If Sion James is selected in the second half of the second round at the 2025 NBA Draft in Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on June 25–26, he will likely be the fourth or fifth Duke basketball player selected this year, depending on where three-year Blue Devil gem Tyrese Proctor ends up.
However, any team looking to find a chiseled lockdown defender and seasoned overall talent who might be ready to start playing minutes off a bench right away should be keeping an eye on James, 22, who was a key backcourt force for Duke’s Final Four basketball team last season after emerging as a Tulane standout over four years with the Green Wave.
James seems primed to be the “steal” of this year’s second round, based on his defensive performances in his first two NBA Draft Combine scrimmage appearances in Chicago’s Wintrust Arena this week.
James has continuously excelled at stealing the ball, recording four in each scrimmage, displaying his scary physique and unwavering determination on both sides of the court. He has accomplished this while averaging 2.0 blocks, 1.5 assists, 4.0 rebounds, and 8.5 points.
On ESPN’s list of the top 100 NBA Draft prospects for this year, Sion James comes in at number 53, one spot lower than Tyrese Proctor. Cooper Flagg, Khaman Maluach, and Kon Knueppel, Duke basketball’s one-and-done starters, rank No. 1, No. 7, and No. 8, respectively.
