The Career of James Soften (The Opposite of Harden) Season 1: Rookie Year (2009-2010) Team: Arizona Suns
Points per Game: 6.8
Assists per Game: 1.2 (Rarely touches the ball, not a playmaker)
Rebounds per Game: 3.0 (Solid effort on the boards for his position)
Steals per Game: 0.8
Field Goal Percentage: 52% (Focused on mid-range and paint finishes, avoids threes)
3-Point Percentage: 20% (Struggles badly from deep, only takes a few shots)
Free Throw Percentage: 65% (Hardly ever draws fouls, doesn’t attack the basket much)
Awards:
No All-Rookie Team recognition.
No Playoff appearance.
Season 2 (2010-2011) Team: Arizona Suns
Points per Game: 8.5
Assists per Game: 1.5 (Still not much playmaking, more of a catch-and-finish guy)
Rebounds per Game: 4.2
Steals per Game: 1.0
Field Goal Percentage: 54% (Effective around the basket, avoids 3-pointers)
3-Point Percentage: 18% (Gets worse with the three-ball)
Free Throw Percentage: 68%
Awards:
No All-Star appearance.
No Playoff appearance.
Season 3 (2011-2012) Team: Arizona Suns
Points per Game: 10.2
Assists per Game: 1.7 (Minimal playmaking, just a secondary scorer)
Rebounds per Game: 4.8
Steals per Game: 1.1
Field Goal Percentage: 55% (Super efficient at finishing around the rim)
3-Point Percentage: 15% (Barely takes threes, and when he does, misses badly)
Free Throw Percentage: 70%
Awards:
No All-Star appearance.
No Playoff appearance.
Season 4 (2012-2013) Team: Arizona Suns
Points per Game: 11.3
Assists per Game: 2.0 (Still not a playmaker, just a guy who finishes the job)
Rebounds per Game: 5.1
Steals per Game: 1.2
Field Goal Percentage: 57% (Almost exclusively in the paint, super efficient)
3-Point Percentage: 12% (Worst in the league for regular shooters)
Free Throw Percentage: 73%
Awards:
No All-Star appearance.
No Playoff appearance.
Season 5 (2013-2014) Team: Arizona Suns
Points per Game: 13.2
Assists per Game: 2.3 (Not a good passer, mostly scores when he gets the ball)
Rebounds per Game: 5.6
Steals per Game: 1.5
Field Goal Percentage: 58% (He’s a very efficient scorer inside the arc)
3-Point Percentage: 10% (Barely takes any threes, no range beyond the arc)
Free Throw Percentage: 75% (Not aggressive enough to get to the line)
Awards:
No All-Star appearance.
Playoff Appearance: First round exit.
Playoff Stats: 15 PPG, 6 RPG, 1.5 SPG (Efficient, but not a focal point)
Season 6 (2014-2015) Team: Arizona Suns
Points per Game: 14.1
Assists per Game: 2.5 (Still not known for playmaking, just an efficient scorer)
Rebounds per Game: 6.0
Steals per Game: 1.7
Field Goal Percentage: 60% (Incredible inside scoring)
3-Point Percentage: 8% (Absolutely awful from deep, almost never shoots it)
Free Throw Percentage: 72%
Awards:
No All-Star appearance.
No All-NBA selection.
Playoff Appearance: 2nd round win (wins with efficiency, not star power).
Playoff Stats: 18 PPG, 7 RPG, 2 SPG (Great efficiency)
Season 7 (2015-2016) Team: Arizona Suns
Points per Game: 15.5
Assists per Game: 3.0 (Low assist numbers, but good at setting screens and making the right cuts)
Rebounds per Game: 6.3
Steals per Game: 1.8
Field Goal Percentage: 63% (Incredible around the basket)
3-Point Percentage: 5% (Literally can't hit a 3, but doesn't shoot them)
Free Throw Percentage: 70%
Awards:
No All-Star appearance.
No All-NBA selection.
Playoff Appearance: Championship win (his team wins, but he’s more of a “quiet contributor” than a superstar).
Playoff Stats: 16 PPG, 8 RPG, 2 SPG (Key role player in winning the Finals)
Season 8 (2016-2017) Team: Arizona Suns
Points per Game: 16.0
Assists per Game: 3.5
Rebounds per Game: 6.8
Steals per Game: 2.0
Field Goal Percentage: 65% (Averaging nearly 2 dunks per game, super efficient)
3-Point Percentage: 3% (Still doesn't take threes)
Free Throw Percentage: 71%
Awards:
No All-Star appearance.
No All-NBA selection.
Playoff Appearance: Back-to-back Championship win (Still the role player who provides efficiency in the Finals)
Playoff Stats: 17 PPG, 8 RPG, 2.5 SPG (Role player who is crucial in clutch playoff moments)
Season 9 (2017-2018) Team: Arizona Suns
Points per Game: 17.2
Assists per Game: 3.7
Rebounds per Game: 7.0
Steals per Game: 2.1
Field Goal Percentage: 66% (Just finishing near the basket)
3-Point Percentage: 2% (Can't shoot from distance, but doesn't need to)
Free Throw Percentage: 70%
Awards:
No All-Star appearance.
No All-NBA selection.
Playoff Appearance: Conference Finals victory, wins 3rd Championship
Playoff Stats: 20 PPG, 9 RPG, 2 SPG (Now a true contributor in Finals)
Retirement: After 9 seasons, James Soften retires at the age of 30. He is considered an efficient role player, with a long career marked by playoff success and three championships. He was never an MVP candidate or a star player in the traditional sense but became a key contributor on winning teams through his efficiency, defense, and unselfishness. He never sought the spotlight, nor did he play with a scoring-first mentality.
Career Totals: Points per Game: 13.5
Assists per Game: 2.7
Rebounds per Game: 6.0
Steals per Game: 1.8
Field Goal Percentage: 62%
3-Point Percentage: 6% (Worst in the league, barely attempts them)
Free Throw Percentage: 71%
Total Games Played: 700
Playoff Appearances: 9
Playoff Wins: 45
Championships: 3
All-Star Appearances: 0
All-NBA Selections: 0