James White - The NBA Player You Need to Pay Attention To

on March 25, 2009 1:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (849) | TrackBacks (0)

aamir, jwhite.jpg

The two most recognized basketball leagues in the U.S. are of course, the NBA and the NCAA, college basketball. The CBA and ABA once had prominence throughout, but have since dwindled. But still, the NBDL survives, though few pay attention to it.

But this is where James White could change this. Like the NBDL, James White is vaguely known. A starting guard for the Anaheim Arsenal, White has become known as one of the most dominant offensive players in the Development League. Through 34 games this year, he had averaged 25.9 points a game, and any game White played with the Arsenal was guaranteed some form of highlight.

If you don't know who James White is...pay close attention. Rockets fans, pay even closer attention...he just might be your new franchise guard.

A D.C. native, White is 6 feet 7 inches, and a solid 200 pounds. He was drafted in the second round by the Portland Trailblazers in 2006, but immediately traded to the Indiana Pacers. At the time, the Pacers were full of guards, and decided to cut him.

Following White since he had played at Cincinatti in his college days, I was a little disappointed that the Pacers cut him, because I always thought White would be a good NBA player. Head coach Rick Carlisle (in 2006) further confirmed my believe when he said it was one of the toughest cuts he had ever made because of White's potential.

Since then, White has bounced around the NBA's Development League with the Austin Toros and San Antonio Spurs. Since 2007, White has played internationally and found a home in Anaheim with the Arsenal, leading the team in scoring.

aamir, jwhite2.jpg

But recently, the Houston Rockets signed White to a first 10-day contract, a second 10-day, and realized that he is just that good, and just this weekend, have signed him to a multi-year contract. Call me crazy, but I think James White is going to grow into the Rockets' new starting shooting guard for the future. Everybody in that franchise seems to be completely over the idea of Tracy McGrady, and he has not accomplished anything as a Rocket.

He still hasn't even gotten past the first round in the playoffs. And after his little fiasco of telling the media of his knee surgery over the Rockets management, that truly might be the end of the T-Mac Rocket days. His contract is so large, that they may not even be able to trade him, but this is no longer his team. It's Yao's team.

So Houston fans...welcome your new freak-of-nature talent. White is one of the most amazing dunkers, and if Adelman trusts him quickly to give him consistent playing time...he's going to be challenging Lebron in next year's slam dunk contest.

People at the Anaheim Arsenal tell me that he's one of the best players they have ever seen in the D-League offensively. And he's going to bring just that to Houston. Will he be the X-factor in the playoffs?

To end this, I just want to give you a quick snippet of what James White can do with the ball. You've already seen one dunk, but this dunk is absolutely ridiculous, and he has no business taking off from just under the free throw line like he does for a tomahawk dunk, but he does anyway.

See one more video of White taking off from behind the free throw line. Click here.

At the end of the day, White isn't going to be an overnight success. But he has what it takes to be one of those top guards in the NBA, and with Houston rewarding him for his hustle and hard play towards the end of the season, he just might be on the way there.

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849 Comments

By harry on March 25, 2009 2:51 PM

Who? We will see

By Terence J. Turner on March 25, 2009 3:01 PM

I remember this cat. Houston stays loaded

By Curry Shinaul on March 25, 2009 3:02 PM

I'm an Ohio State fan but i always pay attention to Cincy players i thought he would be better in the league. I can't lie in a dunk contest he is a monster. Some how they need to have him in next years contest he would win it hands down.

By Rob on March 25, 2009 3:30 PM

Funny this is the first article I've seen on him, he was a monster dunker in HS. Peep the SoSoDef "Ball Above All" flick, he's on there doing dunks that Vince Carter couldn't do, and e was in HS.

I can't say Ive seen him play in a minute, but beyond dunking he wasn't anything that spectacular tho.

By Damon on March 25, 2009 6:31 PM

I watched him at Cincy and I saw a good bit of his pickup/playground games. He's impressive I hope he stays in the league when he gets called up again, he's got to be in the dunk competition to show the NBA players how to do it.

By VJ Rabid on March 26, 2009 9:27 AM

Franchise guard is overdoing it, but I think he'll make a good rotation reserve.

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