By Aris Barkas/ info@eurohoops.net
Despite rumors regarding his possible departure from the Monegasque side, Mike James officially extended his stay in Monaco, signing a new contract until 2027.
According to BeBasket, the new contract should be worth nine million dollars. Eurohoops also reported that this was the offer on the table from the start of the talks which side would pay attached US taxes pending.
Moreover, considering overall favorable taxation in the principality, Mike James and AS Monaco ultimately found an agreement to stay together. According to the same sources, there was a lot of interest in the 2023-25 season MVP from many EuroLeague clubs, and Olympiacos and Virtus Bologna had already made offers, at least verbally. Ultimately, James has decided to stay in Monaco, a natural choice considering his status in the club and his relationship with coach Sasa Obradovic.
In the past few days, during the LNB Finals – ultimately won – against Paris Basketball, he said that his dream would have been lifting the EuroLeague trophy alongside Obradovic with the red-and-white side from the Principality.
For the first time in his long overseas career, the soon-to-be 34-year-old experienced guard was named EuroLeague MVP after an astonishing campaign of 17.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game. He was also awarded the LNB Finals MVP after carrying the side to domestic success.
He couldn’t bring Monaco to the EuroLeague Final Four in back-to-back fashion, as Fenerbahce won Game 5 of their Playoff series on the road to prolong their season all the way to the Uber Arena in Berlin.
Since moving to the team in September 2021, Mike James has won two French championships (2023 and 2024), and one French Cup (2022-23). With AS Monaco, he has also been inserted twice into the All-EuroLeague First Team (2022 and 2024), and once into the All-EuroLeague Second Team (2023).
Before joining Monaco, the American guard also wore the jerseys of Baskonia, Panathinaikos, Milan, and CSKA Moscow in the EuroLeague. He also had experiences in the NBA, playing for the Phoenix Suns, the New Orleans Pelicans, and ultimately for the Brooklyn Nets.
✍ Mɪᴋᴇ Jᴀᴍᴇs ʀᴇsᴛᴇ ᴀ̀ Mᴏɴᴀᴄᴏ ! 🇲🇨
👑 Couronné MVP et meilleur marqueur de l’histoire de l’#Euroleague cette saison, Mike James prolonge l’aventure sur le Rocher 🐐
➕️ Un contrat de trois ans pour continuer de viser les étoiles, au plus haut niveau européen ! 🌠… pic.twitter.com/nwAGCCQf3t
— AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket) June 14, 2024
PHOTO CREDIT: Turkish Airlines EuroLeague