Mike James has never played a regular-season game for the Miami Heat, but the point guard certainly left his mark during the summer months and training camp this season.

"He's probably one of the best people I've ever met," center Alonzo Mourning said of James. "I'm glad to see him back because we need that positive energy around, especially during this time."

The Heat re-signed James on Tuesday after cutting him late in training camp. An impressive summer turned into a disappointed training camp for the 26-year-old from Duquesne, but after averaging 23.3 points in the CBA,coach Pat Riley brought James back.

"I see the same things I see in him now that I saw in training camp," Riley said. "It was just a numbers problem then."

James said he understood the position the Heat were in and he was always confident he would return to the NBA.

"I believe he (Riley) knew that I was a diamond in the rough, but we didn't need a diamond in the rough," James said. "We needed a diamond."

James shined with the Rockford Lightning of the CBA, in one game coming just three steals shy of a quadruple-double. James said the difference between his play in training camp, when he shot a miserable 22.6 percent, and now is his approach.

"I stopped thinking on the court and I started having fun," James said. "My confidence is high, I'm not really worrying about anything, I'm not doubting my game and I'm just going to go play ball."

Riley said he doesn't intend on using James right away.

"We want to develop Mike," Riley said. "It seems as though after last night it could be the time, but there may come a time where it goes from development to the fire."

James has no concerns about how he will be used.

"I have no expectations, I'm just going to have fun," James said. "Before I put more pressure on myself than I needed to, and this time I'm just going to play, relax and work hard."