Cameron Payne returns to Europe after his surprising experience in Belgrade
Less than 48 hours after Mike James suffered a very serious injury—which is expected to sideline him for a long time due to a torn Achilles tendon—Anadolu Efes has found his replacement: the Istanbul club has decided to bring Cameron Payne back to Europe—a point guard born in 1994 with a journeyman career in the NBA, fresh off a stint with Partizan Belgrade last season that was as surprising as it was brief.
The urgency to find a suitable replacement became clear after medical tests confirmed the worst-case scenario for Mike James. The American veteran, who was injured during the road game against Red Star that ended in a 77-72 loss for Efes, suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in the final moments of the third quarter. Before the injury, the former Olimpia Milano player had scored 11 points and dished out 3 assists, reaffirming his central role in the Turkish team’s offense.
The surgery James underwent on Friday afternoon was a complete success, but the club estimates his recovery time will range from seven to nine months. In Istanbul, there is talk of the possibility of seeing him back on the court for the EuroLeague Final Four, but this is an extremely optimistic scenario.
Cameron Payne is an interesting option to replace the American point guard. The Murray State product arrived in Belgrade on December 23 of last year to play for Partizan in the EuroLeague, the Serbian league, and the ABA Liga, the Balkan league. His European stint, however, proved to be short-lived: as early as February 18, 2026, he returned to the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers, eventually parting ways with the franchise on the eve of the playoffs.
Mike James’ reaction to the injury perfectly captured the drama of the moment. “It really sucks; it’s terrible. Thanks to everyone who sent me messages. I appreciate each and every one of you,” the 36-year-old wrote on social media, immediately receiving an avalanche of messages of support from fans, teammates, and European basketball enthusiasts.
