Jericho Sims is ready to do more than finish lobs and clean the glass in Milwaukee. He’s coming into this next stretch with a clear goal: make passing a bigger part of his game.
Speaking after Bucks practice recently, Sims made it plain that he sees room for growth in that area.
"That's one thing I can add to the team. The systems a little bit different, so I think there's going to be more opportunities for me, for example, to pass and [be] ready to dish it to guys and see what I can do."
That’s not just talk. Sims has already shown he can move the ball when the situation calls for it, and the numbers back that up.
Across his first four NBA seasons, he piled up 104 assists. He matched that total in this past season alone.
A lot of that came with Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined, which opened the door for Sims to stretch beyond the usual role of rim runner and rebounder. Instead of living almost entirely around the basket, he was able to operate with a little more freedom and make reads that weren’t always there before.
The fit was helped along by Milwaukee’s shooting. Sims thrived with a group that could punish defenses from deep, and that made his passes matter.
He recorded 19 assists on feeds to AJ Green, who drilled 48.7 percent of his perimeter shots. Ryan Rollins wasn’t as hot from outside, but he still turned 14 of Sims’ passes into assists while shooting 35.5 percent from deep off those looks.
And the shooting around him may be even better now. With Tyler Herro and Kasparas Jakucionis in the mix, Sims could find more lanes to drive, draw help and kick the ball out.
That kind of action could push his passing from a useful bonus to a real part of his value. If that happens, he becomes a much more versatile piece in Taylor Jenkins’ rotation.
Jenkins’ system is another part of this story worth watching. Sims said it’s different from what he was used to with the Bucks, and that opens the door to all kinds of lineup wrinkles.
A double-big look, similar to what Jenkins used with the Memphis Grizzlies, would be one possibility. Pairing Sims with Myles Turner or Kel'el Ware would be especially interesting, since both can stretch the floor and fit around Sims’ game.
It could also signal a heavier emphasis on rebounding, which would only help Sims’ case for minutes.
Whatever direction Jenkins goes, Sims looks positioned to have a role in Milwaukee. The lob threat and rebound work will always be there. But if he keeps developing as a passer, it gives the Bucks another reason to keep him on the floor - especially if the season brings more movement around Myles Turner.
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