Sion James
F, Duke · 2025 NBA Draft, 2nd round, pick #33 (CHO)
Why he was overlooked Patterns
Nothing in our pre-draft data flagged him as a steal: his age, school, testing and position profile looked like a typical pick in his range. The gap opened after the draft, on the field.
The 2025 class is only 1 season in, so this verdict can still change a lot.
- Pre-draft rankings
ESPN's pre-draft board ranked him #45 (#14 at his position); he went #33, 12 spots earlier. So teams were actually higher on him than the media board was; everyone underrated him.
Since 2000, picks in this group beat their draft slot 33.8% of the time (272 players, 2000–2021 classes) vs. 50% for a typical pick.
- Age
22.6 years old on draft night (born 2002-12-04).
Since 2000, picks in this group beat their draft slot 51.9% of the time (339 players, 2000–2021 classes) vs. 50% for a typical pick.
- Path to the draft
Played college basketball at Duke.
Since 2000, picks in this group beat their draft slot 53.2% of the time (1,015 players, 2000–2021 classes) vs. 50% for a typical pick.
- Position
F (ESPN draft listing).
Since 2000, picks in this group beat their draft slot 51.2% of the time (570 players, 2000–2021 classes) vs. 50% for a typical pick.
- Availability
Played 88 games over 2 NBA seasons (~54% of a full 82-game schedule each year).
Every line comes from data: Basketball-Reference career data; ESPN's draft profile; Wikidata birth dates. No scouting reports or quotes. Green = pointed toward a steal for him.
Career numberslive
| Seasons | 2 |
| Games | 88 |
| Minutes / game | 22.6 |
| Points / game | 5.3 |
| Rebounds / game | 3.5 |
| Assists / game | 2.0 |
| Win Shares (career) | 3.0 |
| VORP | -0.3 |
| Box Plus/Minus | -2.4 |
| 2026-27 so far | 3 GP, 2 PPG (ESPN) |
Career Win Shares + VORP (Basketball-Reference, through 2025-26) + 2026-27 estimates from ESPN season stats.
The 2025 class: draft pick vs. redraft rank Full redraft
Each dot is a 2025 pick. Dashed line = typical redraft rank for each slot (2000–2021 classes). Above the line = beat his slot.
How players like him did
| Pre-draft rankings Taken 10+ picks before ESPN's rank | 33.8% n=272 | |
| Age 22 | 51.9% n=339 | |
| Path to the draft US college | 53.2% n=1,015 | |
| Position Forward | 51.2% n=570 |
Share of 2000–2021 picks with the same trait who beat their draft slot. Line = 50%.
Measurables & pre-draft
| Height / weight | 6' 4.5", 218 lbs |
| Age on draft night | 22.6 |
| Born | 2002-12-04 |
| ESPN pre-draft rank | #45 overall (#14 F) |
Picked around him 2025 redraft
| 30 | Yanic Konan Niederhäuser | redraft #20 |
| 31 | Rasheer Fleming | redraft #29 |
| 32 | Noah Penda | redraft #17 |
| 34 | Ryan Kalkbrenner | redraft #3 |
| 35 | Johni Broome | redraft #49 |
| 36 | Adou Thiero | redraft #38 |
How verdicts and reasons are computed: methodology. Steal / bust = 15+ spots better / worse than the typical redraft rank for the slot.