Mike James (basketball, born 1990)’s biography, net worth, fact, career, awards and life story

Michael “Mike” Perry James (born August 18, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for Panathinaikos of the Greek Basket League and the EuroLeague. He was a high school basketball standout playing for Grant High School in Portland. He played college basketball at Eastern Arizona College and Lamar University.

Early years

James, the son of Lisa Behrndt, was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. While in Portland, he played basketball for Grant High School under coach Tony Broadous. In 2007–08, as a senior, he was ranked the No. 3 Player in the state and No. 184 overall. He averaged 15 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals per game. The team went on to win the 2008 Oregon state championship.

College career

Eastern Arizona College

James started his college career at Eastern Arizona College, a national junior college where he played under coach Maurice Leitzke. In his first year he averaged 20 points per game shooting 42 percent overall, 33.3 percent from three-point range and 78 percent free throws. He was named all-conference and all-region teams as well as being ranked No. 40 best junior college player by Rivals.com. As a sophomore he was the fourth leading scorer in the NJCAA Division I recording 26 points per game. In addition he contributed 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.

Lamar University

In 2010, James transferred to an NCAA Division I school, Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. Here he played under coach Steve Roccaforte in 2010–11 and under coach Pat Knight for the 2011–12 NCAA season. Playing a little over 18 minutes a game he scored 12.5 points per game, along with 2.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.1 steals. He led the team in scoring, even though he only started two out of twenty-four games for the season. He included a 52 point game on January 4, 2011 against Louisiana College, which Lamar Cardinals won 114–62. breaking the previous record of 50 set by Mike Oliver in 1980. In addition, he broke Lamar University’s Montagne Center record for most points scored in a single game with 52, field goals made with 18, field goal attempts with 35, three-pointers made with 11 and three-pointer attempts with 21. In his senior season (2011–12), he averaged 17.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.6 steals per game shooting 45.3 percent overall. A notable game was against the 2012 NCAA champion University of Kentucky, where he was scored 29 points. His senior season ended in the first round of the NCAA tournament with a loss against Vermont. By the end of his season he was named All-Southland First Team, Southland Tournament MVP and Southland Conference Player of the week three times in four weeks.

Professional career

James went undrafted in the 2012 NBA draft. In August 2012, he signed with KK Zagreb of Croatia for the 2012–13 season. In December 2013, he left Zagreb. In February 2013, he signed with Hapoel Gilboa Galil of Israel for the rest of the season.

In July 2013, he signed with Paffoni Omegna of Italy for the 2013–14 season.

In August 2014, he signed a one-year contract with Kolossos Rodou of Greece. On December 2, 2014, he left Kolossos and signed with the Spanish club Laboral Kutxa Baskonia for the rest of the season. On July 6, 2015, he re-signed with Baskonia for one more season.

On July 7, 2015, James joined the Phoenix Suns for the 2015 NBA Summer League.

On July 3, 2016, James signed with Panathinaikos Athens for the 2016–17 season.

Career statistics

Note: The EuroLeague is not the only competition in which the player participated for the team during the season. He also played in domestic competition, and regional competition if applicable.

EuroLeague