Mike James addresses future in Monaco, Olympiacos and Panathinaikos rumors / News - Basketnews.com

Mike James confirmed he's expected to stay in AS Monaco for the 2023-24 season.

EuroLeague star Mike James has put an end to the speculations surrounding his future in AS Monaco, addressing the matter on the URBONUS podcast.

Mike James

Position:PG, SGAge:33Height:185 cmWeight:84 kgBirth place:Oregon, United States of AmericaProfileNewsStatistics

"I didn't agree with nobody,"Mike James clarified in response to the rumors suggesting that he had come to terms with Olympiacos Piraeus, and the only remaining obstacle was releasing himself from Monaco.

"But I had some questions about my future here that didn't really get answered," he elaborated.

When asked about other rumors, including ones suggesting he had accepted a reduced salary to join Olympiacos or was seen as a key player for Monaco's 2023-24 season, he shared on the URBONUS podcast: "I don't know if I'm a cornerstone or part of the plan, but I was told I was staying, so I'm here."

Queried about whether the club itself had directly communicated its decision to retain him, Mike James replied, "I didn't get really any answer really, just that I'm staying here for this year, or I'm not allowed to leave or explore anything. Whatever the right verb is right here."

James arrived in Monaco a few days ago and is scheduled to begin the training camp with AS Monaco in Bormio this weekend.

Regarding potential deadlines for Olympiacos or other interested teams to await his availability, a 33-year-old American guard responded: "I think for this season, I'm here. Free agency is the next summer, and we'll see what happens."

He also addressed rumors about Panathinaikos exploring signing him early in the free agency.

"I don't know how aggressive it was. I and DPG (Dimitris Giannakopoulos) have a semi-solid relationship. We talk often. I think he might have asked me what my status was. I told him I didn't think I was leaving, I thought I was staying. I didn't see myself going anywhere. So it basically stopped right there after that," James clarified.

"If some things were a bit different or if it would have been later, or anything like that, maybe more of a conversation would have been had," he added.

"I had questions. They really didn't get answered. Still haven't. I was weighing my options," he answered when questioned about what initiated his change of stance regarding staying in Monaco.

When asked about the specific unanswered questions, James said, "Just about me and the future, what's going on, and if I have a future here. If I didn't have a future going forward past this year, it wasn't really no point in me being here for this year."

URBONUS co-host Errick McCollum suggested that James had anticipated a contract extension.

"Not really an extension, but just some type of communication, of what's going on and what's going forward. I didn't really get that," James clarified.

Watch the complete URBONUS episode, where Mike delves into whether Kemba Walker's signing raised concerns about his future, his efforts to recruit Nikola Mirotic to Monaco, his perspective on Panathinaikos' rebuild, and other activities during the offseason.

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