Jericho Sims Bio
Jericho Eduard Sims is an American professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A center standing 6 ft 10 in and listed at 250 lb, Sims built his reputation as a hard-working big man through high school stardom in Minneapolis and a steady college career at the University of Texas. He entered the NBA in 2021 when the New York Knicks selected him in the second round of the draft.
After spending his first professional seasons in New York, where he also developed with the Westchester Knicks of the G League, Sims joined the Milwaukee Bucks in 2025. He is recognized for his rebounding, rim protection, and energy around the basket, the same qualities that made him one of the most productive high school players in Minnesota history.
Early Life and Background
Jericho Eduard Sims was born on October 20, 1998, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He grew up in a family with deep ties to college athletics, which shaped his early approach to basketball and competition. His father, Charles Sims, played college basketball for the University of Minnesota before going on to become a dentist.
Sims also grew up with brothers who competed at the NCAA Division I level. Ty Sims played college basketball at Kansas State, Jason Sims played college basketball at Northern Iowa, and another brother, Dominique Sims, played college football at Minnesota. That athletic environment pushed Jericho to develop his game seriously from a young age.
He attended Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Minneapolis, where he quickly became the program’s featured player. In his junior season, he averaged 21.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. As a senior, he averaged 25 points and 10 rebounds per game, and he left Cristo Rey Jesuit as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 2,005 points.
Path to Basketball
Coming out of high school, Sims was a consensus four-star recruit and one of the most sought-after big men in his class. He committed to the University of Texas, choosing the Longhorns over in-state Minnesota. That decision set the stage for his move into Big 12 Conference basketball.
At Texas, Sims gradually increased his role across four seasons. As a freshman, he averaged five points and 3.9 rebounds per game, then posted 4.2 points and 3.6 rebounds as a sophomore while missing time with an ankle injury. His junior year was cut short by a stress fracture in his back suffered against Baylor on February 10, 2020, but he still averaged 9.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks, earning All-Big 12 Honorable Mention.
His senior season produced another All-Big 12 Honorable Mention nod, highlighted by a 21-point, 14-rebound performance in a 91–86 win over Oklahoma State in the Big 12 tournament title game on March 13, 2021. Following the season, Sims declared for the 2021 NBA draft while preserving his college eligibility. He later signed with Klutch Sports and gave up his remaining eligibility to begin his professional career.
Jericho Sims Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
The New York Knicks selected Sims with the 58th overall pick in the second round of the 2021 NBA draft. On August 8, 2021, he signed a two-way contract with the organization, which allowed him to split time between the Knicks and their G League affiliate, the Westchester Knicks. That arrangement gave Sims a structured path to adjust to the professional game while continuing to play meaningful minutes in the G League.
During his first two professional seasons, Sims focused on refining his conditioning, rebounding technique, and pick-and-roll reads. He split duties between New York and Westchester through 2023, building the foundation for a more consistent NBA role as his development progressed.
New York Knicks Era (2021–2025)
On July 9, 2022, Sims signed a three-year, partially guaranteed contract with the Knicks, signaling that the team viewed him as a long-term developmental center. He continued to appear for both New York and Westchester, contributing as a rim runner, offensive rebounder, and screening big in the rotation.
In February 2023, Sims received one of the biggest spotlight moments of his early career when he was selected to replace Portland Trail Blazers rookie Shaedon Sharpe in the Slam Dunk Contest at the 2023 NBA All-Star Game. Although he did not advance past the first round, the selection reflected the league’s interest in his athletic profile as a young center.
Milwaukee Bucks Era (2025–Present)
On February 6, 2025, Sims was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a multi-team deal. He made 14 appearances for the Bucks, averaging 2.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 0.8 assists during his first stint with the team. On March 17, 2025, he was ruled out for the remainder of the regular season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb.
On July 1, 2025, Sims re-signed with the Bucks on a two-year contract, reinforcing Milwaukee’s confidence in his role as a frontcourt depth piece. His contract is reported to run through the 2026–27 NBA season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Sims plays a physical, energy-first style built around rebounding, screen-setting, and interior defense. He excels as a rim runner who can finish lobs, and he uses his length and timing to contest shots and protect the rim. His willingness to do the unglamorous work on rolls, box-outs, and second-chance opportunities has earned him consistent minutes as a backup center.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Sims helped Texas win the 2019 NIT Championship and produced a standout 21-point, 14-rebound performance in the 2021 Big 12 tournament title game. Professionally, his selection to the 2023 NBA Slam Dunk Contest and his 2025 trade to the Milwaukee Bucks stand out as defining chapters of his career.
Jericho Sims Career Wins
Sims’ career is defined more by development and roles than by headline win totals, but he has collected meaningful team and tournament success along the way. His college career included a conference tournament title and postseason championship, while his NBA journey has featured playoff-caliber teammates and a steady climb into regular rotation minutes.
College Highlights
As a Longhorn, Sims was part of the Texas team that won the 2019 NIT Championship, a notable early milestone in his career. He added All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors in both his junior and senior seasons, recognizing his growth into one of the conference’s more reliable big men.
NBA and Professional Highlights
In the NBA, Sims has notched individual performances that reflect his role as a rebounding and rim-protection specialist, though detailed win totals by series are not consistently verified. His inclusion in the 2023 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest and his trade to a contender in Milwaukee remain the most prominent professional accolades of his career to date.
Jericho Sims Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Jericho comes from a deeply athletic family rooted in Minneapolis. His father, Charles Sims, played college basketball at the University of Minnesota before becoming a dentist. The family basketball tradition continued with brothers Ty Sims at Kansas State and Jason Sims at Northern Iowa, while Dominique Sims played college football at Minnesota.
Personal Life
Sims keeps his personal life largely private, and details about a spouse or children are not publicly confirmed in available sources. His known ties outside of basketball remain centered on family and his home community of Minneapolis, where he first built his reputation as a dominant high school player.
2025 Season Performance
Sims’ 2025 campaign was defined by change, beginning with his February 6 trade from the New York Knicks to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a multi-team deal. In 14 appearances with the Bucks, he averaged 2.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 0.8 assists, providing frontcourt depth and energy off the bench.
His season was interrupted on March 17, 2025, when he was ruled out for the remainder of the regular season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb. The procedure forced him to miss the closing stretch of the schedule and limited his ability to build further momentum with his new team.
On July 1, 2025, Sims re-signed with Milwaukee on a two-year contract, signaling the organization’s belief in his long-term fit within the roster. Looking ahead, he is expected to return healthy and compete for minutes as a backup center behind the Bucks’ established frontcourt options, with an opportunity to expand his role across the 2025–26 season.
