DeShawn Sims Back with Maine Red Claws

This is ten-day-old news, but it seems to have escaped mention here—DeShawn Sims returned from his stint in Korea and rejoined the Maine Red Claws of the D-League. The team issued this press release on his return:

2011 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR DESHAWN SIMS RETURNS TO MAINE

PORTLAND, ME (March 6, 2012) - The Maine Red Claws, presented by Quirk Chevrolet, today announced that DeShawn Sims has rejoined the team. Sims, the 2011 NBA Development League Rookie of the Year, will meet up with the team in Erie this morning and is expected to be in the lineup when the team tips off at 11 AM against the BayHawks.

In addition to capturing the Rookie of the Year honors, Sims, 24, was also selected to the 2011 NBA Development League All-Star Team and was named to the NBA Development League All-Rookie First Team and the All-NBA Development League Third Team. He finished second overall in league scoring last season and first among rookies with 20.3 points per game in 48 games. His 7.7 rpg ranked 11th overall in the league while he was 9th with 5.6 defensive rebounds per game. Sims represented the Red Claws at the 2011 NBA Development League All-Star Game where he scored 20 points in 20 minutes of play. He posted double-doubles in 13 games last season and contributed double digits in all but six. He scored a Red Claws season-high 35 points on March 3, one of seven 30+ point performance of his rookie season.

Sims rejoins the Red Claws after successful stints with teams in Puerto Rico and most recently South Korea. Following his rookie season, he signed with Quebradillas Pirates (Puerto Rico-BSN), spending seven games with the team last summer before signing with KCC Egis this season where he averaged 23.9 ppg in 48 games played for KCC Egis (Korea-KBL.

“DeShawn Sims has incredible determination, fire and competitiveness and is the kind of player who will fight right to the last buzzer of the last game and never quit,” said Red Claws President and General Manager Jon Jennings said. “He was a tremendous player for us last year as a rookie, and I am looking forward to seeing how he has matured as a player and a person after a year overseas. We are thrilled to welcome him back to the Red Claws.” 

An item on his first game back with the Red Claws included this bit:

DeShawn Sims had 11 points on 5-of-12 shooting off the bench in his return to Maine from playing in Korea.

Sims, the 2011 D-League rookie of the year, played 17 minutes, 30 seconds.

"Just trying to get acclimated," Sims said. "I just met the guys today. Most of them. Just a thing I got to come back and fit in. Try to play how I play and help the team."

Also of note: a recent Red Claws giveaway: