By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
In the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 5, Mike James led AS Monaco to the impressive 107-79 victory against Maccabi Tel Aviv, scoring 24 points with 4 rebounds and 5 assists, shooting 6/9 from two and 4/7 from beyond the arc, in 21:23 minutes on his domestic court.
Most importantly, he went over the 4.000-point wall in the European competition, playing it with Baskonia, Panathinaikos, Milan, CSKA Moscow, and finally AS Monaco. He joined Juan Carlos Navarro (4.152 points), Nando De Colo (active with 4.278 points), and Vassilis Spanoulis (4.455 points).
After the victory, AS Monaco’s head coach Sasa Obradovic praised the American guard. “It’s a team victory with Mike James who guides us throughout the meetings, on a collective level and is also capable of making a difference. His level of basketball is incredible, he makes everyone love him. For me, he is beyond the EuroLeague level”, the Serbian leader commented.
Waiting for Jordan Loyd’s return to the court, playing alongside Elie Okobo and Kemba Walker at the beginning of the 2023-24 EuroLeague Regular Season, the 33-year-old superstar is having a stellar campaign thus far with 18.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game, shooting 57.1% from two and 42.4% from the three-point range.
During his 10-year EuroLeague career, Mike James has been averaging 16.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game, shooting 49.7% from two-point range and 80.4% at the charity stripe. He also played for the Phoenix Suns, the New Orleans Pelicans, and the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA.
PHOTO CREDIT: Turkish Airlines EuroLeague