Mike James: “I have a lot of respect for Olympiacos, they play good basketball”

Monaco have turned the tide with Olympiakos to 1-1 for the EuroLeague playoffs and Mike James gave an interview to Joe Arlauskas and the EuroLegue, spoke about the respect he has for Olympiakos and the good basketball that Bartzoka’s players play but also about his course in European basketball.

At the same time he referred to the events at CSKA Moscow and his first experiences from the derbies of eternity as a Panathinaikos player.

His statements in detail:

For the series with Olympiakos and the way to the Final Four in Belgrade: “We have options as a team. What I feel most about playing Olympiacos is respect. As much as I’ve been their opponent all these years, they play basketball in the right way. They play hard as a team and they are good. I have great respect for them.The series will probably have a future. They play well. “You never know how things will turn out.”

For his first experience at Panathinaikos and the derbies of eternity: “The derbies of eternity have always been special. I didn’t play in my first derby. When we got back to practice after the derby, people were screaming and I was trying to get into my car. ‘I haven’t played, let me get in my car,’ I said, that was my first experience. The fans love this match. “You are very proud.”

For CSKA and the relationship with Dimitris Itoudis: “The situation was not going well. We had a very good relationship with Dimitris Itoudis, but over time it broke down when the player-coach relationship got in the way. There was communication between us, our relationship just ended like that, how it ended.” when he made a decision with the role of coach while I believed and wanted to make the decision with the role of friend.

Both sides could have done things differently. Yes, I could have done some things differently, but I don’t regret what I did. Sometimes things don’t go as planned.

Ultimately, basketball is a business and I had to make the right decisions. On the emotional side, I wasn’t myself. I didn’t care much about what was happening in my life, not even basketball. I tried to concentrate but it wasn’t going well, I felt bad. Maybe nobody understood because I play good basketball, but it was a strange phase in my life. “A lot of things together.”

For his course in basketball and the way to the top: “All of you, good and bad, are part of this journey. Some found it easier and may not appreciate it as much as when they reach the top. I think I appreciate everything. Just the work I do on the floor and how much I love the sport, I think that shows it all.

To be at the highest level, you have to have a little style. If you don’t have it, I don’t think you’re going to get where you want to be in basketball or any sport.

For the role played by the teams he has played in (including Panathinaikos) in developing his career: “I don’t think I would have played pro basketball for long if I hadn’t gone through all of these stages in my career. At every stage of my career I was skeptical about moving on to the next.”

He’s one of the special personalities of the EuroLeague, some like him, some don’t. But Mike James will always say what’s on his mind, no matter what other people think.

“Many players just want to be good, they often don’t say what they think. I’m just the bad guy (laughs). I’m the villain in the movies. I like him, but he’s still the bad guy.”

Watch the full interview with Mike James: