While Duke basketball typically doesn’t lean heavily on transfers, he proved to be an exception. His departure leaves a significant gap on the roster. A four-year veteran from Tulane, James was a vital addition to a transfer class that lacked star power but delivered exactly what the team needed. The 6-foot-6 guard contributed across the board—scoring when necessary, locking down on defense, and bringing a level of toughness that complemented a young, inexperienced backcourt.
Off the court, Sion James was just as valuable, earning respect for his character and leadership.
“Lifelong Memories,” he wrote in an Instagram post Tuesday night, adding, “Thank you @dukembb for the time of my life.”
In his single season with Duke, James started 32 of 39 games, averaging 8.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. He shot an efficient 51.6% from the field and 41.3% from beyond the arc, earning a spot on the ACC All-Defensive Team—his only career conference honor.
James, along with fellow graduate transfer Mason Gillis from Purdue, is one of just two confirmed departures from Duke heading into next season. However, it’s widely anticipated that Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and Khaman Maluach will declare for the NBA Draft, though none have officially confirmed their plans.
Head coach Jon Scheyer now faces the tough task of finding someone to fill the void James leaves behind. Duke is among the final five schools in the running for Cedric Coward, a transfer from Washington State with a similar frame to James. Coward, also 6-foot-6 but nearly 15 pounds lighter, is considering Alabama, Florida, Kansas, and Washington as well.
Whether or not Coward ends up in Durham, Sion James’ legacy at Duke—on and off the court—will be hard to forget.