Mike James was an NBA basketball player who now plays for AS Monaco Basket in the LNB Pro A and the EuroLeague.
Mike was the first player in NBA history to transition from a two-way contract to a regular contract without being sent to the NBA G League.
Given how he’s been attacking defenses in Europe and how he’s been able to develop steadily, it doesn’t appear that it’s too late for him to wow an NBA team and return to the league.
Mike has established himself as one of Europe’s top point men. James’ career in basketball has brought him all over the place. He honed his skills in Croatia, Israel, Italy, Greece, and Spain, where he learned the value of foundations.
Mike James is a basketball player who self-taught himself. Underappreciated to the point of oblivion.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Michael Perry James |
| Known as | Mike James |
| Nickname | The Amityville Scorer |
| Birth Date | August 18, 1990 |
| Birth Place | Portland, Oregon |
| Residence | Not Available |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Education | Grant (Portland, Oregon), Eastern Arizona (2008–2010), and Lamar (2010–2012) |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
| Father’s Name | Not Available |
| Mother’s Name | Lisa Behrndt |
| Siblings | Not Available |
| Age | 33 years old |
| Height | 6 feet 1 inch |
| Weight | 196 lb (89 kg) |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Body type | Athletic |
| Profession | Basketball Player |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Girlfriend | Not Available |
| Children | None |
| Active since | 2012 – present |
| Teams |
|
| Endorsements | Not Available |
| Net Worth | $2 million |
| NBA Draft | 2012 / Undrafted |
| Position | Point guard |
| League |
|
| Merch | Trading Card |
| Social Media | Instagram, Twitter |
| Last Update | April 2024 |
Early Life & Family
Michael Perry James, better known as Mike James, was born in Portland, Oregon, on August 18, 1990.
He appears to be reserved about his family background and has kept his parents’ identities hidden from the media.
It is unknown whether or not he has any siblings. He acquired his passion for basketball at a young age and began practicing in order to pursue a great career in the sport.
James was a basketball junkie growing up in NE Portland, but his body and maturity lagged far behind his drive and passion.
When Mike made the varsity team as a sophomore, Tony Broadous, who coached him at Grant High School, claimed he got a lot of flak from players and parents.
High School Career
James went to Grant High School in Portland, Oregon, but he was generally unranked on national recruiting boards, and it isn’t easy to discover his profile on any prospect website.
At the time, he was only being recruited by Division III schools. Tony Broadous coached him.
James had a 15-point, 4-rebound, and 3-steal per-game average. The squad went on to win the state championship in 2008, defeating Oregon City.
Coming out of high school as a senior in 2008, James was nothing. Only MaxPreps has him ranked as Oregon State’s No. 3 player and the 184th overall in his class.
Read about Houston Rockets player of the NBA, Christian Wood!
College Career
James began his college career at Eastern Arizona College, a nationally recognized junior college where Maurice Leitzke coached him.
He was named to the all-conference and all-region teams and Rivals.com’s top 40 junior college players.
As a sophomore, Mike was the fourth-best scorer in NCAA Division I, averaging 26 points per game.
In 2010, James transferred to Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, an NCAA Division I school.
In 2010–11, he played for coach Steve Roccaforte, and in 2011–12, he played for coach Pat Knight.
He scored 29 points against the 2012 NCAA champion, the University of Kentucky, in one of his most memorable games.
With a loss to Vermont in the first round of the 2012 NCAA Tournament, his senior season ended.
Professional Career
James signed with Croatian club Zagreb for the 2012–13 season in August 2012.
In February 2013, he signed a season-long contract with Hapoel Galil Elyon in Israel’s second-tier division.
James joined with Paffoni Omegna of Italy under the DNA Silver Basket league name and moved to Kolossos Rodou of Greece in August 2014.
James signed the Phoenix Suns for the 2015 NBA Summer League in July 2015.
He re-signed with Baskonia for another season the same month and later came across Panathinaikos in Greece for the 2016–17 season.
In the 2016–17 season, he assisted Panathinaikos in winning the Greek Cup and the Greek Basket League.
The athlete was also named the Most Spectacular Player in the Greek Basket League that year.
NBA Career
In the summer of 2017, the Phoenix Suns approached James, and he was able to join them for the NBA Summer League, where he signed a two-way contract, the first of its kind in NBA history.
While James was eligible to split his time between Phoenix and their G League affiliate, the Northern Arizona Suns, he would never join the G League squad during his two-way contract.
James signed a new two-way contract with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2018. During his two-way contract with New Orleans, James was never assigned to the NBA G League as he was with Phoenix.
James obtained a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets on April 23, 2021. James was signed for the remainder of the 2020–21 season on May 13.
Criticized By European Coaches
Mike James, in particular, is not like the rest. In the NBA draft, he was passed over by Phoenix, New Orleans, and Brooklyn, and he did not leave an indelible imprint.
However, he is a game-changing player in Europe, particularly in the Euroleague, where he was the top scorer in the 2018-2019 season.
On the other hand, Mike James has a reputation for being a pig and completely uncontrollable. CSKA Moscow sacked him at the start of the year due to a lack of mood compatibility.
James took advantage of the opportunity to work as a freelancer in New York’s beautiful suburbs.
For his trip to the Rock to be a success, he’ll need to get along with another influential figure: the Roca Team’s coach, Zvezdan Mitrovic. And that is hardly a victory.
Also, read on shooting guard for the NBA club Boston Celtics Derrick White!
The Basketball Tournament
James has competed in The Basketball Competition (TBT), an annual single-elimination winner-take-all tournament broadcast on ESPN, for Team Maryland and Team Hines.
James’ most spectacular performance came in a 104–92 loss against Team Foe when he scored 35 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
Mike James: Exterior Features
James is a brave and aggressive player on the court. He’s performed in hostile circumstances throughout the world.
After all, in the United States, no flares are set off in the stands.
Despite his scoring prowess, James was classified as an undersized two-guard at 6-foot-1. Talking about his weight, he weighs 89 kg.
It’s been a long and winding road. It’s a feat that only a few men have accomplished. Mike James, a basketball anomaly, is in a league of his own because of this.
Don’t miss on Sacramento Kings Drafted Player Hassan Whiteside!
Mike James: Girlfriend
Mike James is currently single and has never been in a relationship. His secret lover has not been the subject of any rumors.
He may have had a few previous relationships, but he hasn’t publicly stated any specifics because he prefers to keep his personal life private and away from the media.
Net Worth
Mike was the 550th highest-paid player in the NBA and the Brooklyn Nets’ 21st highest-paid player. His estimated net worth is around $2 million.
His fortune is primarily derived from the earnings he generates due to his successful basketball career. He also makes money via sponsorships and commercials for numerous brands.
According to reports, the guard reportedly signed a one-year contract earning roughly €900,000.00.
He will also receive a large sum of money from CSKA Moscow due to the contract termination.
Moreover, Monaco busts the budget for James, offering him the most significant pay ever paid to a basketball star in France.
The biggest salaries in the French championship (Guerschon Yabusele, Charles Kahudi, Moustapha Fall at Asvel) signed last season for 300,000 euros per year or 25,000 euros per month net. It’s five times more for James.
He earned annual salaries of $77,250 for the New Orleans Pelicans and $87,552 for the Phoenix Suns.
Awards & Achievements
- Alphonso Ford Trophy (2019)
- All-EuroLeague Second Team (2019)
- 2x Greek League champion (2017, 2018)
- Italian Supercup champion (2018)
- Greek League Most Spectacular Player (2017)
- Greek Cup winner (2017)
- First-team All-Southland (2012)
Social Media Presence
Mike is a social media activist who has been seen posting photos on various social media sites.
Mike James has a bottomless passion for soccer, as anyone who follows him on social media can attest. However, if you have not yet followed him, below is the link to his social media accounts;
Instagram– 158k followers
Twitter– 37.5k followers
FAQs
What happened to Mike James?
Mike James has signed with AS Monaco after a spectacular exit from his old team in Russia, CSKA Moscow. His new club has competed against the best teams in France and is one of the newest members of the Euroleague.
Is Mike James Good?
Mike is a fantastic basketball player. He’s one of those players who can pick up the ball at any time and play in various positions due to his attacking versatility.
He’s also a smaller and stronger guard, so he’s a solid defender.
