Milwaukee Bucks center Jericho Sims has found himself out of the rotation recently, and Pete Nance’s recent breakout might sideline Sims for good. After a stretch of solid playing time, including a few starts, Sims has been frequently benched in the last month. There’s not a great avenue for Sims to find his footing for big minutes on the Bucks again this season.
Pete Nance could replace Jericho Sims entirely
Even before Nance’s surprising contributions in the Bucks’ most recent win over the Hawks, Sims had been racking up DNP-CDs (Did Not Play - Coach’s Decision). In the midst of a bad stretch for Milwaukee, he was still not getting playing time despite being perfectly healthy.
Now, Sims faces an uncertain future with his limitations as a one-dimensional player. He’s great in a hustle big man role, specializing in rebounding and playing around the rim. But Nance provides similar energy, especially on defense, while adding more versatility on offense.
Unlike Sims, Nance can step outside to shoot threes and also has a better handle. His clear skill advantage makes him a more valuable offensive contributor than Sims, regardless of who else is on the court. But the difference is even more pronounced when sharing the floor with superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, who’s at his best with an unclogged paint.
Sadly for Sims, his play style has clashed with Milwaukee’s roster. His lack of shooting sticks out like a sore thumb on the roster. Whenever he’s on the court, his defender can crowd the paint because of his limited range - forcing Giannis or other drivers to adjust or get their shot blocked.
Sims could be on his way out of Milwaukee soon if he can’t find new ways to express his value. He’ll have to adapt his game to the modern NBA by adding additional wrinkles, whether it’s ball handling, passing, or shooting. But a one-dimensional lob finisher is a huge liability in today’s NBA unless he’s racking up offensive rebounds at a historic rate.
Defensively, Sims also has some weaknesses that opposing teams can exploit. His athletic ability should make him a top rim protector, but his tendency to bite on pump fakes holds him back. He can also sometimes struggle when switched out onto quicker players, a worrisome trait in today’s skilled league.
In comparison, Nance has been a much calmer defender with good positional awareness. Pete Nance might not be as physically talented as Jericho Sims, but his versatile skillset is earning him minutes while Sims sits on the bench. If Sims doesn’t correct some of his glaring weaknesses soon, he might find himself out of Milwaukee and the NBA before he knows it.