The Euroleague's 50 best players: 30-21

The Euroleague’s 50 best players: 30-21

BELGRADE, SERBIA - MAY 18: dLuigi Datome, #70 of Fenerbahce Dogus Istanbul in action during the 2018 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague F4 Semifinal B game between Fenerbahce Dogus Istanbul v Zalgiris Kaunas at Stark Arena on May 18, 2018 in Belgrade, Serbia. (Photo by Francesco Richieri/EB via Getty Images) /

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LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 20: Phoenix Suns Guard Mike James (55) drives past Los Angeles Clippers Guard Austin Rivers (25) with the help of a screen from Phoenix Suns Forward Marquese Chriss (0) during an NBA game between the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Clippers on December 20, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

23. Mike James, G, AX Olimpia Milano

Nationality/College: American (Lamar)

2017-18 stats: 9.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists per game (Suns/Pelicans)

Career synopsis: Here we go: James spent two years at Eastern Arizona before transferring to Lamar. He was undrafted in 2012 and eventually found himself playing for Zagreb in Croatia, and then playing in something called the International Basketball League. Then he went back to Europe to play for Omegna in Italy before getting called up to Baskonia, where he made a Final Four in 2016. He then went to Panathinaikos for a year before signing with the Phoenix Suns after Summer League. The Suns then waived him partially through this past season, and he signed briefly with the Pelicans before returning to Panathinaikos. This summer, talks broke down between his team and PAO, so now he’s back in Italy with Milano. Got all that?

Representative Highlight Play:

What’s his skill set?: James is a microwave scorer. He’s undersized at 6-foot, but he is a great pull-up shooter, and a throwback who will just go off for 20 points every third game. You might have some streaky play relying on him, but he’s a nightmare if he’s feeling it.

What makes him special?: One of basketball’s most well-travelled players, James is one of the best stories in European basketball — a player who has quite literally worked his way up from the bottom to make the NBA, and now has come back to his more familiar stomping grounds in Euroleague. He transitions to Milano, where he’ll try to be everything Andrew Goudelock failed to be for them this year. He’s the type of player who fits well in a Simone Pianigiani offense, and gets to play off some great complimentary teammates like Curtis Jerrells and Dairis Bertans. He should help Milano shock some teams this season if he plays as we’ve come to expect.

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