That's about half of what he makes an entire month now as a solder in Tikrit, Iraq. A former first-round NBA draft pick, James shares a 500-square foot living space with another soldier and eats plastic-wrapped MREs (ready-to-eat meals) Instead of an SUV he rides in a Humvee. Instead of pregame fireworks, he deals with mortar fire.
"I do get a lot of, 'What are you doing here?' " James said by phone this week.
James, 32, is a member of the Army's Task Force ODIN, which is short for Observe, Detect, Identify, Neutralize. He's part of a unit that tries to stifle the enemy's use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
"I could understand him playing with the All-Army basketball team," Capt. Curtis Byron said via e-mail. "But a situation like this is somewhat unheard of. He's set a great example as a former NBA player representing those in his former profession through his transition to a soldier and leader of others. We're all very proud of him as well as every single one of our soldiers for their personal and family sacrifices."
The Heat's first pick in the 1999 draft (25th overall), James played from 2000-02 for three teams: Miami, Charlotte Hornets and Philadelphia 76ers. He also played five seasons overseas in Japan, Turkey and Israel. But he always had an interest in the military; his uncle, Sam McDonald, spent 22 years in the Marines. He enlisted on Sept. 12, 2008 and was deployed to Iraq on July 27 with the goal of becoming an officer.
His new career offers new sets of challenges. Sandstorms, for one. Didn't have those in the NBA. And the heat, which gets up to 135 degrees, 120 in the shade
"That heat's at a different level," James says. "And we're working in our combat boots and long sleeve ACUs (Army Combat Uniforms). You just try to stay hydrated the best you can. At least it's finally cooling down now. That's one thing I didn't know; it does get cool in Iraq."
But the worst thing — other than being away from his 5-year-old son, Tim Jr. — is the constant dread of never knowing what might happen each day. The Contingency Operating Base Speicher where he's stationed, 105 miles north of Baghdad, is often the target of enemy mortar rounds.
"They're shot aimlessly at our base," he says. "The rounds don't have eyes; they could land anywhere. You have to be 100% vigilant.
"Most of the time we hear explosions but don't know where it landed. You just hear a loud 'boom.' It's a fact of life here; you just have to keep going about your daily job."
And sometimes the danger comes from within. In September a U.S. soldier, Spc. Beyshee Velez, shot and killed a civilian contractor, 27-year old Lucas Vinson on the base. The soldier has been charged with murder.
The deadly shooting spree at Fort Hood also "deeply saddened" James. "We went through that (Soldier Readiness Processing) unit before we deployed," he says. "Our hearts go out to them. We're trying to keep out of harm's way here, and we couldn't believe that something like that happened on American soil."
Heat president Pat Riley coached James and understands the danger. "While we work in this toy department of human affairs on a day-to-day basis there are those standing on that wall looking after us and making our everyday existence possible," Riley says. "I am honored to have coached Tim James and wish that God will forever hold him and his family in the palm of his hand with the protection needed until he returns safely."
James, who is 6-7, didn't want special treatment so he didn't announce his NBA past. "Corporal James is treated no different than any other soldier," Capt. Byron says. "When he messes up, he gets the same admonishment, and his fellow soldiers treat him no differently than any other. He's one of us. That's the great thing about the Army; you can leave your life behind and get a fresh start. From there, it's up to you to accept that challenge. Corporal James has done just that."
But if his fellow soldiers ask about his NBA career, he'll tell them about it. And he's found it's had a positive effect.
"It gives them a sense of pride," James says. "They see someone who played in the NBA and now I'm here with them. It makes them feel like what they're doing is worthwhile."
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