Veteran guard Mike James, who finished the 2020/21 NBA season with the Nets, has reached a contract agreement with AS Monaco, reports Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews.com.
James, 31, has spent much of his professional career playing in international leagues. He previously spent time with the Suns and Pelicans during the 2017/18 season before heading back to Europe from 2018-21.
James had been playing for CSKA Moscow in 2021, but the Russian club agreed to allow him to join the Nets, despite the fact that his contract ran through 2023. The 6’1″ guard averaged 7.7 PPG and 4.2 APG with a .370/.355/.778 shooting line in 13 regular season games (18.2 MPG) for Brooklyn, then appeared in nine postseason contests as well.
James briefly returned to CSKA Moscow this summer, but the two sides recently agreed to terminate his contract, clearing a path for him to join a new European club. AS Monaco, which competes in France’s top basketball league, is a newcomer to the EuroLeague — the 2021/22 season will be its first in what is generally considered the world’s best basketball league outside of the NBA.
Interesting that he went to France. Maybe it’s the hype of the league drawing the “dreamers” there. Since Mike James is the first, I am curious who would be next to join the league instead of trying to go into the G-League
This is a bummer. I was hoping to see him join an NBA team for a full season this year. Dude can flat out play.