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:
- College: Texas (2006–2010)
- AGE AT DEBUT: 0
- 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 on 30/12/1899. He scored seven points in his first game.
After finishing seventh with a 9-19 record in 2014/15, Sydney retained head coach Damian Cotter and again built around Josh Childress, Jason Cadee, Tom Garlepp and reigning Rookie of the Year Angus Brandt. Cody Ellis (to Illawarra), Kevin White (to Illawarra), Ben Madgen (to Belgium), Kendrick Perry, Josh Duinker and Daniel Joyce departed, while Julian Khazzouh (via Lebanon), Steven Markovic (via Townsville), Rhys Carter (via New Zealand), Jeromie Hill (via UTSA), Marcus Thornton (via William & Mary) and Dion Prewster (via Wellington) were added.
Childress missed Sydney’s first four games with a foot injury before fracturing his right hand during his first game back. Al Harrington (via Fujian) joined on October 28 on a four-week injury-replacement deal and played six games before his stint ended on November 19 as Childress prepared to return. With Sydney sitting last with a 3-9 record, Cotter was released on November 28 and former Washington Wizards assistant Joe Connelly, who had joined the coaching staff earlier that month, was appointed interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
Childress returned in late November but fractured his left hand two games later, leading Sydney to sign Damion James (via Le Mans) on December 9 as another short-term injury replacement. James had signed a one-year deal with Le Mans before parting ways with the French club on November 20 after six league games and five EuroCup appearances and had previously been part of San Antonio’s 2014 NBA championship team. He arrived in Sydney the following morning, was driven straight from the airport to training with his suitcases sitting courtside and then flew to New Zealand with his new teammates only a few hours later as the last-placed Kings sat at 3-10. “I came here to win basketball games,” James said. His five appearances covered every game during his replacement stint, with James not missing any games through injury while with Sydney.
James (7 points, 10 rebounds, and 1 block) made his NBL debut against New Zealand in Auckland on December 11, playing 23 minutes as the Breakers defeated Sydney 96-84. Cadee (19 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) and Thornton (17 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) led the Kings, while Mika Vukona (18 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) was New Zealand’s best.
James (7 points and 7.8 rebounds across 5 games) averaged 22.2 minutes during his brief stint and provided Sydney with rebounding and size while Childress was unavailable. He struggled to find his shot, making 11-of-49 field-goal attempts at 22.4 percent and only one of 12 three-pointers, while starting one of his five appearances.
James made his home debut two days later in the final Kings game ever played at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, finishing with 4 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block as Perth defeated Sydney 87-69. Brandt (17 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) and Cadee (13 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists) led the Kings, while Jesse Wagstaff (26 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals) led Perth as Sydney farewelled the venue which had been its home since 1990.
James’ best game came against Melbourne on December 16, where James (11 points and 10 rebounds) made five of 11 field-goal attempts and did not commit a turnover in 25 minutes as Sydney defeated United 96-81 and ended a five-game losing streak. Cadee (28 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Garlepp (22 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists) led the Kings, while Todd Blanchfield (18 points and 11 rebounds) was Melbourne’s best.
Sydney’s injury problems continued when Khazzouh (13.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks across 17 games) ruptured his right quadriceps tendon in mid-December and was ruled out for the remainder of the season. Former captain and assistant coach Ben Knight (via retirement) (0.5 points across 4 games) returned to the active roster more than four years after retiring to provide emergency frontcourt cover. James remained on the roster through December 27 and appeared in all five games available to him before Childress (21 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.7 blocks across 13 games) was reactivated on December 29. James (to Cangrejeros de Santurce in January) was subsequently taken off Sydney’s roster, ending his NBL stint after less than three weeks.
Further changes followed in January, with Jordan Vandenberg (via Westchester) (3.1 points across 8 games) signed for the remainder of the season as Khazzouh’s injury replacement. Indiana Faithfull (2.6 points across 7 games) was also signed to replace Markovic (3 points across 7 games), who had battled illness before undergoing surgery to remove his tonsils in December, with Sydney believing he would struggle to return to full fitness before the end of the season. Craig Moller (0 points across 1 game) was initially brought in alongside Vandenberg for a trial to replace Khazzouh and remained as a full-time training player after Vandenberg won the roster spot, before an injury to Hill (4.1 points and 3 rebounds across 23 games) saw Moller elevated for Sydney’s February 10 game against Perth and make his NBL debut.
Harrington (17.7 points and 6.8 rebounds across 6 games) provided Sydney’s strongest production from its temporary imports, while Cadee (14 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists across 28 games) and Garlepp (13.9 points and 4.2 rebounds across 27 games) carried increased offensive responsibility throughout the injury-hit season. Thornton (12.8 points across 28 games), Brandt (8.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks across 28 games) and Carter (5.6 points across 28 games) provided the other major contributions, with Garlepp named the Kings’ Club MVP.
Sydney finished last with a 6-22 record and closed its season in Townsville on February 13, where Cadee (32 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Childress (31 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 blocks) led the Kings, while Omar Samhan (25 points and 13 rebounds) led the Crocodiles as Townsville won 126-123 in overtime.
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 | 111 | 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% | 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 | 22.4% | 8.3% | 70.6% | 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.
- July 15, 2010: Signed a multi-year contract with the New Jersey Nets.
- July 1, 2012: Became a free agent after his New Jersey Nets contract.
- July 11, 2012: The Brooklyn Nets renounced their free-agent exception rights to him.
- September 27, 2012: Signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Hawks.
- October 27, 2012: Waived by the Atlanta Hawks.
- October 29, 2012: Became a free agent after being waived by the Atlanta Hawks.
- January 13, 2013: Signed a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets.
- January 23, 2013: Became a free agent after his Brooklyn Nets 10-day contract expired.
- September 9, 2013: Signed a contract with the Denver Nuggets (team media-guide transaction date; other sources record the later public announcement on September 30).
- October 26, 2013: Waived by the Denver Nuggets.
- October 28, 2013: Became a free agent after being waived by the Denver Nuggets.
- 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
- July 1, 2014: Became a free agent after his San Antonio Spurs contract.
- September 29, 2014: Signed a contract with the Washington Wizards.
- October 25, 2014: Waived by the Washington Wizards.
- October 27, 2014: Became a free agent after being 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% |
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Puerto Rico - Vaqueros de Bayamón (2016), Caciques de Humacao (2017), Leones de Ponce (2019) | Serbia - Crvena zvezda (2013–2014) | Spain - Laboral Kutxa Baskonia (2014–2015) | Mexico - Texas Legends de Querétaro (2015), Libertadores de Querétaro (2020) | Venezuela - Guaiqueríes de Margarita (2018) | Lebanon - Homenetmen Beirut (2018–2019) | Nicaragua - Real Estelí (2021)
James joined Crvena zvezda for the 2013–14 Serbian League and Adriatic League season, averaging 10.8 points and 4.0 rebounds across 11 Adriatic League games while helping the club win the 2014 Serbian League championship.
He signed with Laboral Kutxa Baskonia for the 2014–15 Spanish Liga ACB and EuroLeague season, averaging 7.8 points and 4.8 rebounds in EuroLeague play and recording a season-high 19 points against Galatasaray.
James joined Texas Legends de Querétaro for the 2015 LNBP season in Mexico, averaging 16.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists across 40 games.
He moved to Vaqueros de Bayamón for the 2016 BSN season in Puerto Rico, averaging 12.9 points and 5.2 rebounds in 36 appearances.
James joined Caciques de Humacao for the 2017 BSN season in Puerto Rico and averaged 15.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists across 14 games.
He signed with Guaiqueríes de Margarita for the 2018 Venezuelan LPB season, averaging 16.4 points and 7.2 rebounds in 18 games.
James joined Homenetmen Beirut for the 2018–19 Lebanese Basketball League season and averaged 16.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists across 20 games.
He returned to Puerto Rico with Leones de Ponce for the 2019 BSN season, averaging 10.5 points and 5.1 rebounds in 28 games.
James joined Libertadores de Querétaro for the 2020 Mexican LNBP season, averaging 13.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 20 games.
He signed with Real Estelí for the 2021 Nicaraguan Liga Superior de Baloncesto season and helped the club win the league championship while averaging 13.8 points and 6.4 rebounds.
James joined Real Estelí again for the 2021 Basketball Champions League Americas season and averaged 14.4 points and 6.9 rebounds across seven games.
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
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