BIO: Paul Simpson was born in Brisbane (QLD)

NBL EXPERIENCE

Paul Simpson made his NBL debut with the Hobart Devils at 20 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.

Paul Simpson entered the NBL with Melbourne during the 1986 season, appearing in 15 games where he averaged 5.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 0.7 assists. Although his top-flight minutes were limited, Simpson demonstrated his scoring ability at state level, producing five games of 40 points or more, including a standout 50-point performance. Across 25 contests in local competition that year, he posted averages of 33.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.3 steals, showcasing the offensive firepower that had earned him a chance at NBL level.

1987
In 1987 Simpson joined the Hobart Devils as part of a restructured squad under American coach Dave ‘Doc’ Adkins. The Devils added marquee scorer Paul Stanley from Melbourne and U.S. guard Steve Carfino, who combined to form one of the league’s most dynamic backcourts. Hobart surged to a 14–12 record, the best finish in franchise history to that point, powered by Stanley’s league-leading 35.4 points per game and Carfino’s all-around playmaking. Within that rotation, Simpson played 22 games, contributing 4.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 0.2 assists per contest. His role was primarily as a supporting forward alongside imports Stanley, Carfino, Jerry Dennard, and local pivot Murray Shiels, providing depth and rebounding in the frontcourt. While not a primary option, Simpson was part of the Devils’ first truly competitive campaign, which saw Hobart shed its easybeats tag and establish itself as a playoff contender for the first time.

TOWNSVILLE SUNS
1993
Townsville joined the National Basketball League in 1993, launching their first season as the expansion “Townsville Suns” under the leadership of long-time local basketball advocate Mark Bragg, who was named head coach. The team was captained by experienced forward Graham Kubank and featured a core of homegrown players including David Blades, Lucas Agrums, Jason Cameron, Tonny Jensen, Paul Simpson and Kubank—most of whom had represented Townsville in the Queensland state league. To boost their competitiveness, the Suns signed American forward Ricky Jones and Lithuanian Olympic gold medallist Rimas Kurtinaitis as their inaugural imports.

Kurtinaitis made history as the first non-American import to feature in the NBL, becoming a league trailblazer for European talent. The Suns struggled early, dropping their first four contests, but the breakthrough came on May 14 when they secured their first victory—an emotional 98–89 win over Newcastle in front of a packed Townsville Entertainment Centre. Kurtinaitis and Jones combined for over 50 points, delivering the franchise its maiden triumph and igniting celebrations across North Queensland.

Paul Simpson (5.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 0.6 assists), worked his way into being one of the key pieces off the Suns bench, Simpson featured in 18 games and contributed valuable hustle minutes, finishing the year as the team’s third-leading rebounder behind only Jones and Agrums.

The Suns’ most impressive win came on June 25, when they stunned the Adelaide 36ers 105–103 on the road. In one of the season’s highlight performances, Kurtinaitis dropped 41 points while Jones added 26 points and 12 boards. Townsville had just three wins at that stage, but the upset over Adelaide showcased the team’s offensive firepower and potential when their imports fired in tandem.

Kurtinaitis (24.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists) departed in early August to sign with Real Madrid after averaging across 21 games. His final home appearance was an emotional farewell, with the Townsville faithful delivering a heartfelt goodbye in Lithuanian as he circled the court. With five games remaining, his absence opened the door for increased roles across the local contingent, including Simpson, whose rebounding presence remained consistent down the stretch.

On August 13, Townsville secured their final win of the season, outlasting Geelong 125–124 in one of the league’s most entertaining games of the year. With Jones leading the charge—outduelling Shane Heal in a high-scoring affair—the Suns snapped a long losing streak and gave their fans one last celebration. Townsville concluded their debut year with a 4–22 record, finishing 14th, but established a passionate fan base and sold out every home game at “The Furnace.”

Jones (28.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.2 blocks) earned the club’s MVP award and led the league in blocks. Supporting the imports, Blades (11.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.1 assists) directed the offense from the point, while Andrews (10.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists), Jensen (9.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists), and Kubank (6.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists) all chipped in regularly.

NEWCASTLE FALCONS
1994
Newcastle re-tooled their line-up in 1994, replacing leading scorer Everette Stephens with former league MVP Derek Rucker, while Paul Simpson and Tonny Jensen (both via Townsville) also joined the team, with Jensen delivering a breakout season as a local shooting guard.

Rucker had racked up 18 assists in his first game of the season and dropped 40 points in the second, but with the Falcons sitting on an 0-3 record, coach Tom Wisman demanded he also elevate those around him, which he did in Round 4 against Geelong when he piled up 24 assists, alongside a big scoring night to deliver the club’s first win of the season.

Newcastle finished the regular season at 13–13, placing ninth and narrowly missing the playoffs on tiebreakers against the Illawarra Hawks despite an identical record.

Derek Rucker (25.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 10.6 assists, and 2.9 steals) produced an elite all-around campaign, leading the league in assists and leading a mid season surge that steadied Newcastle after their slow start.

Terry Dozier (20.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists), Michael Johnson (14.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists), and Tonny Jensen (13.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.2 assists) were the other primary contributors, giving Wisman reliable scoring support around Rucker’s playmaking. Paul Simpson (2.6 points) appeared in 9 games and added backcourt depth during the campaign.

Paul Simpson played four seasons across three NBL teams. This included the Hobart Devils, Townsville Suns and Newcastle Falcons. He averaged 4.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 0.4 assists in 64 NBL games.