By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
One of the most dominant scorers in EuroLeague history, Mike James, is entering his 10th season in the top European competition, looking for his first title, but didn’t get off to a great start.
Monaco lost the first two rounds to Valencia and Virtus Bologna, but there’s still a long road ahead. They are waiting for the highly anticipated debut of a 12-year NBA veteran, Kemba Walker, who joined the stacked backcourt of the French champions, along with James, Elie Okobo, and Jordan Loyd.
James assures they started on the right foot off the court, but they still need to figure out how to play together.
“We are getting along great off the court. It’s all been going pretty well. But on the court, I have zero idea. I think with Kemba and Jordan being out right now, we haven’t really had a chance to even explore it at this point. So it’s pretty much a question mark for us as well. So I think the more they get back healthy and come in and play with us, and we figure out just rotation patterns and who can play with who and what each other’s spots are, because I think last year, me, Eli, and Jordan built that a little bit, how we played, playing all together at some points. But adding Kemba in, we have to re-explore that and obviously, us three will have chemistry, but we also have to figure out what Kemba likes to do,“ James said to Mozzart Sport prior to the EuroLeague Round 3 game against Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade, where Walker could play for the first time in European basketball, since he traveled to Belgrade with the squad.
The 32-year-old won the French championship and Cup last season and made it to the EuroLeague Final Four. After the summer of speculations about his future, he decided to stay with Monaco for another year. That wouldn’t be possible without the good relationship with coach Sasa Obradovic, who recently spoke highly of James and their relationship.
“It’s good. I mean, obviously, this is basically our third year together. There’s a lot of respect on both ends there and just a lot of passion and energy. Two people who love basketball, so we get along pretty well actually. He is always on me a lot about a lot of different things. Trying to open my mind to new ways to be effective and to impact the game. I appreciate that about him.”
Interestingly, it’s the first time in James’ career that he stayed with a club for longer than two seasons.
“In Baskonia, I think it was time for me to move on at that step, I think basically the whole team moved on my second year in Baskonia. So, that just kind of was what it was. And my second year in Panathinaikos, not that they didn’t want me, I think they just didn’t have the financials at the time to keep the core of the team together. I was just one of the people that they didn’t have the money to keep. So, you know, you don’t really have a choice in that matter. And obviously, I had family problems in CSKA. You kind of can’t help things that happen in your career and what happens at each stage. And this is just the stage that I’m at now.”
The dynamic guard, known for his scoring prowess and buzzer beaters, is entering his 12th year as a professional athlete, spending most of his career in EuroLeague, with the current season being his tenth with the European elite. Overall, he’s satisfied with what he’s achieved so far.
“I think all the levels that I thought I could get to, I surpassed. I would have never imagined the level I was able to get to and just sustain over the last 5-6 years. I’m just happy I got a chance to do that. Happy I still love playing basketball and getting better every day and hopefully I can continue to play at a high level.”
He achieved many successes on a club level, but never got the chance to compete with the national teams, unlike many other compatriots who chose to represent another flag. However, he admitted there was a certain interest for him to play as a naturalized player.
“I think leading up to every summer where there’s a big tournament, I always kind of get a couple of interests. And my agent always kind of asks me a question, what do I think? And I think I’ve always been kind of hesitant. The season’s really long, you don’t get much time at home and I kind of like being at home. But I think if the right opportunity came along and the right team and the right situation, I would consider it and maybe play. It just all depends on what’s going on.”
In an interview with Eurohoops, his teammate Jordan Loyd recently said that Team USA should consider EuroLeague players more, especially after another unsuccessful World Cup campaign.
“Well, in the Olympics, I think always the big players will play, so that will never be really an option. Obviously that’s the biggest tournament. So then, in the smaller tournaments, I think, yeah. Why not? Americans who play over here, we know everybody, we play against everybody. I think we obviously have the skill set to play and I think, sometimes you gotta take some chances and just, give us a shot, but I mean, do I ever think they’ll do it? No. And do I think they’ll ever consider it? No. But it would be fun to explore it,” Mike James concluded.