Each week, ESPNDallas.com will take a look at the Texas Legends, the D-League affiliate for the Dallas Mavericks, to see how the two are working hand in hand to improve one another.
Father Time always wins, but Mike James continues to defy the odds. The 39-year-old Legends point guard had his best outing of a solid season on Sunday in Delaware with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists -- his first career triple-double in 623 NBA/D-League games.
Every stat was needed. After trailing by 13 in the second half, the Legends rallied in the final minutes to claim a 115-111 victory over the 87ers.
James has worked as the steady hand for Texas this season. He leads the Legends in assists, with 5.1 per game, and is only one of four players in the league who is averaging at least 14.0 points and 5.0 assists and shooting at least 44.0 percent from the field.
Mark your calendars
Texas faces an in-state rival Rio Grande Valley in the first game of a home-and-home series on Friday, followed by a return home to Dr. Pepper Arena to host the Vipers on Saturday. To wrap up their week, the Legends will host the Canton Charge on Wednesday, Feb. 4. Each games will tip off at 7:00 p.m. CT.
Fans can watch the D-League live on its YouTube channel, the Legends’ website and the NBA D-League Center Court mobile app.
But not least …
The NBA has taken advantage of the 10-day contract period and has begun making call-ups to D-League players. Sixteen of the 27 call-ups this season have come after Jan. 5, the date when 10-day contracts could become official. The Mavs will see one of those call-ups when they face the Miami Heat and center Hassan Whiteside, who spent time with Rio Grande Valley and Iowa before taking off with Miami.
Whiteside had a career day with 14 points, 13 rebounds and a Heat franchise record 12 blocks against the Chicago Bulls on Sunday. The Mavs will have their hands full.
