Monaco GM comments on Kemba Walker's signing, Mike James' future / News - Basketnews.com

AS Monaco General manager Oleksiy Yefimov spoke about the expectations accompanying Kemba Walker's spectacular arrival and cleared up the air on Mike James' contract.

Credit: Valery HACHE / AFP; Tim Heitman / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP; AS Monaco Credit Valery HACHE / AFP; Tim Heitman / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP; AS Monaco

AS Monaco managed to surprise European basketball fans with the summer's most impressive signing. The club from the Principality brought 4-time All-Star guard Kemba Walker to Europe.

Mike James

Position:PG, SGAge:32Height:185 cmWeight:84 kgBirth place:Oregon, United States of AmericaProfileNewsStatistics

Walker, a 781-game NBA veteran, who averaged 19.5 points for his career, joins a stacked backcourt already comprisingMike James, Elie Okobo, and Jordan Loyd.

AS Monaco General manager Oleksiy Yefimov stressed the significance of the move, calling it "a unique chance" talking to BeBasket's Alexandre Lacoste.

"First, you have to know that he came to Monaco incognito a few years ago with other Nike athletes," the Ukrainian executive pointed out.

"I think it was in 2019. He therefore knows the Principality, he practiced in our arena. Not only will we get a great quality player and an incredible talent, but also a great human being," Yefimov said of Walker.

"We expect him to fit in very well on and off the court. I have the intimate conviction that he will arrive in Monaco with the right attitude: with humility and ready to work. It is a unique chance to bring a player of this level and at the same time a personality that will suit our club very well," he continued.

Yefimov thinks Walker's signing represents an important step in the development of the club's brand, not only in the sports field. Asked if Walker was easy to convince, Yefimov smiled and said, "Well, you got to ask him that."

Walker, 33, only played nine games in the 2022-23 season with the Mavs, averaging 8.0 points and 2.1 assists in 16 minutes. These numbers are all career-lows and pale even in comparison to Kemba's rookie year.

After Dallas, Walker got his knee scoped to clean out some lose fragments, which really helped. He has stayed at P3 (clinic) the last 8 months getting his legs stronger.

"He has just had another operation, we think he will be able to overcome this," Yefimov commented, before referring to Mike James' future with the team.

Per BasketNews' Donatas Urbonas, all Monaco guards -including James- are currently under contract, and there are no plans to let go any of them. Yet, Mike James' contract with the Roca Team includes an NBA-out deadline that will determine the activation for the 2023-24 season. Unless the player chooses to opt out by July 25, his contract for the next season will be automatically activated.

Yefimov assured that Walker's arrival will have no repercussions on James.

"Mike should still be with us next season," he said. "He can still activate an exit clause. But on our side, we will not do it," he concluded.

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