The move of the leading scorer in EuroLeague history from the Principality to Istanbul was undoubtedly one of the most intriguing transfers of the summer that has just passed—sadly, it is already behind us. Mike James is heading to Efes as an established player who has already proven his worth, but has yet to lift the coveted trophy.
Sometimes, life is tough and comes at you full force. James has achieved almost everything—except that. We cannot know what kind of gamble the Efes project represents for him, but if he put pen to paper, he must know something more. In Istanbul, the 2024 MVP will reunite with Pablo Laso, a coach who knows how to win trophies, but who is also facing increasing criticism from those questioning his abilities.
The Spanish coach recently said the following about James:
“He has always been a winner and he also played in the NBA. That is why Efes will naturally be considered ‘Mike James’ team.’ As a coach, I obviously know that every team will try to stop Mike. It certainly won’t be easy, because most of the time, only Mike James can stop Mike James! That sounds great, but we cannot be only his team. We are not going to toss a coin and simply expect him to make every shot. I hope he makes every shot, but if that doesn’t happen, we as a team will be ready to support him.”
Laso’s statement can be interpreted in several ways. Naturally, the most obvious reading is completely complimentary. Essentially, he means that, most of the time, nobody can stop James. However, there is another possible interpretation: sometimes, James himself may prevent himself from performing at his very best—particularly when something important is at stake, such as the EuroLeague title. Of course, one could easily argue that he has always delivered when it matters most.
That is precisely why many people speak of a “curse” hanging over James. Many see a sense of pressure—a huge “must”—attached to his name, especially now that his career is closer to its end than its beginning. Laso’s statement, then, has a double meaning. The first interpretation is one of complete praise, which is clearly what Laso intended: essentially, that nobody can stop James. The second is that the enormous pressure he carries may be preventing him from taking the final step and finally lifting a EuroLeague trophy.