Mike James, the latest addition to the Nets‘ backcourt, would still be playing for CSKA Moscow if not for an altercation last month with coach Dimitris Itoudis. After posting eight points and two steals in his debut with Brooklyn Friday night, James talked about the incident in Russia, as Peter Botte of The New York Post details.
“Some things happened in my personal life and I felt like stuff didn’t go how I thought somebody should handle my situations,” said James, who was also suspended in January. “We had a little clash there. Not really as a basketball player did I have a clash with Itoudis, more as an individual. As two men we had clashes, not really on the basketball court.”
The 30-year-old guard, who signed a 10-day contract on Friday, should get plenty of opportunity in Brooklyn with James Harden, Tyler Johnson and Chris Chiozza all injured. James is looking forward to playing a complementary role, rather than having to carry the offense like he did in Moscow.
“I liked playing a lot and having a star role. Just as you get older, I just don’t want to have that much responsibility on my shoulders every night,” he said. “Playing 21 minutes a night is better for me and just not being as much of a focal point and just trying to help out. I feel like I can shine in that if I got the opportunity.”
There’s more from Brooklyn:
- Kevin Durant expects to play this afternoon against the Suns, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Durant sat out the past three games after suffering a left leg contusion last Sunday.
- Brian Lewis of The New York Post looks at Durant’s success off the court, which includes a possible Oscar win tonight for the live action short film “Two Distant Strangers.” Durant’s ultimate goal is to someday become an NBA owner. “We definitely have always been interested clearly in being involved in team sports, and learning the ownership business and being able to at one point have Kevin, and this organization, own and operate an NBA team,” said his business manager, Rich Kleiman. “The thought is so far down the line, not only because Kevin’s still playing, but the amount of money to get into it is a different level of money.”
- The Nets are paying a price for chasing a star when LaMarcus Aldridge became available rather than addressing more significant needs, writes Kristian Winfield of Yahoo Sports. Brooklyn could have opted for Jeff Teague to provide backcourt depth or Khem Birch to help with rim protection, but chose to go after the bigger name. Aldridge was recently forced to retire because of an irregular heartbeat.
As a nets fan I was always against signing Aldridge and I agree with what you said. We should’ve gotten a defensive center but marks is 2 concerned looking at players past accomplishments
James seems like a cancer on any team. Worst quotes Ive ever seen from a player…
No kidding!!! “I just don’t want to have that much responsibility on my shoulders every night…’
Really??? Good thing the guy isn’t trying to score a position in the corporate world…
What is more important,
Health or seeding?
IMO
First Round Playoffs
Blazers can beat Suns
Lakers can beat Clippers
Blazers have better guards than Suns？
Powell is a guard
Covington is forward
That seems to be a cheapshot from Winfield. Before the heart scare, he appeared to be fitting in well and the Nets weren’t as depleted at guard when they signed him as they are now.
A little bit, oh yeah. I mean, I wasn’t exactly high on LMA’s ceiling in BK, but they “missed out” on Teague and Birch???
Teague couldn’t get run in Boston and they have the worst bench in the dam league. And Birch’s rim protection? Guy is 6’9″ with a career BPM of 0.6.
Lol 100% agree. If they were stars they wouldn’t be getting “chased” in the buyout market. The only thing you’re missing out on are firsthand accounts of fire being invented.
I agree; Aldridge had health issues but the seriousness of them hadn’t been caught by any team he signed with during physicals over the years. He was a fit in terms of rim protection and defensive presence, plus he provided a offensive option to be taken seriously when the Big 3 were off the court, freeing up other players to help make plays.
I might be as big a fan of Birch as anyone neutral, and have dissed Aldredge often, but I would have taken Aldridge first too. No-brainer. He was overpaid for his contribution IMO, but no longer. The writer said “the shot-blocking, glass-cleaning big man, Khem Birch”, but I would not say those are his strengths. Career per 36′ 1.2 blocks, 9.6 rebounds. More an efficiency, on/off kind of guy, heady in the lane.
The guys they got are or were top players. Once the Nets started that direction, might as well stick with it. Too late for the 2019 edition that found a way to compete without relying on stars.
Nets didn’t chase a star. They pursued the player they thought was the best available player and would be the best fit for them. LMA’s brief time in Brooklyn proves they were correct. The only mistake the Nets made was not having a crystal ball.
BTW, Birch would add nothing that Claxton and DJ don’t. They still could have pursued Teague. Is there a rule against signing more than 2 buyout guys? The only missed opportunity might (and it’s a might) have been Drummond. Hard to recruit LMA and Drummond at the same time. But no indication he would have chosen them over the LA.
It’s hard to blame the Nets for not having the foresight of Aldridge having a heart murmur…
does the mike james story involve somebody driving six hour in adult diapers?
(yes, I know I’m combining two stories.)