Only a few probably expected Sion James to be this good this early after the Charlotte Hornets brought him in with the No. 33 pick of the 2025 draft. He has proven to be a valuable two-way guy, and Hornets coach Charles Lee recently revealed one of the qualities that likely secured him a spot in his rotation.
"I love he's keeping it simple offensively," Lee said of James, whose maturity in embracing his role and potential impact on winning has endeared him to the Hornets' coaching staff. In many ways, the Duke University product can be the vanguard of the culture Lee is aiming to establish in Charlotte.
James has played 24.3 minutes per contest, which many people probably didn't expect at the start of the season. While the swingman was a known entity on defense, his offense was perceived as a hindrance in his pathway to earning minutes. Evidently, that isn't the case.
Sion James has been better than advertised on offense
A surprising facet of the rookie's game has been his efficient outside shooting, as he has sunk 70.0 percent of his shots from 3-point range. If it weren't for Jamison Battle of the Toronto Raptors converting a whopping 76.9 percent of his 3-point field-goal attempts, James would lead the league in that category.
So far, his greatest weapon is his catch-and-shoot tries (15-20 through eight matches), highlighting how valuable he is on the floor alongside teammates who can break down defenses or draw the attention of the defense.
Don't get it wrong, though, because he is hardly a one-dimensional player on offense. He has shown the ability to drive to the rim, especially after the defense has collapsed. But as Lee pointed out, James doesn't force things when he has the ball. Instead, he usually makes the right read and has proven to be an effective connector on offense.
The Georgia native's decision to join Duke for his fifth year in college rather than play another season with Tulane University has done wonders for his development. He could have continued to be the No. 1 option and probably even averaged at least 20 points per game with the Green Wave, but he transformed into a glue guy alongside Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and Tyrese Proctor. That's the same role he has already locked up with the Hornets.
Thankfully, Charlotte may have already stumbled upon a much-needed 3-and-D wing who can offer so much more on offense. Its defense may not be up to scratch, and the offense is still inconsistent, but James should help elevate the Hornets in both areas soon.