Roar Sign NBA G-League Center

NEW TOWN, ND – The 4 Bears Roar announced on the Monday the signing of center Lacey James for the remainder of the 2026 TBL season.

The 6’9”, 240 lbs center joins the Roar after spending the last 4 season in the NBA G League. James graduated from Northern Illinois averaging 8.9 points and 7.7 rebounds a game before signing overseas. He averaged 12.8 points and 8.0 rebounds a game for the Surrey Scorchers of the British Basketball League which caught the eye of NBA scouts. James would sign with the Westchester Knicks, the minor league affiliate of the NBA’s New York Knicks, however due to some health concerns, it wouldn’t be until the 2022-2023 season that he would get to suit up in an NBA G League game.

The Grand Rapids, Michigan native would get that shot at home signing with the Grand Rapids Gold, the minor league team for the Denver Nuggets (NBA). James saw action in 16 games before being acquired by the Texas Legends, the NBA G League affiliate of the Dallas Mavericks (NBA). In just 10 games there, he would average 10.1 points and 6.9 rebounds a game while shooting 45.8% from the floor. During the off-season, James would be traded to the Portland Trailblazers (NBA) affiliate for the 18th overall draft pick in the G League Draft. However James would then join the Windy City Bulls, the minor league affiliate of the Chicago Bulls (NBA). In his first year with the Bulls, he would play in 28 games and resign with the team for the next season. After just 2 games in the 2024-2025 season, James would be acquired by the Raptors 905, the NBA G-League team of the Toronto Raptors (NBA). James would see significant playing time with the Raptors averaging 23.1 minutes a game, shooting 45.8% from the floor and grabbing 6.4 rebounds a game.

After the season, James would work out in the off-season for NBA teams and ultimately sign with the Wisconsin Herd, the G-League affiliate of the Milwaukee Bucks (NBA). He would start half the games for the Herd averaging 5.0 points and 4.7 rebounds a game.

James joins the 4 Bears Roar, currently 17-1 and have clinched the TBL West Regular Season title. The 29 year old center knows what it takes to play at a high level, says he’s ready to help the Roar raise the TBL Championship trophy.

“I’m excited to join the team,” said James.

The Roar have six games left on the 2026 TBL schedule including the next two weekends at home. James will arrive in North Dakota on Monday and join the team on Tuesday for workouts and learning the system.

“He’s a big body at 6’9” that moves well,” said Trey Stephens, the Roar’s Director of Player Personnel. “His size, his strength, his mobility really stand out and will play very well in this league.”

James will be in uniform on May 8th when the Roar host the Willamette Valley Jaguars at the 4 Bears Event Center. The night will honor the Missing And Murdered Indigenous Women And Relatives movement (MMIWR), focused around advocacy and resources for finding Native Americans that are still missing or unsolved murders, which is at a very high rate in the United States.

Get tickets for the game at 4BearsRoar.com or the ticket window.