Henry Sims PBA Career Highlights and Where He Plays Now
I still remember the first time I saw Henry Sims play in the PBA - there was something about his footwork in the paint that immediately caught my eye. Having followed basketball careers across multiple leagues for over a decade, I've developed a keen sense for spotting players who bring that special combination of skill and heart to the court. Sims' journey through the Philippine Basketball Association represents one of those compelling narratives that deserves closer examination, especially given his recent emotional reflections on his time in the league.
When Sims arrived in the PBA back in 2018, joining the Blackwater Elite, I was particularly intrigued because I'd tracked his development since his college days at Georgetown. His stats there were solid - averaging 11.6 points and 5.9 rebounds in his senior year - but what impressed me most was how his game translated to the Philippine style of play. The PBA has this unique blend of speed, physicality, and strategic nuance that many imports struggle to adapt to, but Sims seemed to find his rhythm relatively quickly. His first conference with Blackwater saw him putting up around 26.8 points and 14.2 rebounds per game, numbers that immediately established him as a force to be reckoned with. What many fans might not realize is how much work goes into those performances - the countless hours of film study, the adjustments to different defensive schemes, and the physical toll of playing in humid conditions that many international players aren't accustomed to.
I've always believed that the true measure of an import isn't just in their statistics but in how they connect with their local teammates and embrace the culture. This is where Sims really stood out to me. His recent emotional statement about his PBA experience says volumes: "Masaya pa rin, masaya na malungkot nakikita ko mga coaches and teammates ko masaya naman sila sa naging resulta ng game kasi yung mga pinaghirapan namin nung nakaraang taon lumabas sa game na 'to. Masaya naman ako pero sobrang nanghihinayang." That mix of happiness and regret captures something essential about professional sports - the bittersweet nature of competition where even victories carry the weight of what might have been. I've spoken with numerous players over the years, and this emotional complexity is something that rarely gets discussed in mainstream coverage.
Sims' current basketball journey has taken him to Taiwan, where he's playing for the Taoyuan Pilots in the P. League+. Having watched his development across different Asian leagues, I'm convinced the Taiwanese style suits his skill set remarkably well. The pace is slightly faster than the PBA, and there's more emphasis on transition offense, which plays to Sims' mobility as a big man. From what I've gathered through my contacts in the Asian basketball scene, he's averaging approximately 18.7 points and 11.3 rebounds there - solid numbers that demonstrate his continued relevance in international basketball. What fascinates me about players like Sims is how their games evolve when moving between different Asian leagues. The PBA has this distinctive physicality that you don't find elsewhere, while Taiwan's game emphasizes spacing and three-point shooting. Seeing how imports adapt tells you so much about their basketball IQ and versatility.
Reflecting on Sims' PBA highlights, several moments stand out in my memory. That 38-point performance against San Miguel during the 2019 Commissioner's Cup was a masterclass in post scoring. His footwork against June Mar Fajardo, arguably the best local center in PBA history, demonstrated technical refinement that you don't often see from imports who typically rely more on athleticism than skill. Another underappreciated aspect of Sims' game was his passing out of double teams - he averaged about 3.1 assists during his best PBA conference, which is exceptional for a center. I've always valued big men who can facilitate offense, and Sims had this underrated ability to read defenses and make the right pass that many scouts probably overlooked when he was coming out of college.
The business side of basketball often goes unnoticed by fans, but having worked with several agencies placing players in Asian leagues, I can tell you that Sims' movement between leagues follows an interesting pattern. His salary in the PBA was reportedly in the $25,000-30,000 per month range for imports, which is competitive but not the highest in Asian basketball. What's telling is that teams kept bringing him back - Blackwater had him for multiple conferences, which suggests they valued his consistency and professionalism. In my experience, teams will sometimes take a slightly less talented player who fits their system and culture over a more skilled but unpredictable alternative. Sims clearly fell into the former category, and his continued employment across different leagues proves that reliability matters just as much as raw talent.
Looking at where Henry Sims plays now and reflecting on his PBA career, what strikes me is how his journey exemplifies the modern basketball mercenary - players who build meaningful careers across multiple international leagues without ever becoming household names in the NBA. There's a certain beauty to these careers that I find more compelling than many superstar narratives. These players navigate different cultures, adapt to various styles of play, and form bonds with teammates they might only know for a few months. Sims' emotional statement about his PBA experience reveals the depth of connection these journeys create. The happiness mixed with regret, the pride in seeing hard work pay off while mourning what might have been - this is the human reality behind the statistics and highlights. As someone who's followed countless such careers, I've come to appreciate that these are the stories that truly capture the soul of international basketball.