Jericho Eduard Sims Bio
Jericho Eduard Sims is an American professional basketball player who serves as a center for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born on October 20, 1998, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Sims developed his game in the Minnesota basketball scene before becoming the all-time leading scorer at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School. He continued his basketball career at the University of Texas, where he earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention recognition during his junior and senior seasons. The New York Knicks selected Sims with the 58th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, beginning his professional journey in the NBA. Throughout his career, Sims has demonstrated his value as an energetic big man capable of contributing across multiple statistical categories.
Early Life and Background
Jericho Sims grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where his father, Charles Sims, played college basketball for Minnesota before pursuing a career in dentistry. Sports clearly run in the Sims family, as Jericho’s brothers also achieved athletic success at the collegiate level. Ty Sims played at Kansas State, Jason Sims competed at Northern Iowa, and another brother, Dominique, chose football, playing for Minnesota. This environment of competitive athletics provided Jericho with both inspiration and guidance as he developed his own basketball skills during his formative years in Minneapolis.
At Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Minneapolis, Jericho Sims emerged as one of the top high school players in Minnesota. During his junior season, he posted impressive averages of 21.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, showcasing his all-around abilities. His senior year numbers climbed even higher, with Sims averaging 25 points and 10 rebounds per game. His outstanding high school career culminated with him becoming Cristo Rey Jesuit’s all-time leading scorer, finishing with 2,005 total points and establishing a legacy that would inspire future generations of students at the school.
Path to Basketball
As a highly regarded prospect, Jericho Sims earned recognition as a consensus four-star recruit coming out of high school. His combination of size, athleticism, and developing skill set attracted attention from multiple college programs across the country. Sims ultimately made his decision to commit to the University of Texas, choosing the Longhorns over other suitors including Minnesota, which would have kept him close to home. This decision to join the Texas program under head coach Shaka Smart marked the beginning of his journey toward professional basketball.
Sims’ collegiate career at Texas began in the 2017-2018 season as a freshman, where he averaged five points and 3.9 rebounds per game. His role expanded late in that season when an injury to future NBA player Mo Bamba created an opportunity for Sims to showcase his abilities in a more prominent position. This pattern of stepping up when needed would become a theme throughout his college career, demonstrating his readiness to contribute whenever called upon by his coaches and teammates.
Jericho Sims Career
New York Knicks (2021–2025)
Jericho Sims entered the 2021 NBA Draft as a player with four years of college experience and a reputation as a reliable rebounder and finisher around the basket. The New York Knicks selected him in the second round with the 58th overall pick, recognizing his potential to develop into a solid NBA rotation player. Shortly after being drafted, Sims signed a two-way contract with the Knicks on August 8, 2021, which allowed him to split time between the NBA team and their G League affiliate, the Westchester Knicks. This arrangement provided him with valuable developmental opportunities while allowing the Knicks to evaluate his progress firsthand.
Sims continued to work on his game during his first professional season, appearing in games for both the Knicks and the Westchester Knicks. His dedication paid off when he signed a three-year, partially guaranteed contract with New York on July 9, 2022, securing his position with the franchise for the foreseeable future. This contract extension represented a vote of confidence in Sims’ ability to contribute at the NBA level and reflected the organization’s belief in his long-term potential as a center in the league.
Milwaukee Bucks Era (2025–Present)
A significant change in Sims’ career occurred on February 6, 2025, when the Milwaukee Bucks acquired him through a multi-team trade. This move represented a new chapter for Sims, joining a franchise with championship aspirations and one of the league’s most talented rosters. The trade provided him with an opportunity to compete for playing time on a team that has consistently been among the contenders in the Eastern Conference, giving him a fresh start and new challenges in his professional journey.
During his initial stint with the Bucks following the trade, Sims appeared in 14 games, averaging 2.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game. However, his debut season with Milwaukee was interrupted when he underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb on March 17, 2025, ruling him out for the remainder of the regular season. Despite this setback, the Bucks demonstrated their confidence in Sims by re-signing him to a two-year contract on July 1, 2025, indicating their belief in his ability to contribute to the team’s success when healthy.
Playing Style and Strengths
Jericho Sims plays the center position at the NBA level, utilizing his 6-foot-10, 250-pound frame to establish position in the paint and compete for rebounds on both ends of the floor. His collegiate career statistics, including his ability to average nearly a block per game during his junior and senior seasons at Texas, demonstrate his capacity to impact the game defensively. Sims has shown the ability to finish efficiently around the basket and has displayed improving range on his shot throughout his development. His combination of size, athleticism, and basketball IQ makes him a valuable rotation player capable of matching up against different types of frontcourt players in the modern NBA.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most notable moments in Sims’ career came in February 2023 when he was selected to participate in the Slam Dunk Contest at the NBA All-Star Game. He earned this invitation as a replacement for Portland Trail Blazers rookie Shaedon Sharpe, recognition from the league that acknowledged his athleticism and dunking ability. Although he did not advance past the first round of the competition, the opportunity to showcase his hops on the grand stage of All-Star Weekend represented a significant milestone in his young career and demonstrated that his abilities had caught the attention of league officials.
Jericho Sims Career Highlights
Throughout his basketball career, Jericho Sims has accumulated accomplishments at both the collegiate and professional levels. His most prestigious collegiate achievement came in 2019 when he helped the Texas Longhorns capture the NIT Championship, earning him recognition as an NIT Champion. This early career triumph provided him with valuable postseason experience and helped prepare him for the rigors of professional basketball. At the college level, Sims also earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors twice, during both his junior and senior seasons, highlighting his consistent performance against top competition in one of college basketball’s strongest conferences.
College Career Highlights
Sims’ college career at Texas spanned four seasons from 2017 to 2021, during which he developed from a promising freshman into a reliable starter and team leader. His best statistical season came as a junior in 2019-2020, when he averaged 9.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game before a stress fracture in his back cut the season short. One of his most memorable college performances occurred on March 13, 2021, when he recorded 21 points and 14 rebounds in the Big 12 Tournament championship game against Oklahoma State, helping Texas secure the tournament title with a 91-86 victory. Following his senior season, where he averaged 9.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game, Sims declared for the 2021 NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility before eventually signing with Klutch Sports and forfeiting his remaining eligibility to pursue his professional career full-time.
Milwaukee Bucks Performance Notes
Following his trade to Milwaukee in February 2025 and subsequent contract extension, Sims entered the 2025-2026 season with an opportunity to establish himself as a consistent contributor for a championship-caliber team. His first season with the Bucks showed promise despite the injury setback, as he appeared in 67 games including 19 starts while averaging 5.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. These numbers indicate Sims’ ability to provide meaningful contributions in a reserve role, and his continued development could see him take on an expanded role within the Bucks’ rotation in future seasons.
Jericho Sims Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Jericho Sims comes from an athletic family with deep roots in competitive sports. His father, Charles Sims, played college basketball at the University of Minnesota before pursuing a career as a dentist, demonstrating that the family’s basketball talent extends beyond just Jericho. This collegiate basketball background clearly influenced Jericho’s development as a player, with his father likely serving as an early mentor and role model in his basketball journey.
The Sims family’s athletic achievements span multiple sports and collegiate programs. Two of Jericho’s brothers, Ty and Jason, followed their father’s footsteps by playing NCAA Division I basketball, with Ty competing at Kansas State and Jason at Northern Iowa. Another brother, Dominique, chose a different athletic path by playing college football at Minnesota. This remarkable concentration of athletic talent within one family speaks to both the genetic predisposition toward physical excellence and the competitive environment that shaped Jericho’s development as a basketball player.
Personal Life
While Jericho Sims maintains a public profile as a professional athlete, details about his personal life beyond his basketball career remain relatively private. His Instagram account is active under the handle jumpmansims, where he shares glimpses of his professional life and interactions with fans. As he continues his NBA career with the Milwaukee Bucks, Sims appears focused on establishing himself as a reliable professional player while maintaining connections to his family and the values instilled in him during his upbringing in Minneapolis.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024-2025 NBA season marked a transitional year for Jericho Sims, beginning with his time alongside the New York Knicks organization that had developed him since selecting him in the 2021 Draft. His mid-season trade to the Milwaukee Bucks on February 6, 2025, represented both a new opportunity and a new set of challenges as he joined a team with different dynamics and expectations. The trade demonstrated the unpredictable nature of NBA careers and the importance of being prepared to adapt to new circumstances throughout a professional basketball journey.
Sims’ inaugural portion of the 2024-2025 season with Milwaukee showed glimpses of his potential to contribute to a winning team, as he averaged nearly five rebounds per game in limited minutes across 14 appearances. However, the season was derailed by a significant injury when he suffered a torn ligament in his right thumb, requiring surgery on March 17, 2025, and ending his regular season. Despite this setback, the Bucks’ decision to re-sign him to a two-year contract on July 1, 2025, indicated the organization’s confidence in his long-term value and their belief in his ability to bounce back from adversity.
Looking ahead, Jericho Sims enters the 2025-2026 season with renewed health and an opportunity to make a more significant impact with the Milwaukee Bucks. His contract extension provides him with stability and the chance to fully integrate into the team’s system and culture. As he continues to develop his game and build chemistry with his new teammates, Sims appears well-positioned to carve out a meaningful role with a franchise that has established itself as a consistent contender in the NBA landscape.