During the 2010-2011 Georgetown basketball season, junior Henry Sims averaged 3.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists; on average, he was on the court for only three minutes and forty-two seconds longer than Jerrelle Benimon; Nate Lubick was a freshman at the time and put up better numbers than Sims in every major category except for blocks.
How Henry Sims has found his way into 2012 training camp with the New York Knicks, then, I am not quite sure. Nonetheless, that he is in fact there is a testament to and a just reward for all of Sims’ hard work.
Henry had a fine senior campaign for Georgetown, in which he saw his minutes double following the graduation of Julian Vaughn and averaged 11.6 points, 6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game. Defying preconceptions, he proved to be an athletic big man with a respectable scoring touch and outstanding court vision.
After going undrafted this summer, Henry featured in eight NBA summer league games, four with the Utah Jazz and four for the Chicago Bulls. He put up 4.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and .5 assists in a little over ten minutes per game.
Still, an impressive senior season and some decent summer league performances have reportedly earned Henry Sims a chance to make the New York Knicks. According to the Knicks’ website, there are currently twenty-one players on the roster for training camp, which starts on September 29th. By the time the regular season rolls around, the Knicks must trim their roster to fifteen, twelve of which suit up for games.
New York was eleventh in both points scored and allowed last season on their way to a 36-30 record, 7th place finish in the Eastern Conference, and a first round playoff exit after five games with the eventual champions the Miami Heat.
At center, the Knickerbockers have 2012 Olympic gold medalist Tyson Chandler, 38-year-old two-time NBA defensive player of the year Marcus Camby, and now Henry Sims. Amar’e Stoudemire started most games for the Knicks last year at power forward, but he can also play center as well. It is likely that three centers, excluding Stoudemire, will make the Knicks’ roster, however, so one has to like Henry’s chances.
Mike D’Antoni resigned as head coach of the Knicks in March, and his mid-season replacement, Mike Woodson, is set to lead the Knicks into the 2012-2013 season. D’Antoni had a real run-and-gun approach to the game, and it appears as though his replacement wants to see more of the same, a style that should play into Sims’ strengths if operated correctly (AKA not having ever possession die in ‘Melo’s hands, as if often the unfortunate case).
Henry faces a battle to make the Knicks’ roster, but when looking at the numbers, you have to think he has a decent shot: Here’s to Henry’s NBA dreams becoming a reality.