All right, I made it. I’ve crossed that arbitrary-yet-crucial deadline where NBA Draft hopefuls decide if they’re in or out, and naturally, I’d already gotten ahead of myself. I jumped the gun this year, dove too early into the ocean of prospects, and now a couple of the names I scouted won’t even be in the draft pool. They’re staying in school, which officially kills any shot the Phoenix Suns had of drafting them this summer. Rookie mistake.
But hey, cut me a little slack. I’m still learning the rhythm of this prospect thing. I started writing for Bright Side in March 2020 (yeah, impeccable timing). COVID turned the NBA calendar into abstract art, and ever since, Phoenix has been in the playoffs every year. That means every May, I’m usually covering playoff heartbreak or writing up player exit interviews, not grinding college tape.
Well, lesson learned. From now on, no deep-diving on the draft until that deadline comes and goes. Save myself the wasted hours writing about Yaxel Lendebrog and Labaron Philon, names that sound like characters from a Star Wars prequel but were legit draft possibilities a week ago.
Anyway, let’s keep this education going. The Suns still hold pick No. 52, a humble, hopeful lottery ticket at the back of the draft. I’ve already stumped for my favorite guy there — Tyrese Proctor from Duke — but if you’re still craving a Blue Devil and want someone a little more realistic for 52, I’ve got just the name for you.
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 218 pounds
Age: 22 years old
Experience: Four years at Tulane, one year at Duke
2024-25 Statistics: 8.6 points (51.6 FG%, 41.3 3PT%, 81.0 FT%), 4.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.2 turnovers, 0.8 steals
I’ll start by clearing the air. No, this isn’t someone from the LeBron James extended basketball bloodline. Not Bronny’s brother, cousin, or the long-lost nephew of Gloria James. If he was, you’d be sick of hearing about him already, ESPN would’ve done three E60 features, and I’d be pretending not to care while secretly watching every clip.
But watching Sion James, you pick up on a few things fast. His vertical at the NBA Combine clocked in at 39.5 inches, good for fourth out of 72 participants. Translation: dude can get up. And with his frame, he kind of has to. Standing 6’5.75” with a 6’6.5” wingspan, he’s built like a spry small forward in a world of supersized wings.
Pop on the film and there’s a bit of Desmond Bane in him. The physicality, that thick frame, those howitzer arms. The guy looks like he could deadlift a Buick.
Now, what James lacks in polished skills for his size, he makes up for with feel. Defensive awareness, timely cuts (when he remembers to), and the kind of athleticism you can’t fake. He’s not a blur off the first step, and he won’t embarrass you with some crossover into a floater, but he sees the floor well. There’s a grit to his game. A hunger. He loves getting into the paint, and while he might not always finish the job, he’s gonna leave a bruise on somebody.
What does No Ceilings have to say? Maxwell Baumbach noted the following:
When evaluating a non-big, it’s important to ask: “can this guy shoot?” For a long time, Sion James’ answer was “no”. Through his first three seasons, James shot only 31.7% from deep on 3.2 attempts per 100 possessions. That put him well behind the curve for a wing in terms of both efficiency and volume—to be blunt, it looked like an NBA dealbreaker.
However, James turned things around. In the two seasons since then, he’s made 39.5% of his threes on 5.2 attempts per 100 possessions. While I’d still like to see more volume out of James, the fact that he became both more willing and accurate in a significant way considerably moves the needle.
Another piece of the puzzle is that James is a smart, selfless operator. He’s routinely posted strong assist-to-turnover marks throughout his career. This year, he had a 18.9 AST%, which ranked second among Duke’s everyday players.
His eyes are always up. When James gets deep into the paint, he can find big men with easy drop-off passes or spray it out to an open shooter. He can make simple and correct decisions out of ball screens or throw long, accurate lobs from the perimeter.
As versatile as Sion James is offensively, he might be even more versatile on defense. His career event-creation stats (2.5 STL%, 1.8 BLK%) are solid. James has fast hands, enabling him to tip and even intercept passes quickly after they’re thrown. His understanding of the game goes a long way rotationally, as he’s always in tune and aware of where he needs to go. His balance stands out, as he can close out hard and recover seamlessly.
Where is he on the boards?
The Ringer
He’s got that familiar scent, doesn’t he? The kind of player comp we’ve seen float around Phoenix for years: the promising-but-rough-around-the-edges type, the guy you squint at during Summer League and think maybe…maybe.
It’s interesting because on paper, James checks a few boxes this team has lacked on the margins. And given that he’s creeping up on 23, there’s a level of maturity you hope translates into being ready for spot minutes, especially on a team that’ll need every scrap of functional depth it can muster.
But there’s a wide gulf between being capable of contributing and actually doing it. Down this deep in the draft, nobody’s polished. You’re not finding diamonds; you’re scooping up jagged rocks and hoping your player development staff has a decent sander. James has those bumpy edges. I like the vertical pop, the frame, the instincts. I’m intrigued by the defensive tools and physicality. But am I sold? No. Not yet.
He’s absolutely a Summer League watchlist guy though. The kind you want to see get 20 minutes in a meaningless July game, pick up a couple charges, posterize someone’s two-way contract, and give you something to daydream about while you sit through media day platitudes in September.’
Ah Summer League. I know when I’ll start writing those articles. The NBA. It never stops.
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