By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
His first season in Tel Aviv was considered by many unsuccessful. He was the third choice on center in coach Blatt’s rotation, he wasn’t used in many games and many didn’t even noticed. That changed last summer, when Richard Hendrix and Sofoklis Shortsanitis left Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Shawn James you ask? He stayed and this season he is taken Euroleague by storm as Maccabi makes the final push for the play offs. He is the starting center of the team and one of the most efficient big men of the league. He is second in ranking, behind only Bobby Brown, and has the third best number of made two points shots.
He is third in shooting percentage, but in essence second, behind only CSKA‘s Sasha Kaun whose most shots are dunks. His teammate, Sylven Landesberg, has better numbers than him, but with very few shots. However, the point is that James is a modern center, capable of doing everything his needs wants from him and its linchpin, specially in defense.
The comparison with last season is shocking. He played in 14 games, having 8.5 mpg, 2.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 44% shooting percentage in two point shots and nothing else worth noticing.
This year he had played so far in 22 games and his number exploded: 23 mpg, 11.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 67% efficiency in two points shots and 77% in free throws. He has also 1 apg, 1 spg, 2 bpg and all that adds up to 17.2 ranking per game. He has attempted 152 two point shots, making 102 of them. And to think that last season he had just 13/29 all season!
So, we had to ask him before the game against Olympiacos if he is still the same player. He answered with a smile…
“You know what? I am. I really am the same player, I am just getting more opportunities and with more opportunities comes more confidence and that’s all that is. All those stuff, my role, my comprehension of European basketball plays a factor. I have one year under my belt, I understand what coach wants, I understand how physical this level is and how you have to bring it every night. So, I think those things with the fact that I have more confidence are helping me out”.
We had to ask after that if he believes that the experience in Europe helps a player get more complete. He agreed, but then someone wanted to add something. It was coach David Blatt, surprising our camera man who couldn’t get on camera his reaction (you can hear Blatt in the video if you hear it really carefully).
Obviously the boss of Maccabi heard the question and wanted to tease his center, by adding: “Talent and character, that’s Shawn’s secret”. James smiled and once again and asked us to repeat the question.
Of course we did and he said: “When you understand the game in Europe, you kind of expect certain things and you play at a better level, cause you understand where to be. You become more knowledgeable, smarter and all those things help you”.
As for his development as a player, his wish is simple: “Stay healthy! If I stay healthy, continue to play and I think wherever God takes me after that, that’s where I will be”. However, he also works and he is very improved as a passer: “As a big man in our offense, you have to be able to pass, you have to be able to score in the block, specially in Europe at this level. You can’t just be a boom, boom, boom scorer. You have to be able to hit the open guys. You know they are going to trap you a little more if that doesn’t happen. So, you have to understand how to play a little better. And I always wanted to be a team player, so that also helps”.
And the last question couldn’t be anything else but his possible future, even in the NBA. However, Shawn James doesn’t want at this point to look very far, as his mission is simple: Get tittles with Maccabi.
“Honestly and I mean this 100%, if I finish this year healthy, then whatever opportunity come after that, I have to take it. But I don’t want to sit and think, “Oh, the summer”, think about Maccabi, think about anything else. I just want to focus on right now (ed.note: that was the game with Olympiacos) and whatever happens, happens”.