Veteran guard Mike James has committed to honoring his contract with AS Monaco Basket despite drawing offseason interest from rival EuroLeague clubs and the NBA, sources tell Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews.com.
As Urbonas reported in June, James was frustrated with Monaco after being suspended for an off-court incident prior to the semifinals of the French league playoffs and was exploring ways to leave the team. However, that issue has now been resolved.
According to Urbonas, the 35-year-old drew “strong” EuroLeague interest and was on the radar of some unspecified NBA teams. Instead, James decided to remain on his current contract with Monaco, which runs through 2027.
James only appeared in 49 NBA games over parts of two seasons, but he has long been considered one of the top players in Europe, winning EuroLeague MVP in 2024 and helping AS Monaco make its first EuroLeague championship game appearance in 2025 — the team lost in the final to Fenerbahce.
A 6’1″ point guard, James averaged 15.8 points, 5.7 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 34 EuroLeague games last season (29.1 minutes per contest). He has been an All-EuroLeague performer each of the past four years with Monaco (twice as a member of the first team and twice on the second team).
What the people really want to know: is he still tippin’ on 44s?