On Wednesday morning, Wayne Sims, a former basketball player for Louisiana State University, died unexpectedly at 54. Sims played for LSU under coach Dale Brown from 1987 to 1991 and participated in four NCAA tournaments, making him one of only nine Tigers to have achieved this milestone.
Upon hearing the news, former coach Dale Brown expressed his condolences and spoke highly of him, stating, “I don’t know anybody that didn’t love Wayne Sims. Walk-ons and some of the best stars have all called me. Everybody loved him.”
Tragically, Sims’ son Wayde was senselessly murdered at 20 when he tried to intervene in a street fight that broke out after a concert in 2018. The family has gone through immense heartbreak and has to endure another tragic loss.
During his time as a player at LSU, Wayne Sims averaged 9.5 points and 5.2 rebounds over four seasons. As a sophomore, he started in 32 games and recorded an average of 13.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. He played alongside basketball greats such as Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf and Ricky Blanton.
After his son’s death, Wayne and his wife established a foundation in his honor. They aimed to raise funds for various projects in Baton Rouge.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Sims family during this difficult time. Losing a loved one is never easy, and losing two in such a short period is truly heartbreaking. We hope that Wayne Sims’ wife has a robust support system to help her cope with her loss and navigate her life after losing her son and husband.
