Who is Dr. Leroy Sims? Meet the Lakers’ New Hire and Pioneer Behind the NBA’s Orlando Bubble Success

166 injuries! That was the physical condition of the Lakers’ elite athletes like LeBron James and Anthony Davis last season! However, management has found a solution to the problem by hiring new players. Rob Pelinka has hired Dr. Leroy Sims as the Los Angeles Lakers’ new director of player performance and health, according to an ESPN source.

But why would Pelinka hire a health director like Sims for the Lakers The team? Well, the answer is in the resume, and here’s what we know about Rob Pelinka’s new recruit.

Who is Leroy Sims?

Born and raised in Chicago, Dr. Leroy Sims holds an MD, MS, CAQSM, and FACEP. He earned his medical degree from Stanford University, where he earned his BS and MS degrees. After that, Sims earned his MD from Stanford University. At the same institute, he laid the foundation for his career in sports after completing a fellowship in primary care sports medicine. But Leroy Sims couldn’t get directly involved in athlete care without a professional practice. And that led him to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, where he completed his residency in emergency medicine.

While he started his career in sports as an athlete health specialist, Dr. Leroy Sims was able to add a bigger feather to his cap. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, he served as the team physician for the U.S. track and field team. And it wasn’t just in 2016, he was able to provide medical support to the U.S. basketball team in Tokyo.[2020] and the Paris Olympic Games [2024] Also.

Aside from his international accolades, his presence in the league is spectacular. Dr. Sims served as the medical director of the Golden State Warriors from 2011 to 2014. His last tenure in the league was as the NBA’s senior vice president and head of medical operations. His primary job in the office was to design and execute creative health and safety protocols. However, his notable distinction in the NBA was the 2020 NBA bubble where he orchestrated medical operations as a key entity.

Dr. Leroy Sims, the person who brought the NBA back in the time of COVID!

When the COVID-19 outbreak was announced in January 2020, Leroy Sims was the NBA’s senior vice president of medical affairs. However, the situation was not expected to get any worse. However, on March 11, the WHO declared the pandemic worldwide and the league was forced to suspend the 2019-20 season. When the league’s hiatus lasted more than a month, Dr. Sims knew it was time to act.

He quickly got to work trying to figure out a way to get the game back on track through various consultations, logistics, and research. Ultimately, he found a way to hold the league’s games in a safety bubble at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex outside Orlando, Florida. It was a well-thought-out plan, as Dr. Leroy Sims explained to Everyday Health, “We had to consider all aspects of the bubble. First, we had to look after the physical and mental health of everyone who would be there and how to make it livable. We had to think about the social and emotional aspects [aspects]Also.”

With 22 teams and the help of NBA staff, the season resumed on July 30, three months after the pandemic was declared. “I’m really proud of the work we did. People were tired, but… we stuck to it, we were strict. We set the rules and we didn’t make any exceptions,” Sims said to Phillips Exeter Academy during an interview.

Some of the strictly enforced rules included not entering the bubble without completing a quarantine period and on-field behavior (no high-fives, fist bumps and hugs) spelled out in a massive 113-page document of health and safety protocols.

Finally, fans were able to enjoy their favorite source of entertainment when all the distractions were gone. In these times of worry and anxiety, Dr. Leroy Sims brought hope and happiness to people. It was a message to the world from the league: it’s not over yet!

Before you go, don’t forget to watch this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Asia Avinger