By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
AS Monaco leader Mike James is set to extend his contract.
James, 33, will sign a three-year contract extension worth nine million dollars, according to Gabriel Pantel-Jouve of BeBasket.
That was the offer on the table from the start of the talks with which side would pay attached US taxes pending, per Eurohoops sources. Considering overall favorable taxation in the principality, the 33-year-old point guard and La Roca Team apparently reached an agreement to renew their collaboration until the end of the 2026-27 season.
The reigning season MVP of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague has been the driving force on the court and the most popular player for Monaco over the last three years. The long-term contract extension adds to speculation regarding potentially wrapping up his playing days with his current club.
“This is my third season in Monaco and it would be great to continue here to win the EuroLeague with the same coach,” he recently discussed his future, more or less setting the bar for the next three years.
Getting the MVP nod behind 17.9 points, 5.1 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per contest, James guided his side to the Playoffs of the 2023-24 installment of the EuroLeague. On the wrong end of a crazy best-of-five series, Monaco was eliminated by Fenerbahce Beko.
The domestic campaign is ongoing for the defending champions in France, featuring a 1-1 tie with Paris in a best-of-five series for the Betclic Elite title.
The EuroLeague star
After playing in 282 games of Europe’s premier club continental competitions, stretching across ten seasons, James was named most valuable player of the 2023-24 season. Direct recognition of a brilliant campaign with Monaco, but also his marvelous overseas career.
Coming out of Lamar in 2012, James played in Croatia and from there to the second-tier division of Italy. Productive campaigns led him to Greece and Kolossos H Hotels, and from there to Caja Laboral / Laboral Kutxa, currently Baskonia, for his first taste of EuroLeague action. Explosive showings expanding to Panathinaikos, AX Armani Exchange Milan, and Monaco made him a household name in the Old Continent.
A recipient of the Alphonso Ford EuroLeague Top Scorer Trophy in 2019, a member of the All-EuroLeague First Team in 2021-22 and 2023-24, and of the Second Team in 2018-19 and 2022-23.
With the NBA calling, he took a couple of breaks from the EuroLeague. James logged 58 appearances between the Brooklyn Nets in 2020-21, and the Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Pelicans in 2017-18.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net