The American guard’s injury overshadowed Anadolu Efes’ loss to Crvena Zvezda and has raised serious concerns about his condition. The extent of the injury and how long he will be out remain unknown.
The EuroLeague has grown accustomed to revolving around Mike James. Now it must imagine what comes next without one of its most distinctive players. His injury during Efes’ game against Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade overshadowed everything else. Efes lost 77–72, but the result quickly became secondary.
With 2:40 left in the third quarter and the score at 53–51, James moved to contest a rebound without any contact. He went down clutching his right leg and was carried off on a stretcher, to applause from the crowd. Initial reports have raised the possibility of a serious Achilles tendon injury. No official diagnosis or timetable for his return has been announced. If a rupture is confirmed, his season could be over.
🚨🚨 MAALESEF MIKE JAMES SAKATLANDI VE YARDIMLA SOYUNMA ODASINA GİTTİ. pic.twitter.com/opotEUyMmI
— Euroleague Basketbolu (@EBasketbolu) October 1, 2026
James had found a fresh start at Efes. After his time at Monaco came to an end, he took on the role of leader once again, joining a team with ambitions of winning trophies. In his first two EuroLeague games of the season, he averaged 17 points and 4.5 assists.
At 36, he is still box office. He has been named EuroLeague MVP and is the competition’s all-time leading scorer. This summer, he also suited up for the United States in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers.
The EuroLeague will go on, of course. But it will be missing a player who made every night feel a little more unpredictable, and every possession with the ball in his hands carry the promise of something special. For James, the EuroLeague title remains the one major prize still beyond his reach. Tonight, though, all that matters is that he finds his way back.
