Jordan Vandenberg
July 23, 2020
Damion James
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 7/10/87
- Place of Birth: Hobbs, New México (USA)
- Position: G/F
- Height (CM): 201
- Weight (KG): 102
- Junior Assoc: None
- College: Texas (2006–2010)
- NBL DEBUT: 11/12/15
- AGE AT DEBUT: 28
- LAST NBL GAME: 27/12/15
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 28
- NBL History: Sydney 2016
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Damion James was born in Hobbs, New México (USA).
NBL EXPERIENCE
Damion James made his NBL debut with the Sydney Kings at 28 years of age. He scored seven points in his first game.
Since re-entering the league in 2010, Sydney had never finished with a winning record, something they came narrowly close to last season, until a season-ending injury to star Josh Childress derailed things.
The Kings bounced back by loading up on talent to surround Childress and blossoming young stars like Jason Cadee, Tom Garlepp and reigning Rookie of the Year Angus Brandt. Veterans Julian Khazzouh, Steven Markovic and Rhys Carter were brought in, and NBA draftee Marcus Thornton was signed as the team’s second import.
Although Childress would miss the first four games of the season (1-3) with a foot injury, he returned to the court to face Adelaide (Oct 23) at home, only to break his right hand. Childress still managed to score 23 points and played out the Kings’ loss to the 36ers (91–80) before being ruled out for a further four to six games with a boxer’s fracture.
Childress returned in late November, but two games later, he suffered a fractured left hand back and was subsequently ruled out for three weeks. He was reactivated once again on December 29 and played out the rest of the season.
All in all, Childress (21.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.7 blocks) played in only 13 games for the Purple and Gold. Starting centre Khazzouh (13.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.8 blocks) delivered great numbers in his return before ripping his right quadriceps tendon off the bone in mid-December, missing a third of the season and Markovic (3.0 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists) played a grand total of 3 games for the season due to illness and subsequent recovery. With most of the team’s starting line-up missing, the Kings were so decimated at one stage that assistant coach Ben Knight suited up for four games.
In early January 2016, Craig Moller and Jordan Vandenberg were also brought in to help cover the loss of Khazzouh and backup forward Jeromie Hill (4.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 0.4 assists).
During the absence of Childress, the Kings brought in former NBA players Damion James (7.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 0.6 assists) for 5 games, Al Harrington (17.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists) for 6 games with James being a disappointment and Harrington becoming a fan favourite during their brief stints, but both failed to deliver team success and coach Damian Cotter was released mid-season.
Former Washington Wizards assistant Joe Connelly was brought in as a new head coach and helped youngsters Cadee (14.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists), Garlepp (14.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists) and Brandt (8.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks) continue to develop (Brandt earning a gig with the national team at year’s end), it wasn’t enough for the under-manned Kings to avoid finishing dead last (6-22) during the regular season.
Damion James played one season in the NBL. He averaged 7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 0.6 assists in 5 NBL games.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 28 | Sydney | 6-22 (8) | 5 | 110.8 | 35 | 39 | 3 | 6 | 33 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 49 | 22% | 1 | 12 | 8% | 12 | 17 | 71% | 31% | 23% | 11 | Totals | 5 | 111 | 35 | 39 | 3 | 6 | 33 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 49 | 22.4% | 1 | 12 | 8.3% | 12 | 17 | 70.6% | 31% | 23% | 11 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 28 | Sydney | 6-22 (8) | 5 | 22.2 | 7.0 | 7.8 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 6.6 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 9.8 | 22% | 0.2 | 2.4 | 8% | 2.4 | 3.4 | 71% | 31% | 23% | 11 | Total | 5 | 22.2 | 7.0 | 7.8 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 6.6 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 9.8 | 22.4% | 0.0 | 8.3% | 0.2 | 2.4 | 70.6% | 31% | 23% | 11 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 11 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
|---|
NBA EXPERIENCE
Damion James was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks with pick #24 in the 2010 NBA Draft.
James played 39 games in the NBA. He averaged 3.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per game over his NBA career.
NBA TRANSACTIONS:
- June 24, 2010: Drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in the 1st round (24th pick) of the 2010 NBA Draft.
-
June 24, 2010: Traded by the Atlanta Hawks to the New Jersey Nets for Jordan Crawford and Tibor Pleis.
-
September 27, 2012: Signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Hawks.
-
October 27, 2012: Waived by the Atlanta Hawks.
-
January 13, 2013: Signed a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets.
-
April 3, 2014: Signed a 10-day contract with the San Antonio Spurs.
-
April 13, 2014: Signed a contract for the rest of the season with the San Antonio Spurs
September 29, 2014: Signed a contract with the Washington Wizards.
-
October 25, 2014: Waived by the Washington Wizards.
-
| Season | Team | PTS | AST | STL | BLK | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 56% | 42% | 51% | 85% | ||||||
| 2 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Total | 11 | 49 | 22.4% | 1 | 12 | 8.3% |
NBA TOTAL STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | POS | GP | GS | MINS | PTS | TRB | AST | ORB | DRB | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-14 | 26 | San Antonio | SF | 5 | 1 | 50 | 6 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 22% | 0 | 2 | 0% | 2 | 2 | 100% | 30% | 22% |
| 2012-13 | 25 | Brooklyn | SF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| 2011-12 | 24 | New Jersey | SF | 7 | 7 | 170 | 34 | 33 | 3 | 7 | 26 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 17 | 13 | 35 | 37% | 0 | 1 | 0% | 8 | 12 | 67% | 42% | 37% |
| 2010-11 | 23 | New Jersey | SF | 25 | 9 | 403 | 110 | 85 | 20 | 17 | 68 | 16 | 12 | 25 | 36 | 46 | 103 | 45% | 0 | 3 | 0% | 18 | 28 | 64% | 48% | 45% | Total | 39 | 17 | 623 | 150 | 131 | 26 | 25 | 106 | 23 | 20 | 38 | 56 | 61 | 147 | 41% | 0 | 6 | 0% | 28 | 42 | 67% |
NBA PER GAME STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | POS | GP | GS | MINS | PTS | TRB | AST | ORB | DRB | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-14 | 26 | San Antonio | SF | 5 | 1 | 10.0 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 2.2 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 22% | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0% | 0.4 | 0.4 | 100% | 30% | 22% |
| 2012-13 | 25 | Brooklyn | SF | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| 2011-12 | 24 | New Jersey | SF | 7 | 7 | 24.3 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 3.7 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 5.0 | 37% | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0% | 1.1 | 1.7 | 67% | 42% | 37% |
| 2010-11 | 23 | New Jersey | SF | 25 | 9 | 16.1 | 4.4 | 3.4 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 4.1 | 45% | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0% | 0.7 | 1.1 | 64% | 48% | 45% | Total | 39 | 17 | 16.0 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 3.8 | 41% | 0.2 | 0% | 0.7 | 1.1 | 67% |
COLLEGE
Damion James played college basketball for Texas from 2006–07 through 2009–10, and across four seasons he started 126 games while piling up 1,917 career points and a program-record 1,318 career rebounds, making him Texas’ all-time leader on the glass.
Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, James was listed as the No.7 small forward and the No.17 player in the nation in 2006. He initially signed to play college basketball at the University of Oklahoma for head coach Kelvin Sampson. When Sampson took the head coaching position at Indiana University, the administration at Oklahoma released James from his letter of intent and he switched his decision to Texas.
Walton joined a team that had just lost Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. to the 2013 NBA draft. The 2012/13 Wolverines had reached the championship game of the 2013 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, losing to Louisville.
In his freshman season (2006–07), James started all 35 games and became an immediate frontcourt factor, averaging 7.6 points and 7.2 rebounds while finishing with 253 total rebounds (one of the top freshman rebound totals in Big 12 history) and recording four double-doubles, including his first collegiate double-double against LSU (10 points, 13 rebounds).
As a sophomore (2007–08), James jumped to 13.2 points and 10.3 rebounds per game while leading Texas in rebounding and setting the school’s single-season rebounding record with 393 boards, and he was named Big 12 Player of the Week on Dec. 3 during a season that also saw him earn All-Big 12 Second Team recognition and a spot on the Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team.
James’ 2007–08 season included multiple defining performances, including 19 points and 10 rebounds at UCLA featuring a late game-winning dunk, plus a career-high 29 points with 14 rebounds and a career-high five blocks against TCU, as he stacked 17 double-doubles on the year and repeatedly anchored Texas’ interior presence.
As a junior (2008–09), James started all 35 games again and averaged 15.4 points and 9.2 rebounds, producing 31 double-figure scoring games, 16 double-doubles, and a season-high 28 points against Texas A&M while adding NABC All-District recognition, All-Big 12 Second Team honours, and Academic All-Big 12 First Team status.
After that junior season, James tested the NBA Draft process in 2009 without hiring an agent before withdrawing and returning to Texas, setting up a senior year where he became the program’s centerpiece at both ends.
In his senior season (2009–10), James led Texas in scoring at 18.0 points per game and rebounding at 10.3 per game while ranking among the Big 12 leaders in multiple categories, and he earned major postseason recognition including third-team All-American (AP), second-team All-American (TSN), and All-Big 12 Second Team honours.
James’ senior year also included landmark record-setting milestones, as he set the UT single-season rebounding record (393) earlier in his career and later finished as the Big 12 Conference’s all-time career rebounding leader, while also establishing himself near the top of Texas’ all-time double-double lists with 48 career double-doubles.
He capped his Texas career as a historically rare stat-line player in Austin, combining high-end scoring with elite rebounding and consistent defensive production across four seasons, and he left the program holding the school career rebounding record (1,318) and ranking among Texas’ career leaders in points (1,917).
AWARDS
- NBA champion (2014)
Related
HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON THIS PLAYER?
Whilst we try to source as much information as we can for every player who has ever played in the NBL some information on a player profile may be missing. If you have additional information on a player you'd like us to add to a profile, please send it to us using the enquiry form below.
Submissions are then sent to info@aussiehoopla.com