The Indiana Pacers signed former Tennessee forward Josiah-Jordan James to an Exhibit 10 contract on Friday afternoon, one day after the conclusion of the 2024 NBA Draft, KnoxNews’ Mike Wilson first reported.
An Exhibit 10 contract is a one-year, league minimum-salary contract that essentially gives James an invited to Pacers’ practice and an audition. Indiana controls James’ contractual rights and has the flexibility to turn it into a G-League or two-way contract if they like.
James averaged 8.4 points and 6.4 rebounds in his super senior season at Tennessee. It was an up-and-down final season for James at Tennessee but he played particularly well in the NCAA Tournament. James scored nine points and grabbed nine rebounds in the Vols’ Round of 32 win over Texas before scoring 15 points to go along with four rebounds and two assists in their Sweet 16 win over Creighton.
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The first five-star signee of Rick Barnes’ tenure, James was a valuable glue guy for Tennessee basketball over the course of his career. He was a versatile player who could guard a number of positions and could space the floor by playing the four-spot, which he did almost extensively in his final college season.
James starred in a handful of games in Tennessee’s run to the Elite Eight last season. He scored 20 points in a loss at North Carolina, 23 wins in a win against North Carolina State and a career-best 27 points in the Vols’ win at Rupp Arena.
James lands with a Indiana Pacers team that reached the Eastern Conference Finals last season before losing to the NBA Champion Boston Celtics in just four games. The 6-foot-6 wing will play with the Pacers on their summer team next month and will look to earn a full-time contract with Indiana going into the season.
