Show summary Hide summary
Jericho Sims is asking to be seen as more than a lob finisher and rebounder. After a season in Milwaukee where he markedly increased his playmaking, the big man says he wants to build that part of his game into a regular weapon for the Bucks.
A center adding playmaking to his resume
Sims’ reputation has long rested on rim protection, offensive finishes, and cleaning the glass. But last season he matched the total number of assists he had compiled in his first four NBA years combined—an unexpected jump that raised eyebrows around the league.
NC State, Maryland and Baylor owe coaches more than $30 million after coaching changes
Badgers receiver Eugene Hilton Jr. says fan support grows with wins
“That’s one thing I can add to the team. The system’s a little bit different, so I think there’s going to be more opportunities for me, for example, to pass and [be] ready to dish it to guys and see what I can do.” he said after a recent Bucks practice, signaling a clear desire to diversify his on-court role.
When Giannis Antetokounmpo missed time, Sims saw more chances to operate out of the paint, initiate short drives and kick to shooters, and generally act as a secondary facilitator.
Who benefited from Sims’ feeds?
Surrounded by reliable perimeter shooting, Sims’ passes produced tangible results. He generated 19 assists to AJ Green, who converted at an impressive 48.7 percent on looks coming from Sims. Ryan Rollins received 14 assists off Sims’ passes and hit 35.5 percent of those attempts from distance.
Those conversions helped validate the idea that a big who can spot and deliver makes offenses more dangerous, especially in spacing-first lineups.
How Taylor Jenkins might use him
Coach Taylor Jenkins employs schemes that differ from what Sims experienced in Milwaukee. That opens up new tactical options—most notably the possibility of more frequent drive-and-kick actions and even occasional double-big looks.
Pairing Sims with perimeter-oriented bigs such as Myles Turner or Kel’el Ware would allow one big to roll or attack while the other spaces the floor. The recent additions of scorers like Tyler Herro and Kasparas Jakucionis keep the roster’s shooting upside intact, which can amplify the value of a passing center.
Such alignments would not only play to Sims’ strengths as a lob threat and rebounder, but could also reward him with more minutes if he continues to grow as a passer—particularly if roster moves change Milwaukee’s frontcourt rotation.
