Willie Sims (basketball)

Willie Sims (Hebrew: וילי סימס; born June 16, 1958) is an American-Israeli retired professional basketball player.

Willie Sims
Personal information
Born (1958-06-16) June 16, 1958
New York City, New York
NationalityAmerican / Israeli
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High schoolLong Island City
(Long Island City, New York)
CollegeLSU (1977–1981)
NBA draft1981 / Round: 5 / Pick: 101st overall
Selected by the Denver Nuggets
Playing career1981–1999
PositionShooting guard
Career history
1981–1983Maccabi Haifa
1983–1985Hapoel Tel Aviv
1985–1987Elitzur Netanya
1987–1992Maccabi Tel Aviv
1992–1996Hapoel Eilat
1998–1999Maccabi Hadera
Career highlights and awards

Early life

Sims grew up in New York City, New York, predominantly raised by his grandmother who was a convert to Judaism following her marriage to Sims' grandfather, Jack Miller.[1]

He played high school basketball at Long Island City High School and college basketball at Louisiana State University from 1977 until 1981.

Willie Sims, an African-American Jew, played basketball in Israel for Maccabi Haifa B.C. from 1981 to 1983. From 1983 to 1985 he played for Hapoel Tel Aviv B.C., where he won the Israeli Basketball State Cup. From 1985 until 1987 he played for Elitzur Netanya. From 1987 to 1992 he played for Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C., where he won the Israeli Basketball Super League five times, won three Israeli State Cups, and became one of the club's most famous players. He was with Hapoel Eilat B.C. from 1992 until 1996. Sims was drafted in 1981 by the NBA's Denver Nuggets in the fifth round of that year's NBA draft, but he never played in the NBA or in any other league in North America.

Sims then retired from active basketball. He became a coach. He came back as an active player for Maccabi Hadera of the Liga Leumit during the 1998-99 season, but retired for good after that season.

International career

Sims took part in the 10th 1977 Maccabiah Games as part of the United States national basketball team. He scored the winning shot against Israel in the finals and helped the United States to the title. He also played in the 11th Maccabiah Games, again representing the United States.

Personal life

Sims married his wife in Cyprus.[1] He has a daughter, Danielle Sims, who is married to Gal Mekel.[2]

References

  1. סופסופ [Sof-Sof] (Channel 1) (in Hebrew). Israel: Israel Broadcasting Authority. Retrieved 2016-01-13.
  2. Kessel, Noam (2016-01-12). "מזל טוב: גל מקל הציע נישואין לחברתו" [Mazal Tov: Gal Mekel Proposed To His Girlfriend]. Pnai Plus (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2016-01-13.
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