Offense Sion James is a savvy, physically mature connector who plays with tempo, awareness, and unselfishness. His calling card has long been his defensive acumen and positional versatility, but his offensive transformation, particularly his perimeter shooting, has unlocked his pro potential. After three years of struggling from deep at Tulane, James rebuilt his jumper from the ground up, culminating in a stunning 49.1% three-point clip as a super senior at Duke. While he remains a low-volume shooter and doesn’t offer much off-the-dribble gravity, the improvement in mechanics, footwork, and confidence, combined with solid past performance as a senior (38% 3P at Tulane), make it reasonable to project him as a reliable spot-up option in the NBA. His high release and clean form off movement enhance his viability as an off-ball floor spacer. James also thrives attacking off the catch. While he doesn’t possess an advanced handle or burst, he plays decisively. He gets downhill with power, keeps his eyes up, and finishes with verticality through contact. His core strength, flexibility, and body control allow him to maintain balance through bumps. Though his two-foot takeoffs can be a little slow and limit some finishing angles, he’s efficient at the rim and physical enough to be a threat on straight-line drives. He’s also a dangerous cutter and reads defensive gaps with timing, often slipping behind defenders for easy finishes or drawing fouls on backdoor actions. His playmaking is subtle but highly effective. James boasts a career assist-to-turnover ratio of over 2.5-to-1 and regularly delivers crisp reads on the move, whether out of transition, second-side actions, or drive-and-kick sequences. He’s not going to bend the defense with advanced manipulation, but his understanding of floor spacing and rhythm makes him an asset as a secondary creator. He consistently makes the right play, keeps the ball moving, and rewards off-ball movement. He won’t be asked to shoulder creation duties at the next level, and that’s fine; James fits cleanly into offenses that prioritize quick decisions and collective movement. If the shooting holds and the downhill reads continue to translate, he can provide connective value without disrupting rhythm. Defense Defense is the foundation of Sion James’ NBA case. He’s strong, smart, and relentlessly disciplined. Though he’s a bit undersized for a true wing at 6'4.5", his dense 217-pound frame and fluid mobility allow him to defend 1–3 comfortably, and even smaller 4s in a pinch. At the point of attack, James is a technician. He uses his chest to absorb contact, slides well laterally, and almost never gets turned around. His hands are active, his hips are mobile, and he reads ball-handler tendencies exceptionally well. His balance and timing on closeouts allow him to contest without fouling, and he’s a frequent disruptor without gambling. With strong screen navigation and awareness, he can be trusted to handle multiple actions in the same possession. Off-ball, James is equally effective. He rotates early, tags cutters, stunts into driving lanes, and communicates. He rarely overhelps and is excellent at maintaining positioning while keeping an eye on his man and the ball. While he’s not an elite playmaker in terms of steals or blocks, his career 2.5 STL% and 1.8 BLK% reflect legitimate defensive engagement and anticipation. He also provides secondary rim protection, challenging shots at the basket and absorbing contact vertically with impressive core stability. The only real concern is his closing speed and recovery when caught out of position, where his footspeed isn’t elite, and he can be a step behind in high-tempo actions. But with his frame, motor, and footwork, that rarely becomes a glaring issue. Looking Ahead Sion James won’t enter the league with flashy numbers or eye-popping usage, but his game is tailor-made for modern NBA roleplayer needs. He plays unselfishly, defends multiple positions, makes smart decisions, and, crucially, has shown legitimate growth as a shooter. He doesn’t force the issue and consistently enhances lineups with his ability to scale up or down depending on need. Though he lacks the upside of a primary creator and may never be a volume scorer, James projects as an ideal 3-and-D wing connector on second units and in complementary lineups. He may not be the focal point of a team’s future, but for a team seeking mature, two-way players who can plug into multiple schemes on both ends, James is one of the most draft-ready wings in the 2025 class. Expect him to hear his name called in the second round, with a real chance to secure a guaranteed contract and rotation role early in his career.