN 🔥

Watch #NBL23 live & free 📺 10 Peach & 10play | Live on ESPN via Kayo & Foxtel pic.twitter.com/CvxWVxOkI8— NBL (@NBL) November 20, 2022

Simon remained in the starting lineup for Sydney’s top-of-the-table game against New Zealand on December 8, finishing with 14 points as the Kings defeated the Breakers 88-81 at Spark Arena. Walton Jr (21 points) and Cooks (18 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists) led Sydney, while Izayah Le’afa (17 points and 4 steals) and William McDowell-White (16 points and 8 assists) led New Zealand as the Kings improved to 10-3 and retained first place.

Sydney later produced its biggest victory of the season in Brisbane, defeating the Bullets 116-67 and recording the largest winning margin of the NBL’s 40-minute era. Simon (11 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals), Cooks (20 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists) and Soares (20 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks) led the Kings, while Nathan Sobey (14 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) was Brisbane’s leading scorer.

Simon’s second-highest scoring game came against New Zealand at Qudos Bank Arena on January 22, where he finished with 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals. Walton Jr (17 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Vasiljevic (12 points and 4 rebounds) provided support, but Jarrell Brantley (30 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks) and McDowell-White (20 points, 6 rebounds, and 10 assists) led the Breakers to a 93-88 victory.

With Cooks rested after Sydney secured first place, Simon produced another strong game against Adelaide on February 3, finishing with 15 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. Soares (24 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Vasiljevic (18 points and 4 rebounds) led the Kings, while Antonius Cleveland (23 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block), Robert Franks (19 points and 5 rebounds) and Clark (18 points and 2 steals) led Adelaide to a 115-108 victory.

The regular season ended at RAC Arena, where Simon (7 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal), Vasiljevic (18 points and 7 rebounds) and Cooks (15 points) led Sydney, while Corey Webster (26 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals), Luke Travers (22 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 block) and Brady Manek (21 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 steals) led Perth to a 96-84 victory. Sydney lost its final two games but finished first with a 19-9 record and secured home-court advantage throughout the postseason.

Cooks (15 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists across 33 games) was named the NBL’s Most Valuable Player and joined Walton Jr (15.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 6.2 assists across 33 games) in the All-NBL First Team. Vasiljevic (13.6 points and 4.3 rebounds across 35 games), Soares (9.4 points and 4.8 rebounds across 35 games), Noi (8 points and 3.7 rebounds across 34 games), Glover (7.1 points and 3 rebounds across 31 games), Jordan Hunter (5.8 points and 3.2 rebounds across 35 games) and Jaylin Galloway (5.1 points across 30 games) were Sydney’s other major contributors. Despite leading the Kings in steals and regularly defending the opposition’s best perimeter player, Simon was not named among the three finalists for Defensive Player of the Year.

After Cairns defeated Perth in the Play-In Tournament, Sydney opened the semifinals at Qudos Bank Arena with a 95-87 victory. Cooks (27 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block), Walton Jr (21 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Simon (10 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) led the Kings, while Hogg (24 points), Jonah Antonio (20 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 block) and Shannon Scott (13 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists) led Cairns.

Game two moved to the Cairns Convention Centre, where Simon (19 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 steals) recorded his only double-double of the season, while Walton Jr (22 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals) and Noi (12 points and 4 rebounds) also contributed. Hogg (25 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block), Tahjere McCall (20 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals) and Sam Waardenburg (15 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks) led Cairns to a 93-82 victory, forcing a deciding game after Cooks injured his ankle and Buford was ejected during the physical contest.

Sydney responded in game three, where Simon was assigned to face-guard Hogg and restricted him to 9 points on eight field-goal attempts after the Cairns import had averaged 24.5 points across the opening two games. Vasiljevic (15 points and 5 rebounds), Cooks (11 points and 11 rebounds), Noi (11 points and 11 rebounds) and Simon (8 points and 5 rebounds) led the Kings, while Ben Ayre (20 points and 4 assists) and Waardenburg (17 points and 12 rebounds) led Cairns as Sydney won 79-64 and advanced to the Championship Series. “Justin Simon on D.J. Hogg was an elite performer tonight defensively,” Buford said.

New Zealand opened the Championship Series by defeating Sydney 95-87 at Qudos Bank Arena. Simon (18 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks) was the Kings’ leading scorer, with Hunter (15 points and 4 rebounds) and Walton Jr (12 points and 6 assists) providing support, while McDowell-White (19 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, and 2 steals), Barry Brown Jr (19 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Brantley (16 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals) led New Zealand. Walton Jr suffered severe cramp late in the game, while Cooks left the court with leg corks.

Game two moved to Spark Arena, where Walton Jr (2 rebounds in 4:50) and Cooks (2 points and 4 rebounds in 9:05) were unable to continue because of their leg problems. Simon (12 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 steals) produced one of the best defensive games of the season, recording three consecutive steals during the third quarter which led to easy baskets and falling one steal short of the Championship Series record. Noi (20 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Vasiljevic (16 points and 4 rebounds) helped the undermanned Kings win 81-74, while Brown Jr (21 points), Brantley (20 points and 6 rebounds) and Le’afa (14 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) led New Zealand.

Justin Simon took Game 2 personally ?

The former NBL DPOY locked down the Breakers offence and recorded six steals in Sydney’s dramatic Game 2 win ?

Who gets one step closer to the #NBL23 title after Friday’s Game 3? ? pic.twitter.com/h5Mb0T2hde

— NBL (@NBL) March 6, 2023

Back in Sydney, Simon (13 points, 6 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks), Vasiljevic (15 points and 4 rebounds) and Soares (14 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks) led the Kings to a 91-68 victory in front of an NBL-record crowd of 18,049. McDowell-White (11 points and 6 rebounds), Brantley (10 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals) and Brown Jr (10 points and 3 assists) led New Zealand as Sydney moved ahead 2-1.

New Zealand forced a deciding game by defeating Sydney 80-70 at Spark Arena. Simon (6 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 steal), Walton Jr (18 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists), Glover (12 points and 2 steals) and Cooks (10 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block) led Sydney, while Brantley (23 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 block), Brown Jr (20 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) and McDowell-White (19 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists) led the Breakers. “New Zealand were hungrier than us in game four but that won’t be the case on Wednesday,” Simon said.

The Championship Series returned to Qudos Bank Arena for game five, where New Zealand led by 12 points during the first half before Sydney took control with a 14-0 run late in the fourth quarter. Walton Jr (21 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists), Cooks (19 points and 11 rebounds), Glover (12 points and 9 rebounds), Noi (11 points) and Simon (8 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) led the Kings, while Brown Jr (22 points and 4 rebounds), Brantley (16 points and 4 rebounds) and McDowell-White (12 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists) led New Zealand. Sydney won 77-69 in front of an NBL-record crowd of 18,124, completing back-to-back championships and claiming the club’s fifth title, with Walton Jr named Championship Series MVP ahead of Simon by 31 votes to 27.

It was the last game of the season, and it delivered all sorts of drama.

Re-live the best bits thanks to @HungryJacksAU ⤵ pic.twitter.com/KxOiNZnVDW— NBL (@NBL) March 15, 2023

Justin Simon played two seasons in the NBL, playing for both the Illawarra Hawks and the Sydney Kings. He averaged 9.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 74 NBL games.