James Banks III Bio
James Alton Banks III, born on January 16, 1998, is an American professional basketball player who currently suits up for the Austin Spurs of the NBA G League. A 6 ft 10 in center listed at 250 lb, he is widely recognized for his rebounding, shot-blocking ability, and defensive presence in the paint. He began his professional career in 2020 and has since built a reputation as a reliable rim protector across leagues in Israel, Greece, and the United States.
Banks played college basketball for the Texas Longhorns and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, where he earned multiple conference defensive honors. He is the son of James Banks Jr. and Sonja, and his family story has shaped the perseverance he brings to his career on and off the court.
Early Life and Background
James Alton Banks III was born on January 16, 1998, in Decatur, Georgia, United States. He grew up in the Atlanta metropolitan area in a close-knit family shaped by both joy and hardship. Banks played football throughout his childhood and did not begin playing competitive basketball until his freshman year of high school, a late start by typical standards for elite prospects.
His early athletic life was marked by significant personal loss. When Banks was four years old, his father, James Banks Jr., died in a motorcycle accident. In February 2015, his mother, Sonja, was paralyzed in a car accident. Sonja worked as a paralegal before joining the ministry, and she has remained a central figure in his life. Banks also has an older sister named Marissa, and the family has frequently been cited as his source of motivation.
Despite those challenges, Banks grew quickly into a promising basketball talent. His height, length, and timing made him a natural fit in the post, and his late introduction to the game gave him an athletic foundation from football that translated well to interior defense. He attended Columbia High School in DeKalb County, Georgia, and St. Francis High School in Alpharetta, Georgia, before settling at Mount Vernon Presbyterian School in Atlanta, where he averaged 23 points and 14 rebounds per game as a junior.
Path to Professional Basketball
After being ruled ineligible by the Georgia High School Association for using an incorrect address, Banks transferred to La Lumiere School in La Porte, Indiana, for his senior year. At La Lumiere, he led the program to its first-ever appearance at the High School Nationals title game, a breakthrough that helped establish him as a consensus four-star recruit. On October 8, 2015, he committed to play college basketball for the University of Texas at Austin.
Banks played sparingly in his two years with the Texas Longhorns, averaging under two points per game as he adjusted to the college level. After his sophomore season, he transferred to Georgia Tech and received a waiver for immediate eligibility. The move to the Atlantic Coast Conference proved transformative, allowing him to showcase his defensive skill set against top-tier competition.
James Banks III Career
Early Career (2018-2020)
At Georgia Tech, Banks emerged as one of the most intimidating interior defenders in college basketball. On January 19, 2019, he recorded a career-high 24 points and 11 rebounds in a 79-51 loss to Louisville, signaling his offensive potential. As a junior, he averaged 10.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game, ranking tenth nationally in blocks and leading the ACC in that category during conference play.
He was named to the ACC All-Defensive Team in 2019, the first of two such honors. On November 5, 2019, Banks tallied 20 points, 14 rebounds, and five blocks, sinking the game-winning free throws in an 82-81 overtime victory over NC State. A few weeks later, on December 1, he posted 12 points, 10 rebounds, and a career-high eight blocks in a 68-65 win over Bethune-Cookman. As a senior, he averaged 9.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game, again earning ACC All-Defensive Team honors and finishing with the eighth-most career blocks (154) in Georgia Tech program history.
International and G League Career (2020-Present)
On August 1, 2020, Banks signed his first professional contract, a one-year deal with Hapoel Be’er Sheva of the Israeli Premier League. He adjusted quickly to professional basketball, and in 2020-21 he led the Israel Basketball Premier League in blocked shots per game, averaging 1.8 blocks per contest. That defensive impact earned him attention from NBA organizations.
In August 2021, Banks joined the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2021 NBA Summer League, and on October 9, 2021, he signed with the New Orleans Pelicans before being waived prior to the start of the season. On October 25, he signed with the Birmingham Squadron as an affiliate player. On February 9, 2022, the Texas Legends traded for him following season-ending injuries to both of their centers, Tyler Davis and Loudon Love, giving Banks a fresh opportunity. On October 20, 2023, Banks signed with the Boston Celtics but was waived the same day, and eight days later he joined the Maine Celtics. On August 28, 2024, he signed with Greek club Aris Thessaloniki, then returned to the Maine Celtics on January 23, 2025. For the 2025-26 season, he was added to the roster of the San Antonio Spurs’ NBA G League affiliate, the Austin Spurs.
Notable Events and Milestones
Banks represented the United States at the 2016 FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship in Valdivia, Chile, where he won a gold medal and averaged 2.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game. His career has featured several signature moments, including a 24-point, 11-rebound performance against Louisville and an eight-block game against Bethune-Cookman. Leading an entire national league in blocked shots per game in his first professional season remains a defining statistical achievement.
James Banks III Career Wins
James Alton Banks III has built a résumé defined more by defensive impact and career longevity than by championship trophies. His verified achievements include leading the Israel Basketball Premier League in blocked shots per game in 2020-21 and earning two ACC All-Defensive Team selections in 2019 and 2020. He also won a gold medal with the United States under-18 national team at the 2016 FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship.
Career and Statistical Highlights
Banks’s most notable statistical achievement came in his first professional season, when he paced the Israeli Premier League in blocks per game. He followed that with sustained production in the NBA G League, where his rebounding and rim protection have kept him in demand across multiple organizations. His two ACC All-Defensive Team honors underscore a college career built on defensive consistency.
James Banks III Family
Family Background and Personal Life
James Alton Banks III was raised by his mother, Sonja, and his late father, James Banks Jr. His father died in a motorcycle accident when James was four years old, and his mother was paralyzed in a car accident in February 2015. Sonja worked as a paralegal before joining the ministry, and her faith and resilience have been a guiding force in his life. He also has an older sister named Marissa, and the family has remained central to his personal and professional journey.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year has been a period of transition and renewed opportunity for James Banks III. After signing with Greek club Aris Thessaloniki on August 28, 2024, he returned to the Maine Celtics on January 23, 2025, picking up where he left off as a defensive anchor in the paint. His familiarity with the Celtics organization made the move a smooth one and reaffirmed his value as a reliable G League contributor.
For the 2025-26 season, Banks was added to the roster of the Austin Spurs, the NBA G League affiliate of the San Antonio Spurs. The move pairs him with one of the NBA’s most respected developmental pipelines, and his shot-blocking track record should provide immediate frontcourt depth. Given his history of strong rebounding and rim protection, Banks is positioned to compete for a meaningful role in Austin’s rotation during the 2025-26 campaign.