By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The third season in a row at AS Monaco for Mike James.
James, 32, did not use the option, an NBA-out clause, for the last year on his contract and will instead stay with Monaco, the team announced Wednesday.
The explosive guard is coming off his ninth campaign in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Producing 15.9 points per contest, he pushed La Roca Team to the first EuroLeague Final Four participation in team history. Monaco ended up in third place in Kaunas. Besides the points behind 38% from the field, he added 4.4 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game.
The firsts of the 2022-23 season stretched to winning the Betclic Elite LNB Pro A championship. James contributed 13.0 points, 5.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 0.9 steals per contest over 31 appearances en route to being crowned champion of France.
The biggest difference between the previous and next season is Kemba Walker forming an intriguing pairing of guards. Other newcomers are Petr Cornelie, Mam Jaiteh, and Terry Tarpey. Returning teammates are Jaron Blossomgame, John Brown III, Alpha Diallo, Donta Hall, Jordan Loyd, Yoan Makoundou, Donatas Motiejunas, Elie Okobo, and Matthew Strazel along with head coach Sasa Obradovic.
James is a veteran of 58 NBA games spread across the Brooklyn Nets in 2020-21, and the New Orleans Pelicans and Phoenix Suns in 2017-18. However, most of his career is focused in Europe with Caja Laboral/Laboral Kutxa, Panathinaikos, and AX Armani Exchange Milan standing out among multiple stops.