Aris announced Banks

James Banks officially became an Aris player on Wednesday. The “yellows” announced the acquisition of the 28-year-old American center for next year.

Banks last year played in the G-League.

In detail, the announcement:

“ARIS Midea KAE announces the acquisition of James Banks III for the 2024-25 season.

James Banks was born on January 16, 1998 and with a height of 2.08m. plays in the center position.

ARIS freshman Midea began his college career in 2016 with the Texas Longhorns. After two seasons with little participation, he transferred to the prestigious Georgia Tech. In 2028-19, he averaged 10.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 2.5 blocks per game. He finished the season in the top ten in the NCAA in interceptions and first in the Atlantic Coast Conference in the same category, earning a spot on the ACC’s top five defensemen.

In his final NCAA season, he averaged 9.5 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks and was named to the district’s top five defensive players for the second year in a row.

In the summer of 2020, he made his first transatlantic trip on behalf of the Israeli Hapoel Be’er Sheva, where he averaged 5.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks, a category in which he emerged as the leader of the league.

In the summer of 2021, he participated in the NBA Summer League with the jersey of the Cleveland Cavaliers and a little later he signed with the New Orleans Pelicans. He finished the season in the G-League, with the Birmingham Squadron (Pelicans affiliate) and Texas Legends (Dallas Mavericks affiliate) with 6.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.6 blocks.

In the 2023-24 season, he remained with the Texas Legends, averaging 5.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.9 blocks.

During last season he played for the Boston Celtics’ G-League affiliate Maine Celtics, averaging 5.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.8 blocks.

At the national level, Banks has won a gold medal with the USA U18 National Team in 2016.”