<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">n the past, James hardly noticed those types of subtle nuances in a victory. Back then, he was too concerned with accumulating points and how many shots he had taken. He never put much stock in setting screens, blocking shots and playing defense. Even rebounding seemed like a foreign concept. Click to learn more... "I stopped trying to do more and be more than what the team needed me to be," James said. "This is a mature thing. I grew up mentally as far as basketball is concerned and decided to put my own agendas to the side like what I thought I should be doing ... and focused on what the team needed me to do. "Whether it be set 30 picks and (get) two boards or 30 points and two picks, whichever it is, I'm willing to give it night in and night out." James' paradigm shift had been difficult to notice on a 41-17 team that features All-Stars Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis as well as sixth man of the year candidates Vladimir Radmanovic and Antonio Daniels. However, in three of the past four games, he has scored 12, 16 and 13 points. James had not posted consecutive double-digit scoring games until Sunday. The genesis of James' transformation began last summer when he played a pick-up game with Luke Ridnour. "I was sprinting to keep up with him and he was dribbling," James said. "I said to myself, if I want to be on this team I got to run with that dude because he's our starting point guard." James hired a cook who prepares healthier meals for him and he said he dropped his weight from 285 to 270, while lowering his body fat from 22 percent to 12. Another major incentive is his three-year, $15 million contract that expires at the end of the season, when he will become a free agent. With 19-year-old rookie Robert Swift waiting, the Sonics aren't likely to throw big dollars at James. Barring a dramatic slip in production, team sources indicate that the Sonics will try to retain him with a short-term deal averaging about $5 million per season.</div> <font size="1">Full Story courtesy of Percy Allen and the Seattle Times.</font> I never thought I'd say this, but I wouldn't be against having JJ back next season. After waiting so long to get his contract off the books, it wouldn't annoy me if he was kept on a short term, cheap deal. His stats aren't great this season, but his attitude has changed completely, and he has been huge of late. I want Przybilla too, but he still has another year to run.
Yeah, me too. At the moment I'm totally in favor of James staying here on a short (1-2 yrs) deal. Potapenko's contract runs out (correct if I'm wrong) and Swift ain't ready for big minutes yet so James will be a good down low when he stays focused.
Jerome James is a top ten center in this league. You can go to him and get buckets. He can guard the better bigs in the league. He can pass out of double teams. He can be an effective shot blocker. I'm a huge Jerome James fan and I really hope that we can lock James up for another couple of seasons. He has matured greatly this season and he looks to be even better than he was when he was giving David Robinson/Tim Duncan all that they could handle in the 2002 postseason. This forum needs to start showing him some love b/c he has come along way from where he was the past two seasons. There is something to be said about playing for a new contract. If the NBA was like the NFL and didn't guarantee contracts, James would probably be an All Star.
It's always been the attitude with James. If he can maintain a positive demeanor and just keep playing physical all-out ball, I would love to have him back next year...for a lower price of course.
I too never thought I'd welcome him back next year but as I said in some other thread he's a true 7-1 big man that can do some things when his head's in the game. But when I read the article this morning I was wondering when all this attitude transformation and maturation occurred - training camp? a month ago? 2 weeks ago? The article makes it sound like the light came on over the summer but he looked like the same old JJ to me up until the All-Star break. Besides the last 3-4 games where he's played excellent, I can offhand only remember Phoenix on the road where he brought his A game. Otherwise it was pick up 2 fouls at beginning of the 1st and 3rd and maybe get some situational time in the 4th.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iron Shiek:</div><div class="quote_post"> If the NBA was like the NFL and didn't guarantee contracts, James would probably be an All Star.</div> That statement is stupid to the point of insulting.
He can dunk on guys, I'll give him that. Still don't believe he has the game and mindset to be top 10, though.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting odde23:</div><div class="quote_post">That statement is stupid to the point of insulting.</div> Sarcasm doesn't translate well on message boards. Neither do meaningless and idiotic posts.
He seems to have gone right back into his shell of late, and he's not the only one either. Need the big fella to get back on his game tonight on an undersized opponent in Kurt Thomas.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iron Shiek:</div><div class="quote_post">Sarcasm doesn't translate well on message boards. Neither do meaningless and idiotic posts.</div> It is good that you have come to see the error of your ways.
You are absolutely right. I should have learned a long time ago to only reply to mature and intelligent posts. All of the others I should have ignored or deleted.
I don't like him... but clearly he doesn't get in the way of us being a top 3 team in the West, so what the heck, re-sign him.
Saw some highlights of Jerome James on SportsCenter tonight. I know that's not much to draw upon but I don't think he's ready to move into the top 5 in the Western civilization... or maybe the Shiek likes him because he's the least likely player on the roster to cut into Flip's minutes
