The Charlotte Hornets took another Duke Blue Devil early in the second round of the NBA Draft.
Sion James, a 6-foot-6 guard who spent last season in Durham after four years at Tulane, was Charlotte’s selection Thursday night as the No. 33 overall pick.
The Georgia native joins Duke teammate Kon Knueppel, as well as Liam McNeeley and Ryan Kalkbrenner in a Hornets’ draft class full of experience, grit and defensive upside.
James made a name for himself as a versatile, team-first player who brings leadership and maturity on the floor, and a strong sense of purpose.
Here are five things to know about Charlotte’s newest second-round pick:
1. He played his final college season at Duke after making his mark at Tulane
James transferred to Duke for his fifth year after starting 107 games over four years at Tulane.
He averaged 14 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game as a senior at Tulane, scoring in double-figures in 26 of the Green Wave’s 31 games, and won the American Athletic Conference’s sportsmanship award.
At Duke, he stepped into a veteran role on a young, highly-touted roster. James helped lead the Blue Devils to a 35-4 record, an ACC title and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
He averaged 8.6 points, 2.9 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game in a supporting role and was named to the ACC All-Defensive team.
2. He’s a 3-and-D wing with toughness
James made a strong impression at the NBA Combine, measuring with a 6’ 6.5” wingspan and a 39.5-inch max vertical leap.
He was a strong 3-point shooter at Duke, making 31 of 75 shots (41.3%) from long range — the second-most on the team behind North Meck legend Isaiah Evans (41.6%).
Originally a three-star recruit out of Lanier High School in an Atlanta suburb, James led his prep team to back-to-back regional titles and a state championship game appearance.
3. He’s a two-time nonprofit founder and major force in the community
Off the court, James has earned national recognition for his charitable work.
While still at Tulane, he co-founded Ryan’s Giving Tree, a nonprofit focused on homelessness and food insecurity in New Orleans and Durham. He also launched the Sion James Foundation, which he continued growing during his year at Duke.
In the past year alone, James partnered with Samaritan’s Feet to provide 4,000 pairs of shoes to underserved individuals and led One-4-All Toy Drive that delivered 1,800 toys to children. He’s currently helping distribute another 1,600 pairs of shoes to elementary school kids in Asheville still impacted by flooding from Hurricane Helene.
4. He brings a mature, team-first mentality to the NBA
James is a key defensive player coming to head coach Charles Lee’s team.
He plays with poise and selflessness of a seasoned pro, and his consistency was a big part of the Blue Devils’ success. At Duke, head coach Jon Scheyer described him a “winning player” and emphasized the veteran’s ability to connect with teammates.
The Sugar Hill, Georgia, native is a versatile defensive player with a strong leadership presence, a strong candidate to contribute right away in Charlotte.
5. He’s been through adversity and grown stronger
James’ drive to give back began during his freshman year at Tulane, when Hurricane Ida devastated New Orleans.
While most students were able to evacuate, James saw how many unhoused individuals had no way out — a moment that left a lasting impression.
That experience helped shape his identity and fuels his work to this day. Now, James brings that same sense of purpose and resilience to the NBA — and to the Queen City.