Mike James – 10 starts
After Bledsoe was suspended prior to his trade, under new Head Coach Jay Triano, Mike James began what appeared to be an almost miraculous beginning to his NBA career. A very explosive scorer who impressed on several occasions in the Summer League, he had been brought in to backup Bled but was soon thrust into the starter’s role looking absolutely fantastic – at first.
Through his first five games, James averaged an impressive 13.2 points and 4.8 assists, while shooting a blistering 47.1% from beyond the arc, a statistic that far outpaced Bledsoe from 3 (a common theme).
Over a total of ten starts, James proved he could score, as well as secure the ball, averaging 13.0 points, dishing out 4.2 assists, and only averaging 1.4 turnovers per outing.
James’ fantastic play even earned him the first guaranteed contract for a 2-way G-League call-up in NBA history.
As much fun as his story was initially though, he was no starter. His 3-point percentage remained at a respectable 36.8%, however he was a volume scorer and shot a miserable 38.9% from the field, often leaving his more talented teammates, including Devin Booker, standing around watching.
15 days after signing his guaranteed contract, James was waived.