166 injuries! That was the physical condition of elite Lakers athletes like LeBron James and Anthony Davis last season! However, the front office has devised a solution to the problem with new hiring. Rob Pelinka has hired Dr. Leroy Sims as the new director of player performance and health of the Los Angeles Lakers as per an ESPN insider.

But why would Pelinka hire a health director like that of Sims for the Lakers squad? Well, the answer lies 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, MSc, CAQSM, and FACEP. He completed his medical degree from Stanford University earning his Bachelor’s and Master of Science degrees. After that, Sims earned his MD from Stanford University of School Medicine. At the same institute, he laid the foundation for himself to pursue his career in sports after completing a fellowship in Primary Care Sports Medicine. But Leroy Sims could not step straight into the athlete’s care without professional practice. And it led him to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, where he completed his Emergency Medicine residency.

As he kicked off his career in sports as an athlete healthcare specialist, Dr. Leroy Sims got to add a greater feather to his hat. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, he served as the USA Track and Field’s team physician. And it was not just 2016, he got to provide medical support to USA Basketball at Tokyo[2020] and Paris Olympics [2024] as well.

Apart from his international accolades, his league presence is spectacular. Dr. Sims served as a medical director for the Golden State Warriors from 2011 to 2014. His most recent tenure at the league was the role of  Senior Vice President and head of Medical Operations at the NBA. His primary job at the office was to devise and execute creative health and safety protocols. However, his notable accolade at the NBA was the 2020 NBA Bubble where he orchestrated the medical operations as a key entity.

Dr. Leroy Sims, the person who brought back the NBA during the COVID era!

At the time of the COVID-19 outbreak announcement in January 2020, Leroy Sims was serving as senior vice president of medical affairs at NBA. However, the situation was not expected to get more serious than this. Yet on March 11, WHO announced the pandemic all over the world, and the league had to suspend the 2019-20 season. When the hiatus of the league lasted longer than a month, Dr. Sims knew it was time to act.

He quickly got to work trying to find a way to bring the game back through various consultations, logistics, and research. Ultimately, he found a way to conduct the league games inside a safety bubble at 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 and foremost was the physical and mental health of anyone who would be there and how to make it livable. We had to think about the social and emotional [aspects], too.”

With 22 teams and help from the NBA staff, the season resumed on July 30, three months after the pandemic declaration. “I am really, really proud of the work we did. People got tired, but … we stuck to our guns, we were strict. We made the rules, and we didn’t make any exceptions, “ Sims said to Phillips Exeter Academy during an interview.

Some of the strictly abided rules included no one entering the bubble without completing a quarantine period and on-court behavior (high-fives, fist bumps, and hugs forbiddance) summarised in a humongous 113-page document of health and safety protocols.

At last, the fans got to witness their favorite source of entertainment when all the distractions were dead. In times of worry and anxiety, Dr. Leroy Sims brought back hope and happiness to people. It was a message to the world from the league: It’s not over yet!

Before you go, do not forget to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Asia Avinger