The Charlotte Hornets have signed second-round pick Sion James to a four-year, $9.97 million contract, league sources told HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto on Thursday. The first two years of the deal are fully guaranteed at $4.7 million, the maximum allowed under the NBA’s second-round exception.
James, a versatile guard-forward, was selected with the 33rd overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. His contract includes a third-year trigger date and a fourth-year team option, providing the Hornets flexibility as he develops.
The 22-year-old began his college career at Tulane, where he steadily improved each season. He earned back-to-back American Athletic Conference sportsmanship awards while boosting his production to 14 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game in his senior year.
After the 2023–24 campaign, James transferred to Duke for his final collegiate season. At Duke, he averaged 8.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists, showing improved efficiency with a 51.6% field goal percentage and 41.3% from three-point range.
The second-round exception allowed Charlotte to offer James a longer and more secure deal than standard rookie contracts, which often span just two years for second-round picks.
James will now look to earn a spot in the Hornets’ rotation during training camp and Summer League.
