Mike James on criticism after poor performance: 'You get used to it' / News - Basketnews.com

Mike James brushes off criticism, saying that he's faced it his entire career. What remains, the player says, is to focus on his game each day.

Credit: Erikas Ovčarenko/BNS Credit Erikas Ovčarenko/BNS

After a disappointing performance on Wednesday against Zalgiris Kaunas, AS Monaco's guard Mike James bounced back versus FC Bayern Munich.

Mike James

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

With it being the second game back after being suspended, the player was asked about after the match.

"It's been a lot going on. I put a lot of pressure on myself to perform at a high level. When I don't, it eats at me, and I don't like it," he told on SKWEEK TV. "I'm just happy I could go back to perform like I hold the standard to myself, and it worked out."

James put on a sub-par performance against the Lithuanian team, scoring just 6 points on 3-for-9 shooting and 4 turnovers for just 5 PIR and a team-worst plus-minus of -11. When he was out, Monaco had won their all three games.

As a result, skepticism started rising about whether the star guard is truly needed for the Monegasque team to win.

"It's kind of been my whole career, they kind of like that. I'm getting used to it, I'm trying to get used to it, I'm trying to not let it bother me as much, and I'm just trying to be as good as I can be," James said about facing the criticism. "I keep working on my game and I'm just trying to stay sharp."

After earning their 21st win, Monaco are now firmly in 4th place. Since Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul lost to Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz, the Monegasque squad clinched the home-court advantage in the playoffs.

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