With deal in hand, Knicks' Jericho Sims puts on show in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS — In the Knicks’ Las Vegas Summer League opener on Friday night, Quentin Grimes tossed a lob but left it a little farther from the rim than he intended. Jericho Sims went airborne just inside the foul line, caught the ball about eight feet from the basket and slammed it in.
When the NBA posted the highlight, it had Grimes tweeting, “I thought I threw this wayyyyyyy to early.” RJ Barrett tweeted, “Not human.”
The timing was coincidental — it’s just when the paperwork and contracts lined up — but on Saturday, the Knicks announced a three-year contract for Sims, who arrived last season as the No. 58 pick in the NBA Draft and worked his way through a two-way contract. The new deal includes a team option for the third season.
“Yeah, he’s special. That lob I threw to him — I thought I threw it early but I threw it right on time,’’ Grimes said. “He’s a freak athlete. Congratulations to him on his new contract and everything. I’m just super-excited for him. Best to come for him, for sure.”
Sims said the contract was a goal, but just the first one.
“Yeah, it’s a big deal, coming from where I was, making that big jump,” he said. “The way I look at it is like a stepping-stone onto the next, nothing more, nothing less.”
A stepping-stone to what?
“Next contract,” he said.
Grimes and Sims repeated their connection to start the second half of a 101-69 win over the Bulls on Sunday. Grimes penetrated and flipped it back to Sims, who slammed it through. With Grimes scoring 24 points and Sims putting up 11 points and 10 rebounds, they got the fourth quarter off.
Sims likely still is a third option for the Knicks at center behind Mitchell Robinson, who was brought back on a four-year, $60 million contract, and Isaiah Hartenstein, a free-agent pickup from the Clippers who should be officially announced as a Knick this week.
But Sims has provided what the Knicks want — the sort of defense and rebounding that coach Tom Thibodeau cherishes — and Thibodeau has spoken of parts of his game that have yet to be displayed. After grabbing defensive rebounds Sunday, he immediately turned upcourt and speed-dribbled the length of the floor.
“He has gotten more comfortable,” said assistant coach Dice Yoshimoto, who is serving as head coach for the Summer League squad. “He’s another one who put a lot of time in in the summertime and it has shown. So I want him to continue to focus on daily improvement, watch film and try to make a correction and try to get better next game.”
What doesn’t need work is the athleticism. Sims looks stronger than his rookie season but is just as explosive leaping around the rim.
“Oh, yeah, you could see it, right?” Yoshimoto said. “He’s done a great job. He’s a worker. He’s a gym rat. He puts the time in in the morning, afternoon and night. Obviously, I want him to continue to do it, and as long as he does it at a high level, I’m OK with that.”
Grimes, who has known Sims since the quiet center hosted Grimes on a visit to the University of Texas, said that Sims celebrated his new contract with some shopping after practice.
“He went and did some shopping for sure at the hotel,” Grimes said. “He spent a couple bags during the time off after practice so he definitely got his money worth.”
Sims shrugged off the talk of a shopping spree but did note that he was aware that championship rings are being given out to the team that wins in Vegas. He said that bit of jewelry is the goal.
Even before he got the contract, Sims spent time in Dallas, getting an invitation from Julius Randle to come down and work out together. So he and Feron Hunt took the trip.
“It was cool,” Sims said. “He wanted me to come down so I said hey, he’s a big-time player, why not get close to him, build that relationship?”