The Phoenix Fuel Masters are betting big on big man James Dickey III to get the Charles Tiu era off to a roaring start. An experienced import in various leagues globally, Dickey will be tasked with anchoring a team in flux as the Fuel Masters let go of nearly half their roster and are now looking for both game-changing talent and leadership.
James Dickey, the Double-Double Machine
Dickey neither has a decorated collegiate career nor NBA credentials, but he is certainly bringing some solid international experience, having played in Hungary, Germany, Israel, France, and Indonesia. Crucially, he has been productive at pretty much every stop, putting up 12.8 points and 12.4 rebounds for Szedeák in Hungary in his first international stint and 11.9 points and 9.9 rebounds for Alba in the same league back in 2023-24.
The 6-foot-10 Dickey also had two eventful seasons with Pelita Jaya in the Indonesian Basketball League, teaming up with Justin Brownlee and former PBA import KJ McDaniels to lead the franchise to a championship in 2024. The 29-year-old reinforcement averaged 12.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks in his first go-round for Pelita Jaya and was brought back last year, putting up 13.6 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks.
Fueling the Fuel Masters’ Interior
Now with Phoenix, James Dickey III will be counted on to man the interior on both ends for a team heavily reliant on Jason Perkins to anchor the paint. And judging by his overseas career, the 6-foot-10 big man just might be what the doctor ordered for Charles Tiu and the Fuel Masters.
Dickey is an inside operator who can finish around the basket and command the action as a defensive lynchpin. He’s a consistent double-double threat who has shown a growing comfort level as a main option on offense, while also grabbing rebounds and protecting the paint with his length and timing.
But for a team that dropped nearly half of its roster, James Dickey III will likely be asked to lift an even heavier burden than usual. Whether he is up for it will likely determine how Charles Tiu performs in his first tournament at the helm.
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Other Imports:
Justin Brownlee | Barangay Ginebra San Miguel
Cady Lalanne | NLEX Road Warriors
Terrell Brown-Soares | Magnolia Hotshots
Jaylen Johnson | Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
Daniel Ochefu | Blackwater Bossing
Mubashar Ali | Terrafirma Dyip
