Mike James (basketball, born 1975)

Mike James
James with the Wizards in 2009
Personal information
Born (1975-06-23) June 23, 1975 (age 48)
Copiague, New York, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight188 lb (85 kg)
Career information
High schoolAmityville (Amityville, New York)
CollegeDuquesne (1994–1998)
NBA draft1998: undrafted
Playing career1998–2015
PositionPoint guard
Number12, 7, 13, 5, 8
Career history
1998Long Island Surf
1998–1999UBC St. Pölten
1999–2000ESPE Châlons-en-Champagne
2000–2001SLUC Nancy Basket
2001Rockford Lightning
2001–2003Miami Heat
2003–2004Boston Celtics
2004Detroit Pistons
2004–2005Milwaukee Bucks
2005Houston Rockets
2005–2006Toronto Raptors
2006–2007Minnesota Timberwolves
2007–2008Houston Rockets
2008New Orleans Hornets
2008–2010Washington Wizards
2010Zhejiang Golden Bulls
2011Aliağa Petkim
2011–2012Erie BayHawks
2012Chicago Bulls
2013Texas Legends
2013Dallas Mavericks
2013–2014Chicago Bulls
2014–2015Texas Legends
Career highlights and awards
Career statistics
Points5,863 (9.9 ppg)
Rebounds1,324 (2.2 rpg)
Assists2,075 (3.5 apg)
Stats Edit this at Wikidata at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Michael Lamont James (born June 23, 1975) is an American former professional basketball player. A point guard, James played college basketball for Duquesne. James spent 13 seasons in the NBA and played for 11 different teams, winning an NBA championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004. He averaged 20.3 points per game as a member of the Toronto Raptors during the 2005–2006 season.

College career[edit]

James played college basketball at Duquesne University. He finished his college career as Duquesne's all-time leader in steals (201) and was fifth in assists (348) and 10th in points (1,411).[citation needed] James was named to the all-Atlantic 10 Conference first team in his senior year at the university.[1]

James's number 13 was retired by Duquesne in a February 2017 ceremony.[2]

Professional career[edit]

Career in Europe[edit]

James was not drafted by an NBA team in 1998.[3] He began his professional basketball career in Europe. James enjoyed several seasons as an integral player with both French and Austrian teams.[citation needed]

In February 2011, following several NBA seasons, James signed with Aliağa Petkim in Turkey.[4]

NBA career[edit]

James began his NBA career when he signed as a free agent with the Miami Heat during the 2001–02 season. He went on to play for the Boston Celtics, the Detroit Pistons, the Milwaukee Bucks, the Houston Rockets, the Toronto Raptors, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the New Orleans Hornets, the Washington Wizards, the Chicago Bulls, and the Dallas Mavericks, averaging 10.0 points per game for his career.[citation needed]

Detroit Pistons[edit]

James was a member of the Pistons' 2004 NBA championship team as a reserve. He and fellow reserve guard Lindsey Hunter formed a formidable defensive guard combination nicknamed the "Pit Bulls" by Rasheed Wallace because of their aggressive nature on defense.[citation needed]

Toronto Raptors[edit]

James with the Raptors in 2006

As a starter[5] for the Raptors during the 2005–06 season, James averaged career highs of 20.3 points,[6] 5.8 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game and shot 47% from the field including 44.2% from 3-point range.[5]

Despite being an above-average shooter from the point guard spot, James's playmaking abilities and commitment to defense were called into question, in stark contrast to his "pit bull" days with the Pistons. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune wrote of his big 2005–06 season: "Previously, James had started only 68 games, so some scouts wondered if those numbers were an aberration. Others felt his impending free agency affected his play, prompting him to seek stats at the expense of play-making duties".[citation needed]

While playing for Toronto in the 2005–06 season, he reached a career high of 39 points in a win against the Detroit Pistons. On April 11, 2006, James became the first Raptor to score 30 or more points in four consecutive games.[citation needed]

Minnesota Timberwolves[edit]

James averaged a career-high 20.3 points and 5.8 assists for the Raptors, making him a coveted free agent. On July 11, 2006, James signed a four-year $23.5 million contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, much of the 2006–07 season was marred by mediocre play, which limited his minutes to 25 per game (down from the 37 per game that he averaged during his career year in Toronto).[5][better source needed]

Houston Rockets[edit]

On June 14, 2007, it was announced that James and teammate Justin Reed would be traded to the Houston Rockets for Juwan Howard.[7]

Later career[edit]

On February 21, 2008, it was announced that James and teammate Bonzi Wells would be traded to the New Orleans Hornets for Bobby Jackson, and Adam Haluska. This ended his second short tenure as a Houston Rocket.[citation needed]

James was traded on December 10, 2008, in a three-team trade between the New Orleans Hornets, Memphis Grizzlies, and Washington Wizards.[8][9] The trade sent James and Javaris Crittenton to the Wizards and Antonio Daniels to the Hornets. The Grizzlies received a conditional first round draft pick from the Wizards.[10]

On March 1, 2010, it was announced that the Washington Wizards had reached a buy-out agreement with James and waived him. James averaged 9.3 points per game during his stint with the Wizards, in which he played 57 games.[11]

After joining the Erie Bayhawks in the NBA Development League, James was called up by the Chicago Bulls on January 11, 2012,[12] but released on January 28.[13] On February 14, James was re-signed by the Bulls on a 10-day contract to provide support while Derrick Rose was injured.[14] He was re-signed on a second 10-day contract on March 14.[15] On April 4, 2012, James signed with the Bulls for the rest of the season.[16]

After playing with the Texas Legends of the D-League,[17][18] James was signed to a 10-day contract by the Dallas Mavericks on January 8, 2013.[19][20][21] The Mavs signed him to a second 10-day contract on January 18, 2013.[22] He was then signed for the remainder of the season on January 28, after his second 10-day contract was up.[23]

In September 2013, James signed with the Chicago Bulls.[24] On December 16, 2013, James was waived by the Bulls, after appearing in just seven games.[25] On January 22, 2014, he signed a 10-day contract with the Bulls, returning yet again for another stint.[26] On February 1, 2014, the Bulls decided not to sign James to a second 10-day contract after his first 10-day contract expired.[27] On April 10, 2014, he signed with the Bulls for the rest of the 2013–14 season.[28] On July 15, 2014, he was waived by the Bulls.[29]

Post-NBA career[edit]

On November 3, 2014, James was reacquired by the Texas Legends.[30] On January 25, 2015, he recorded the Legends first triple-double of the season with 21 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds in the 115–111 win over the Delaware 87ers.[31]

NBA career statistics[edit]

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
 †  Won an NBA championship  *  Led the league

Regular season[edit]

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2001–02 Miami 15 0 7.9 .349 .381 .571 .9 1.3 .4 .1 2.8
2002–03 Miami 78 8 22.1 .373 .294 .732 1.9 3.2 .8 .1 7.8
2003–04 Boston 55 55 30.6 .418 .381 .800 3.2 4.4 1.3 .0 10.7
2003–04† Detroit 26 0 19.7 .401 .364 .844 2.2 3.7 1.0 .0 6.3
2004–05 Milwaukee 47 0 24.8 .446 .382 .744 2.6 3.9 .9 .1 11.4
2004–05 Houston 27 5 25.6 .433 .393 .764 3.2 2.9 .9 .1 12.4
2005–06 Toronto 79 79 37.0 .469 .442 .837 3.3 5.8 .9 .0 20.3
2006–07 Minnesota 82* 65 25.2 .422 .372 .837 2.0 3.6 .7 .1 10.1
2007–08 Houston 33 1 16.3 .350 .324 .786 1.6 1.6 .5 .1 6.5
2007–08 New Orleans 21 0 8.7 .344 .304 1.000 .8 .3 .2 .0 2.7
2008–09 New Orleans 8 0 9.3 .320 .750 .500 .9 1.0 .3 .0 2.5
2008–09 Washington 53 50 29.7 .387 .367 .838 2.4 3.6 .8 .1 9.6
2009–10 Washington 4 0 11.5 .300 .333 .500 .8 1.3 .8 .0 4.5
2011–12 Chicago 11 0 10.9 .408 .600 .875 .9 2.6 .4 .2 4.8
2012–13 Dallas 45 23 19.2 .373 .384 .793 1.6 3.1 .6 .1 6.1
2013–14 Chicago 11 0 7.0 .238 .200 .000 .6 1.5 .2 .0 1.0
Career 595 286 24.1 .417 .379 .802 2.2 3.5 .8 .1 9.9

Playoffs[edit]

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2004† Detroit 22 0 8.9 .396 .429 .563 1.2 1.1 .2 .0 2.6
2005 Houston 7 0 24.4 .468 .000 .958 1.9 2.3 .9 .3 11.6
2008 New Orleans 4 0 7.0 .333 .400 1.000 .3 .3 .5 .0 3.0
Career 33 0 11.9 .425 .286 .810 1.2 1.2 .4 .1 4.5

See also[edit]

Personal life[edit]

James and his wife, Angela, have four daughters: Jadon Miciah (b. 2000), Amaya Noel (b. 2003), Michal Mikayla (b. 2007), and McKinley Joel (b. 2008).[citation needed] The family appeared in a 2008 episode of ABC's Supernanny.[32]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Former Duquesne star Mike James is the oldest pro basketball player in the country". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  2. ^ "Welcome". www.tribliveoffers.com.
  3. ^ Curti, Chuck (January 21, 2021). "Duquesne grad James played his NBA career always feeling like he had to prove himself". TribLIVE.com.
  4. ^ "Aliağa guardını buldu". Basket Dergisi.
  5. ^ a b c Mike James Info Page Archived 2007-03-07 at the Wayback Machine, nba.com, accessed 29 May 2007.
  6. ^ "The Biggest One-Hit Wonders in NBA History". Daily Choices.
  7. ^ Stein, Marc (June 14, 2007). "Wolves, Rockets agree to Howard-James trade". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2007-06-14.
  8. ^ "Wizards Complete Three-Team Trade". The Washington Post.
  9. ^ "Washington Wizards get two guards in 3-team trade - ESPN". sports.espn.go.com. 10 December 2008. Retrieved 2014-11-11.
  10. ^ "Wizards Acquire Javaris Crittenton and Mike James". NBA.com. December 10, 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
  11. ^ "NBA.com: Wizards buy out guard Mike James, waive him". nba.com. Archived from the original on 2015-01-30. Retrieved 2014-11-11.
  12. ^ "Bulls sign free agent guard Mike James". NBA.com. 2012-01-11. Retrieved 2012-04-05.
  13. ^ "Bulls waive guard Mike James". NBA.com. 2012-01-28. Retrieved 2012-04-05.
  14. ^ "Bulls sign Mike James to 10-day contract". NBA.com. 2012-02-14. Retrieved 2012-04-05.
  15. ^ "Bulls sign guard Mike James to a 10-day contract". NBA.com. 2012-03-14. Retrieved 2012-04-05.
  16. ^ "Bulls sign Mike James for remainder of the season". NBA.com. 2012-04-05. Retrieved 2012-04-05.
  17. ^ "2012–13 Transactions". NBA.com. Archived from the original on November 1, 2011.
  18. ^ "Sources: Mavs give James a shot via D-League". ESPN.com. January 3, 2013.
  19. ^ "Mavs sign veteran guard James to 10-day contract". NBA.com. January 8, 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  20. ^ "Texas Guard Mike James Signs with Dallas Mavericks". NBA.com. January 8, 2013. Archived from the original on October 26, 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  21. ^ "Mavericks sign Mike James to 10-day contract". ESPN.com. January 8, 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  22. ^ "Mavs sign guard Mike James to second 10-day contract". InsideHoops.com. January 18, 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  23. ^ "Mavericks sign Mike James for rest of season". InsideHoops.com. January 28, 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  24. ^ "Patrick Christopher, Mike James, Dahntay Jones, Kalin Lucas, Dexter Pittman and D.J. White in Bulls training camp". Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2013-09-28.
  25. ^ "Bulls waive guard Mike James". Chicago Bulls.
  26. ^ "Bulls sign James to 10-day contract". Chicago Bulls.
  27. ^ BullsBlogger, your friendly (February 1, 2014). "Roster down to 12". Blog a Bull.
  28. ^ "Bulls sign James and Amundson for remainder of the season". Chicago Bulls.
  29. ^ "Bulls waive Amundson, Brewer and James". Chicago Bulls.
  30. ^ "Training Camp Roster". NBA.com. November 3, 2014. Archived from the original on November 6, 2014. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  31. ^ "Mike James Key Legends' Victory At 87ers". NBA.com. January 25, 2015. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
  32. ^ ""Supernanny" James Family (TV Episode 2008) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.

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