Quick Facts

Mike James is a former NBA basketball player who now plays in the LNB Pro A and EuroLeague with AS Monaco Basket. Mike was the first player in NBA history to go from a two-way to a regular contract without having to play in the NBA G League.

What is the Net Worth of Mike James ?

Mike James  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.

Early Years and Family

Michael Perry James, commonly known as Mike James, was born on August 18, 1990, in Portland, Oregon.

He appears to be private about his family history and has kept his parents’ names secret from the public eye.

Growing up in NE Portland, James was a basketball fanatic, but his physique and maturity trailed far behind his drive and desire.

Tony Broadous, Mike’s Grant High School coach, stated he received a lot of backlash from players and parents when Mike made the varsity squad as a sophomore.

Career in High School

James attended Grant High School in Portland, Oregon, but he was mostly unranked on national recruiting boards, and his biography on any prospect website is difficult to find.

He was only being recruited by Division III colleges at the moment. He was mentored by Tony Broadous.

James averaged 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals per game. In 2008, the team defeated Oregon City to win the state title.

James was nothing when he graduated from high school in 2008. Only MaxPreps has him listed as Oregon State’s third best player and the 184th best player in his class.

College Career

James began his collegiate career at Eastern Arizona College, a highly regarded junior college where Maurice Leitzke coached him.

He was selected to the all-conference and all-region teams and Rivals.com’s top 40 junior college athletes.

As a sophomore, Mike was the fourth-best scorer in NCAA Division I, scoring 26 points per game.

In 2010, James transferred to Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, an NCAA Division I institution.

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 defeat to Vermont in the first round of the 2012 NCAA Tournament, his senior season ended.

Professional Career

James joined 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 league.

James partnered with Paffoni Omegna of Italy under the DNA Silver Basket league brand and transferred 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 then came across Panathinaikos in Greece for the 2016–17 season.

In the 2016–17 season, he aided Panathinaikos in winning the Greek Cup and the Greek Basket League.

The athlete was also selected 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 allowed to join them for the NBA Summer League, where he signed a two-way deal, the first of its type in NBA history.

While James was entitled to divide his time between Phoenix and its G League club, the Northern Arizona Suns, he would never join the G League squad during his two-way deal.

James signed a new two-way deal with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2018. During his two-way deal with New Orleans, James was never sent to the NBA G League like he was with Phoenix.

James got a 10-day deal with the Brooklyn Nets on April 23, 2021. James was signed for the duration 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 make an unforgettable impact.

However, he is a game-changing talent in Europe, notably in the Euroleague, where he was the leading scorer in the 2018-2019 season.

On the other side, Mike James has a reputation for being a pig and entirely unmanageable. CSKA Moscow dismissed him at the start of the year owing to a lack of mood compatibility.

James took advantage of the opportunity to work as a freelancer in New York’s gorgeous suburbs.

For his journey to the Rock to be a success, he’ll need to get along with another key figure: the Roca Team’s coach, Zvezdan Mitrovic. And that is hardly a triumph.

The Basketball Tournament

James has played in The Basketball Competition (TBT), an annual single-elimination winner-take-all competition aired on ESPN, for Team Maryland and Team Hines.

James’ most impressive effort came in a 104–92 defeat versus Team Foe when he scored 35 points and collected 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.

Mike James: Girlfriend

He 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.

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)

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. 

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