“Did we have a date?” Leaving the Monaco locker room, following a morning training session at Gaston-Médecin, on February 13, Mike James took off his sunglasses and seemed a bit surprised. “Yes, we came to talk regarding your record and a little regarding the rest. If you’re ok”. MJ nods. It’s a yes. What we might also have slipped to him, by the way: thank you for the show, these crazy evenings for 2 and a half years at Gaston-Médecin…
Mike, how does it feel to be 29 points away from being alone at the top of the scorers?
I don’t want to think regarding it too much, actually. That would be the risk of getting distracted, I want to stay focused on the game, on how the Roca Team must win the matches. The most important thing is to achieve our goals, the top 4 before the play-offs. We remain on a good run in the Euroleague, we must continue.
Once the record is broken, you risk marking the history of European basketball forever…
It will be fun, of course, but we have collective challenges to overcome. And if I beat the record, the challenges with my team will be the same, always just as intense and very close. About this record, I think it’s something that I will particularly appreciate at the end of my career. I will look back and think regarding how far I have come to achieve this result. And there, yes, I think it will be a big thing for me. A great feeling, something special and important, it’s true.
When you arrived in Europe in 2012, first in Croatia for a few months, then in Italian series B, might you imagine such a destiny?
No. You know, when I turned professional, when I signed in Europe, I had only one idea, quite simply, to make a living playing basketball. It was my first challenge. You are just starting out, you are not known in Europe, you have to make room for yourself. Things happened gradually. You work, you gain confidence, you work once more, you reach the Euroleague and you make your way as far as possible.
“I feel like a student with the coach”
You are on a pretty crazy streak, 26 matches in a row in the Euroleague, always scoring in 2 figures… What is the secret to never flinching?
I don’t feel like I’m doing anything extraordinary. If there is only one secret, it is the passion for the game. I love basketball more than anything. As soon as the match starts, I feel invested, it’s the adrenaline that wins. I love this feeling of helping my team win matches. What’s more in big atmospheres.
Do you have a mental trainer, for example?
Not really. I rely on simple things, coming to the gym every day, trying to continually improve. I find little things I can work on and it always motivates me.
What is the weight of your relationship with coach Sasa Obradovic? Told him that he was progressing as a coach with a leader like you…
In truth, I feel like a student with the coach. I always try to improve and understand the patterns he wants to put in place, in the search for performance. There are always different angles in basketball. The audience’s angle, the players’ angle, and the coach’s angle, who wants specific things.
Would you say you are in the best shape of your life at 33?
It’s hard to say. There is one thing that I appreciate, I don’t have any injuries: I can commit fully, work every day, go to the gym. I feel good, it’s true, but it’s hard to get back on track since I started.
When you decided to sign for Monaco in 2022, we felt that you wanted to somehow embody a team. In this respect, is it a winning bet?
I wouldn’t really say that the goal of coming to Monaco was to say, ‘this is my team’ or anything like that. I just wanted to have an important role in the construction of an ambitious project. After the Nets, I found that Monaco was a good choice in my development. And if you look, we see that we are taking steps over these 3 seasons, we are growing, we are becoming a better team every year and we have bigger goals. It’s the job of everyone at the club, the coaches, all the players. We achieved more milestones last season and we want to achieve even more this year. To go ever higher.
“Kemba Walker helps me a lot”
How far can the Roca Team go this season?
We will see. We have achieved some great things so far. We want to win titles, in all the competitions we compete in. We can do it, really, that’s our hope. However, announcement effects are not really my thing. Everything is earned on the pitch.
Your former teammate, Chima Moneke, said the Detroit Pistons would struggle to qualify for the Euroleague playoffs; Is that your feeling too?
I wouldn’t say that. No, I don’t really have the same opinion on this subject; there is level at all levels in the NBA squad.
Speaking of the NBA in 2021, you are playing in the conference semi-finals with Kevin Durant’s Brooklyn Nets… An anthology half that ends in the 7th game following overtime for the future champion Milwaukee. Did this outcome leave you with any major regrets?
We lead 2-0, the Bucks come back, Kyrie (Irving) sprains his ankle during match 4 (falling on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s foot following a shoot, editor’s note), he cannot play matches 5, 6 and neither does the 7th, ultimately… Despite this, it’s a coin toss, in the last round. There are sometimes times when a little bit of luck doesn’t fall on your side. You have to accept it, bounce back to other challenges
Your relationship with Kemba Walker, the man with 12,000 points with the Hornets?
Kemba, he has incredible knowledge of the game. We talk a lot, he makes me put my finger on exciting aspects of the game. I would say it helps me a lot.
Where does your nickname, The Natural, from University, from college come from?
In reality, it is much older. I’ve been wearing it since I was six. I was a jack of all trades, I loved all sports. At home they thought I was doing pretty well. It came like that.
Are your parents proud of you, from home in Portland ?
(smile) I hope so. I know they are happy for me. (MJ’s parents came to see him play in Monaco and several times in Europe).
Your mother, in particular, is apparently a big sports fan?
Absolutely (smile). Passionate, that’s the word.
Mike James, in 20 years?
Retired, trying to enjoy life.
