Last summer, Sion James fell to the second round of the NBA Draft, and the Charlotte Hornets wasted no time in selecting him with the 33rd overall pick. Now, his strong play through the first half of his rookie season is undoubtedly making the rest of the league feel silly for passing on him.
Wednesday afternoon's contest with the Golden State Warriors was the perfect example of the value James has brought to the Hornets this season. He spent much of the game chasing Stephen Curry around, and he held up quite well compared to the average defender, not just even the average rookie.
Charles Lee praised Sion's effort after the game. "I think he had a great knack for understanding how to navigate screens even as they were trying to set off-ball," Lee said. "His mindset just to refuse to be screened, refuse to take his attention off of Curry was really important."
Having this kind of dependable point-of-attack defender means everything for this Hornets team. Consistent defensive output had been a concern for this team in recent years, and part of that was due to not having many versatile, physical and intelligent defenders like Sion James on the roster.
Sion James has made a big impact in Charlotte
Charlotte is still a young team, but there's a noticeable difference when someone is willing to take on the hardest assignment without needing help every possession. That's allowed the rest of the defense to stay connected, knowing that they won't have to cover for breakdowns at the point of attack very often.
It also matters in terms of lineup balance. With offensive responsibilities largely falling on LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, having a guard who can process quickly on defense and not require a ton of touches offensively is a huge advantage. James plays naturally within the flow of the Hornets' offense, and his value often shows up in possessions that don't result in a statistic being recorded.
This is part of a larger trend under Charles Lee. The Hornets have placed a clear emphasis on competitiveness and defensive intelligence. James fits that vision almost too cleanly. He communicates well and plays with a discipline that's extremely uncommon for a second-round rookie.
That's why the draft slide is so surprising looking back. Teams passed on James searching for upside, but Charlotte recognized that he brings the kind of reliability and effort that they wanted in their locker room.
For the Hornets, landing James was not just a nice second-round find. It was a reminder that winning habits can be found anywhere, and the league is being reminded of that lesson in real time.