Willie Sims Obituary, Funeral

An American-Israeli professional basketball player Willie Sims died on December 23, 2022.

Born in Lanett, Alabama, and grew up in New York City, New York, Sims played high school basketball at Long Island City High School and college basketball at Louisiana State University from 1977 until 1981.

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 any other league in North America.

He 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.

Sims also played for Elitzur Netanya from 1985 to 1987. 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 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.

Willie Sims is survived by his daughter Danielle Sims, who is married to Gal Mekel.

His funeral arrangement is yet to be announce by the family.