Otto Greule, Jr./NBAE/Getty JAMES’ STATISTICS SEASON CAREER 5.4 PPG 4.9 4.2 RPG 3.8 0.5 APG 0.4 0.24 SPG 0.32 1.61 BPG 1.41 15.0 MPG 14.3 .478 FG% .480

General Manager Rick Sund on Jerome James:
On last season: "He’s one of the few guys that really has established that he can have a low-post game. The other thing he did for us that was very good is that his rebounds per minute are very good and one of the better ones in the league. He could be one of the leading rebounders in the league."

2002-03 Season:
Though he played in 51 games, injuries kept Jerome James from making the impacted he’d hoped to during the 2002-03 season. James entered training camp as the starter, but he was slowed by plantar fasciitis and played just five preseason games. After playing poorly in the Sonics’ first three games, James broke out with an impressive performance against the Houston Rockets, largely matched up against number one pick overall Yao Ming. James scored 13 points, grabbed six rebounds, and blocked five shots – all within the span of 20 minutes. But the next night, James played just five minutes and was unable to continue. By the next week, he was diagnosed as having a stress fracture in his right foot.

By the time James returned from the injury, Predrag Drobnjak had firmly established himself as the Sonics starting center. James was forced to battle for time with Vitaly Potapenko and Calvin Booth. Although the Sonics added another center to the mix in Elden Campbell at the trade deadline, Coach Nate McMillan was able to establish a more consistent rotation for the final two months of the season. Knowing he would get his minutes, James shot better – 51.6% from the field – and provided more consistent production.

Tom Hauck./NBAE/Getty

Though James’ 2002-03 season looks similar to his 2001-02 effort when per-game stats are considered, per-minute stats show the true nature of his improvement. From averages of 15.1 points and 11.7 rebounds per 48 minutes last season, James improved to 17.3 points and 13.5 rebounds per 48 minutes. James also improved his shot-blocking, swatting 5.1 blocks per 48 minutes. Amongst players with at least 500 minutes, that ranked second in the league behind only Golden State’s Adonal Foyle. A smaller crowd at the center position could help James break out next season.

At his best ...
James recorded his only double-double of the season on Mar. 15 against the Warriors. He made four of his six shot attempts, scored 10 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and blocked three shots in playing 24 minutes. His three assists were also a season high.

Season Highs:
Points: 13 @ Houston 11/5/02,
Rebounds: 10 three times
Assists: 3 vs. Golden State 3/15/03
Blocks: 5 @ Houston 11/5/02
Steals: 2* vs. Cleveland 1/12/03
* Denotes Career High

SUPERSONICS.COM Player of the Week:
Jan. 31-Feb. 6

Interesting tidbit
James’ size 22 shoes are among the largest in the NBA.