Iowa's Courtney Sims Captures MVP Honors in 2011 NBA D-League All-Star Game

[truebluefan]

Courtney Sims of the Iowa Energy, who previously captured Co-MVP honors in the 2009 NBA Development League All-Star Game in Phoenix, doubled his pleasure in Los Angeles, scoring 25 points on 10-for-13 shooting on his way to hoisting his second NBA D-League All-Star MVP Trophy at the 2011 NBA D-League All-Star Game presented by SonoSite.

Maine's DeShawn Sims added 20 points for the East All-Stars, who used a late run in the second half to post a 115-108 victory over the West All-Stars in front of a packed house on Center Court at NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas.

"I like competing against the best competition, and this league has a ton of good players, many who could or should be in the NBA," said Sims, who's appeared in five NBA games with the Indiana Pacers, Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks since graduating from Michigan in 2007. "Everyone says I'm very close to making it, and some people feel that I'm an NBA player. Not everyone gets the chance, and you just have to make the most of the opportunity if and when it comes."

Sims had company in Los Angeles, with Iowa teammates Curtis Stinson and Othyus Jeffers joining him the East starting lineup. Jeffers finished with 14 points, while Stinson dished out seven assists. Fort Wayne's Walker Russell had a game-high 10 assists for the East squad, which used a 23-11 run with under 10 minutes left in the second half to take a commanding lead it never relinquished.

Sean Williams of the Texas legends, the 17th overall pick of the 2007 NBA Draft, led the West with 21 points. Austin's Marcus Cousin added 19 points, while Reno's Marcus Landry, who spent the 2009-10 season with the Knicks and Boston Celtics, finished with 18 points. Tulsa's Larry Owens, who earned a GATORADE Call-Up to the San Antonio Spurs this season, had a solid all-around game with 12 points, four rebounds and three assists. Texas' Joe Alexander, the eighth overall pick of the 2008 NBA Draft, had 12 points, five rebounds and five assists.