Monaco’s star Mike James signed the biggest contract in club's history / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: BasketNews iliustracija/E.Alšauskas Credit BasketNews iliustracija/E.Alšauskas

Mike James is officially joining AS Monaco and will sign the biggest contract in French basketball history.

Mike James

Position:PG, SGAge:31Height:185 cmWeight:84 kgBirth place:Oregon, United States of AmericaProfileNewsStatistics

BasketNews was first to report about Monaco’s inquisition of James. According to sources, a 31-year-old guard signed a one-year contract worth around €900k. He will receive substantial compensation from CSKA Moscow for the contract termination as well.

"I was really looking for a different and exciting challenge. I wanted to start with something new compared to what I have already experienced before during my career," the official website of AS Monaco quotes Mike James. "It's an opportunity for me to start a new adventure and to prove what I'm worth as a player in this beautiful place that is Monaco.My goal is to win as many matches as possible and to be very competitive in EuroLeague.I am very happy to join Monaco, and I can't wait to do what I love in France, in a great atmosphere.I can't wait to join the guys and discover the team, hoping to do great things for the club.We are outsiders, but I come here to have ambitions and to take the group to the highest possible level."

AS Monaco will be the fifth EuroLeague team for James. Previously he played for CSKA, AX Armani Exchange Milano, Panathinaikos Athens, Baskonia Vitoria.

He was the third-best scorer of the EuroLeague in the 2019-20 season (21.1 PPG). Last season, James was second with 19.3 points per game, but he left CSKA after 27 games and finished the season with the Brooklyn Nets. In 13 NBA games, he averaged 7.7 points and 4.2 assists per 18 minutes.

Mike James had one of the most compelling cases in free agency on both sides of the Atlantic. Despite his multi-year contract with CSKA, he reached an agreement with Moscow's club last season, which allowed him to become a free agent until the end of 2020-21, clearing the way to sign with the Brooklyn Nets.

The Brooklyn Nets declined to extend James a qualifying offer this summer, making him an unrestricted free agent.

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