The EuroLeague is still part of Mike James’s future

After leaving Monaco and seeing his move to Barcelona fall through at the last minute, Mike James has found a new home: the former Olimpia Milano player will play for Anadolu Efes, one of the powerhouses of Turkish basketball and a regular contender in the EuroLeague, which it won in two consecutive seasons, in 2021 and 2022.

As announced by the Istanbul-based club, James has signed a one-year contract with an option for a second year. The Portland native, born in 1990, was brought in to lend his experience to a club that did not achieve significant results in the season just concluded, falling short in the semifinals of the Turkish league and failing to make the EuroLeague playoffs.

MVP of the prestigious European competition in 2024, James is the classic American “journeyman,” who, after leaving college, has played for numerous European clubs: in Italy, he played for Omegna in 2013–2014 and Olimpia Milano in 2018–2019; other clubs he has represented include KK Zagreb, Baskonia, Panathinaikos, CSKA Moscow, and Monaco. He also has about 50 total NBA appearances to his credit, having played for the Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Pelicans between 2017 and 2018 and the Brooklyn Nets in 2021.