What Will This Former Duke Guard Bring to the Hornets?
The Charlotte Hornets drafted Sion James in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft. They reunited him with his teammate at Duke, Kon Knueppel. James was a starter all last season for the Blue Devils as he was one of the lone seniors in a roster that was mainly made up of freshmen. The former Blue Devil is not a scorer, but mainly finds his niche on the defensive end. He can guard the best team's player and is known for doing the “dirty” work on the defensive side of the ball. For a Charlotte team that is filled with guards, it's hard to imagine James seeing some playing time right away, but if he does get the opportunity to get some minutes, he could be a guy that could elevate the Hornets' defense during this period, were the team is finding out their identity.
Sion James is a quick-on-his-feet defender with a strong build. He can guard multiple positions, as he showcased in college playing in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The six-foot-five guard showcased his team-first attitude and high basketball IQ that was needed playing alongside freshmen such as Cooper Flagg and Knueppel. Both players relied on James’s leadership and experience to help them adjust to college basketball. Fans already know about James' impact on defense, but his offensive game is still improving. The former Tulane guard had his best shooting season while in Durham. He shot the ball at a career-best 51 percent from the floor and 41 percent from three.
James has all the skills to be a valuable role player for the Hornets, but as aforementioned above, the Hornets have way too many guards on the roster right now. They just re-signed Tre Mann to go along with guards such as LaMelo Ball, Nick Smith Jr., and Collin Sexton. Knueppel will most likely earn a spot on the roster due to his playmaking and shooting ability. With so many guards on the roster, James, unless he impresses in the Summer League and the offseason training camp, will most likely start his NBA career in Greensboro with the Hornets' G League team, the Swarm. However, James has experience and defensive abilities that the team needs at the guard position now and will no doubt help the team build its defensive culture in Charlotte.
