By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Following Sergio Rodriguez, Vasilije Micic, Luigi Datome, and Nicolò Melli, the latest protagonist of the #RememberTheWhy campaign by EuroLeague Basketball and Adidas is AS Monaco’s leader and superstar Mike James.
The American guard commented on when he approached European basketball. “I didn’t really have any knowledge of Europe or overseas basketball, what the like concept was. So I didn’t really know a lot about it. I was ready for anything. I was ready to go hoop. I like playing basketball and I got an opportunity to keep playing. So I was just thankful”, he said about the beginning of his career overseas.
He then went on to talk about the role he embraced for new point guards who are now emerging in Europe. “I like to think I’m like the gap between, the new point guards. There’s kind of a lot of American point guards now who are kind of playing more like how I played when I first got over and was kind of frowned upon, but now they’re, you know, kind of like the new wave, which is cool just to watch and to watch the development”, Mike James added.
Being asked what he prefers between championship and MVP in the EuroLeague, he gave a direct and sure answer. “Just the championship, really. I don’t have an MVP, but I don’t think it like hurts me in any way, really. I think there are a couple of years I could have won it and I think that’s a general thing that people know, so it doesn’t bother me as much. But definitely, two championships. I need two”, Monaco’s guard said.
And then Mike James, who has been averaging 16.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game in this year’s EuroLeague, said why he keeps on pushing after several years at the highest level. “I think I just love it. I just enjoy basketball. Like watching it, studying it, playing it, and being around it. Watching other people play. I just enjoy every facet of it. So I think that’s my why”, the Oregon native added.
PHOTO CREDIT: Turkish Airlines EuroLeague