The Charlotte Hornets have a type. After selecting two players in the first round that can impact winning basketball without the rock in their hands, the Hornets opted to select a couple more with their pair of early second round picks.

Duke’s Sion James (14) celebrates after hitting a three-pointer during the first half of Duke’s game against Arizona in the Sweet 16 round of the 2025 Men’s NCAA Basketball Championship at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., Thursday, March 27, 2025. Ethan Hyman [email protected]

The Charlotte Hornets used the first of their early picks in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft on Duke forward Sion James. At 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, James was named an All-ACC defender, averaging 8.