Mark Allen Simpson (born February 4, 1961) is a former American professional basketball player. With 2.03 meters tall, he played in the forward position.
College career
Born in
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Indiana, United States. Located in northeastern Indiana, the city is west of the Ohio border and south of the Michigan border. The city's population was 263,886 as of the 2020 Censu ...
, Simpson played his college career in the
Catawba College
Catawba College is a private college in Salisbury, North Carolina. Founded in 1851 by the North Carolina Classis of the Reformed Church in Newton, the college adopted its name from its county of origin, Catawba County, before moving to its cu ...
.
Professional career
He was selected in the seventh round with the 149th pick in the 1984 NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets, but did not play in the NBA. He develops his career in Europe, his first season as a professional would be developed in the Israeli Ligat HaAl for Beitar Tel Aviv, in the Greek A National Category for PAOK, in the French Nationale 1 for Caen and then in Israel again for Beitar Tel Aviv. In the 1988–1989 season playing in the Italian Paini Napoli, averaging 22 points during the season and 7 rebounds. His last four seasons as a professional would be based in ACB,
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
, where he plays two years for
Cajabilbao
Club Baloncesto Caja Bilbao was a professional basketball club based in Bilbao, Spain.
History
Caja Bilbao was founded in 1983 and promoted to Liga ACB in 1987, where it remained during five years.Real Madrid, in who averaged 18 points and 5 rebounds per game. Simpson was a player known for being a great point shooter, with Real Madrid, as a pair of foreigners with
Rickey Brown
Rickey Darnell Brown (born August 29, 1958) is an American former professional basketball player. At a height of 2.08 m (6'10") tall, he played at the power forward and center positions.
High school
Brown attended and played high school basketb ...
, he won the 1991–92 FIBA European Cup against his former team, PAOK. The following year, and 3 foreigners per team, joined
Arvydas Sabonis
Arvydas Romas Sabonis (; born December 19, 1964) is a Lithuanian former professional basketball player and businessman. Recognized as one of the best European players of all time, he won the Euroscar six times and the Mr. Europa Award twice. He p ...
, making double in national competitions winning ACB League and Copa del Rey. After the final, and physical problems in the knees Simpson decides to retire from active practice basketball, but not before failing a drug test by ingesting an American drug called Elixir DM, "without the consent of the club's medical services". Simpson was trying to treat a bad cold. If he had not retired, he would have been sanctioned with 2 years ban to play.elpais.co Simpson da positivo /ref>