By Antonis Stroggylakis / info@eurohoops.net
Panathinaikos combo guard Mike James couldn’t help but feel delighted and proud with the back-to-back Greek League championship title he won with the Greens.
“They will know we won two in a row even in 20 years from now,” James told Eurohoops. “It’s important, you always want to win and especially titles.”
Following 2016-2017, James managed to sign his first NBA contract by signing a guaranteed deal with the Phoenix Suns. He was averaging 10.4 points, 3.8 assists and 2.2 rebounds per game until he was waived after playing 32 matches. “I started where I wanted to, getting myself in the NBA, and I think I played well. I think I showed good for myself. I was happy with myself, so I moved on and came back here”.
The New Orleans Pelicans acquired James in January but also released him after four games. The 27-year-old American player then returned to Panathinaikos, with an extra air of confidence stemming from how pleased he was with his display during his maiden campaign in the NBA.
“Playing well actually made me feel better about coming back to Europe.If I didn’t feel I played well I would wanted to stay and force things. But I was happy with what I did and then moved on by coming back here,” James added.
There have been many rumors these past weeks connecting James with newly crowned Italian League champion Olimpia Milano. The player himself neither confirmed or denied these rumors, also stating that he’d consider staying with Panathinaikos, under certain circumstances.
“I’m a Panathinaikos player. In a few weeks, I’ll be a free agent so I will talk with several of these teams. [Renewing] is not about me really, it’s about keeping the core together. If we do, I’m up for it. It depends. Of course, the financial matter is important, but it has to do with my role in the team also, which will be almost the same in every team. I will focus on the financial part and the core of the team,” James said.
James also mentioned the following about the interruption of the game early in the second half and the comments of Olympiacos head coach Giannis Sfairopoulos on the negative effect this had for his team. “To be honest, when things like that happen you can’t make up excuses. It’s a final, you’ve got to be focused.”