Simien still smiling about championship ring / LJWorld.com

Archive for Saturday, July 5, 2008

In his four years at KU, he became a consensus All-American, Big 12 Player of the Year, and a Wooden and Naismith awards finalist. Now, former KU great Wayne Simien has returned to where it all started.

By Gary Bedore

July 5, 2008

Photo by Nick Krug

Back in the summer of 2006, former Kansas University forward Wayne Simien unknowingly started a streak. His NBA title with the Miami Heat was the first of a stretch of three straight NBA champions that had former Jayhawks on the roster. Simien recently stopped by the Booth Family Hall of Athletics for a look at his old ring, which he donated to KU shortly after receiving it.

Wayne Simien, who donated his 2006 NBA championship ring to Kansas University's Booth Family Hall of Athletics, admits he's wandered by the trophy case to check on the jewelry.

"I've seen it once or twice in the display," said Simien, a part of the Miami Heat's NBA title team. "I don't really miss it. I didn't wear it too much. It seems like it weighed five pounds.

"I'm glad it can be an encouragement and draw people to the great Hall of Fame we have here."

The ring is worth $35,000.

"I felt like I wanted to share that great achievement with a lot more people than just myself and my family, because this university and people around here helped me so much to get to that level," Simien said. "I didn't want to have it tucked away at home. It's been exciting to have people come up to me, thank me and enjoy it. A lot of kids come through the Hall of Fame and get to see it, so it's been great."

Simien won an NBA title ring in 2006, Jacque Vaughn with San Antonio in 2007 and Scot Pollard and Paul Pierce with Boston in 2008.

"We've been bringing it in the last few years, the recent trend," Simien said. "Not too many programs can say they had players in the last three years bring home an NBA championship. It shows how special it is here."

Simien is just as proud of the 2008 Kansas Jayhawks who won the national title.

"It's everyone's title," Simien said. "It was great cheering those guys on. It's a family around here, not only the guys who laced it on the court and those who coached here, but the fans and community as well."

Simien was unable to attend KU's overtime victory over Memphis in San Antonio. He, his wife Katherine and baby daughter Selah were moving into their new Lawrence home.

"I would not have been a very good husband if I left my infant daughter and my wife in a house full of boxes," Simien said. "We chose to stay here and enjoy the game at home together. It was great," he exclaimed.