Michael Lamont James (born June 23, 1975) is an American former professional
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...
player. A point guard, James played college basketball for
Duquesne. James spent 13 seasons in the
NBA
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United St ...
and played for 11 different teams, winning an NBA championship with the
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are an American professional basketball team based in Detroit. The Pistons compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division and play their home games at Li ...
in 2004. He averaged 20.3 points per game as a member of the
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Toronto. The Raptors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. They play their home games a ...
during the 2005-2006 season.
College career
James played college basketball at
Duquesne University
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit ( or ; Duquesne University or Duquesne) is a private Catholic research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened as the Pittsbu ...
. 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). James was named to the all-
Atlantic 10 Conference
The Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10) is a collegiate athletic conference whose schools compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Division I. The A-10's member schools are located in states mostly on the United States Eastern ...
first team in his senior year at the university.
James's number 13 was retired by Duquesne in a February 2017 ceremony.
Professional career
Career in Europe
James was not drafted by an NBA team in 1998. He began his professional basketball career in Europe. James enjoyed several seasons as an integral player with both French and Austrian teams.
In February 2011, following several NBA seasons, James signed with
Aliağa Petkim
Aliağa Gençlik S.K., known as Aliağa Petkim for sponsorship reasons, was a professional basketball team from the district of Aliağa in İzmir, Turkey. Their home arena was the Enka Sport Hall with a capacity of 2,500 seats. The team competes p ...
in
Turkey
Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...
.
NBA career
James began his
NBA
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United St ...
career when he signed as a
free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...
with the
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat are an American professional basketball team based in Miami. The Heat compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern Conference Southeast Division (NBA), Southe ...
during the
2001–02 season. He went on to play for the
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics ( ) are an American professional basketball team based in Boston. The Celtics compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. Founded in 1946 as one of t ...
, the
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are an American professional basketball team based in Detroit. The Pistons compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division and play their home games at Li ...
, the
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are an American professional basketball team based in Milwaukee. The Bucks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division. The team was founded in 1968 ...
, the
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston. The Rockets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member team of the league's Western Conference Southwest Division. The team plays its ho ...
, the
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Toronto. The Raptors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. They play their home games a ...
, the
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis. The Timberwolves compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Northwest Division. Founded in 19 ...
, the
New Orleans Hornets
New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created.
New or NEW may refer to:
Music
* New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz
Albums and EPs
* ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013
* ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...
, the
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are an American professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C. The Wizards compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern Conference Southeast D ...
, the
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago. The Bulls compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division. The team was founded on January 1 ...
, and the
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks (often referred to as the Mavs) are an American professional basketball team based in Dallas. The Mavericks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Western Conference (NBA), Western Conferenc ...
, averaging 10.0 points per game for his career.
Detroit Pistons
James was a member of the Pistons' 2004 NBA championship team as a reserve. He and fellow reserve guard
Lindsey Hunter
Lindsey Benson Hunter Jr. (born December 3, 1970) is an American former professional basketball player and coach. He played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1993 to 2010, spending most of his career with the Detroit Pistons. He ...
formed a formidable defensive guard combination nicknamed the "Pit Bulls" by
Rasheed Wallace
Rasheed Abdul Wallace (born September 17, 1974) is an American basketball coach and former professional player. A native of Philadelphia, Wallace played college basketball at the University of North Carolina before declaring for the draft in 199 ...
because of their aggressive nature on defense.
Toronto Raptors
As a starter.
for the Raptors during the 2005–06 season, James averaged career highs of 20.3 points, 5.8 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game and shot 47% from the field including 44.2% from 3-point range.
[Mike James Info Page](_blank)
, nba.com, accessed 29 May 2007.
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
A piston is an engineering component of engines and pumps.
Piston(s) may also refer to:
Science and technology
* Piston (optics)
* Piston (subcellular structure)
* Piston valve
* Fire piston, an ancient device for kindling fire
* Gas-operated rel ...
. 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".
While playing for Toronto in the 2005–06 season, he reached a career high of 39 points in a win against the
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are an American professional basketball team based in Detroit. The Pistons compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division and play their home games at Li ...
. On April 11, 2006, James became the first Raptor to score 30 or more points in four consecutive games.
Minnesota Timberwolves
On July 11, 2006, James signed a
free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...
contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves. 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).
Houston Rockets
On June 14, 2007, it was announced that James and teammate
Justin Reed
Justin Michael Reed (January 16, 1982 – October 20, 2017) was an American professional basketball player, who played at the small forward position.
College career
Reed led the University of Mississippi's Ole Miss Rebels as part of the "Provin ...
would be traded to the
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston. The Rockets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member team of the league's Western Conference Southwest Division. The team plays its ho ...
for
Juwan Howard
Juwan Antonio Howard (born February 7, 1973) is an American former professional basketball player and current head coach of the Michigan Wolverines men's team.
A one-time All-Star and one-time All-NBA power forward, he began his NBA career ...
.
Later career
On February 21, 2008 it was announced that James and teammate
Bonzi Wells
Gawen DeAngelo "Bonzi" Wells (born September 28, 1976) is an American college basketball coach and former professional player who is the head coach of the LeMoyne–Owen College, LeMoyne-Owen Magicians men's basketball team. He played college bas ...
would be traded to the
New Orleans Hornets
New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created.
New or NEW may refer to:
Music
* New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz
Albums and EPs
* ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013
* ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...
for
Bobby Jackson, and
Adam Haluska
Adam Haluska (born November 16, 1983) is an American former professional basketball player.
College career
Iowa
2003–2007
Haluska played college basketball with the Iowa Hawkeyes, and scored 1,847 points in his collegiate career. He was nam ...
. This ended his second short tenure as a
Houston
Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 in ...
Rocket.
James was traded on December 10, 2008 in a three-team trade between the
New Orleans Hornets
New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created.
New or NEW may refer to:
Music
* New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz
Albums and EPs
* ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013
* ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...
,
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies (referred to locally as the Grizz) are an American professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The Grizzlies compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference ...
, and
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are an American professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C. The Wizards compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern Conference Southeast D ...
.
The trade sent James and
Javaris Crittenton
Javaris Cortez Crittenton (born December 31, 1987) is an American former professional basketball player. During his four year career, Crittenton played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, and Washington Wizards of the National Basketba ...
to the Wizards and
Antonio Daniels
Antonio Robert Daniels (born March 19, 1975) is an American former professional basketball player who played 13 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is currently the television color analyst for the New Orleans Pelicans on B ...
to the Hornets. The Grizzlies received a conditional first round draft pick from the Wizards.
On March 1, 2010, it was announced that the
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are an American professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C. The Wizards compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern Conference Southeast D ...
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.
After joining the Erie Bayhawks in the NBA Development League, James was called up by the Chicago Bulls on January 11, 2012, but released on January 28. On February 14, James was re-signed by the Bulls on a 10-day contract to provide support while
Derrick Rose
Derrick Martell Rose (born October 4, 1988) is an American professional basketball player for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played one year of college basketball for the Memphis Tigers before being drafted ...
was injured. He was re-signed on a second 10-day contract on March 14.
On April 4, 2012, James signed with the Bulls for the rest of the season.
After playing with the
Texas Legends
The Texas Legends are an American professional basketball team in the NBA G League based in Frisco, Texas, and are affiliated with the Dallas Mavericks. The Legends play their home games at the Comerica Center. The team began as the Colorado 14 ...
of the D-League, James was signed to a 10-day contract by the
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks (often referred to as the Mavs) are an American professional basketball team based in Dallas. The Mavericks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Western Conference (NBA), Western Conferenc ...
on January 8, 2013. The Mavs signed him to a second 10-day contract on January 18, 2013. He was then signed for the remainder of the season on January 28, after his second 10-day contract was up.
In September 2013, James signed with the Chicago Bulls. On December 16, 2013, James was waived by the Bulls, after appearing in just seven games. On January 22, 2014, he signed a 10-day contract with the Bulls, returning yet again for another stint. On February 1, 2014, the Bulls decided not to sign James to a second 10-day contract after his first 10-day contract expired. On April 10, 2014, he signed with the Bulls for the rest of the 2013–14 season. On July 15, 2014, he was waived by the Bulls.
Post-NBA career
On November 3, 2014, James was reacquired by the Texas Legends. 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
Delaware ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. The state takes its name from the adjacent Del ...
.
NBA career statistics
Regular season
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Miami
Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade C ...
, 15 , , 0 , , 7.9 , , .349 , , .381 , , .571 , , .9 , , 1.3 , , .4 , , .1 , , 2.8
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Miami
Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade C ...
, 78 , , 8 , , 22.1 , , .373 , , .294 , , .732 , , 1.9 , , 3.2 , , .8 , , .1 , , 7.8
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Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
, 55 , , 55 , , 30.6 , , .418 , , .381 , , .800 , , 3.2 , , 4.4 , , 1.3 , , .0 , , 10.7
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Detroit
Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at th ...
, 26 , , 0 , , 19.7 , , .401 , , .364 , , .844 , , 2.2 , , 3.7 , , 1.0 , , .0 , , 6.3
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Milwaukee
Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census, Milwaukee is ...
, 47 , , 0 , , 24.8 , , .446 , , .382 , , .744 , , 2.6 , , 3.9 , , .9 , , .1 , , 11.4
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Houston
Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 in ...
, 27 , , 5 , , 25.6 , , .433 , , .393 , , .764 , , 3.2 , , 2.9 , , .9 , , .1 , , 12.4
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Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
, 79 , , 79 , , 37.0 , , .469 , , .442 , , .837 , , 3.3 , , 5.8 , , .9 , , .0 , , 20.3
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Minnesota
Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...
, 82 , , 65 , , 25.2 , , .422 , , .372 , , .837 , , 2.0 , , 3.6 , , .7 , , .1 , , 10.1
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Houston
Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 in ...
, 33 , , 1 , , 16.3 , , .350 , , .324 , , .786 , , 1.6 , , 1.6 , , .5 , , .1 , , 6.5
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, 21 , , 0 , , 8.7 , , .344 , , .304 , , 1.000 , , .8 , , .3 , , .2 , , .0 , , 2.7
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, 8 , , 0 , , 9.3 , , .320 , , .750 , , .500 , , .9 , , 1.0 , , .3 , , .0 , , 2.5
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Washington
Washington commonly refers to:
* Washington (state), United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A metonym for the federal government of the United States
** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered on ...
, 53 , , 50 , , 29.7 , , .387 , , .367 , , .838 , , 2.4 , , 3.6 , , .8 , , .1 , , 9.6
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Washington
Washington commonly refers to:
* Washington (state), United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A metonym for the federal government of the United States
** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered on ...
, 4 , , 0 , , 11.5 , , .300 , , .333 , , .500 , , .8 , , 1.3 , , .8 , , .0 , , 4.5
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Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
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, 11 , , 0 , , 10.9 , , .408 , , .600 , , .875 , , .9 , , 2.6 , , .4 , , .2 , , 4.8
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Dallas
Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...
, 45 , , 23 , , 19.2 , , .373 , , .384 , , .793 , , 1.6 , , 3.1 , , .6 , , .1 , , 6.1
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Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
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, 11 , , 0 , , 7.0 , , .238 , , .200 , , .000 , , .6 , , 1.5 , , .2 , , .0 , , 1.0
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, style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career
, 595 , , 286 , , 24.1 , , .417 , , .379 , , .802 , , 2.2 , , 3.5 , , .8 , , .1 , , 9.9
Playoffs
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2004
2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO).
Events January
* January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 6 ...
†
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Detroit
Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at th ...
, 22 , , 0 , , 8.9 , , .396 , , .429 , , .563 , , 1.2 , , 1.1 , , .2 , , .0 , , 2.6
, -
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2005
File:2005 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf of Mexico; the Funeral of Pope John Paul II is held in Vatican City; "Me at the zoo", the first video ever to be uploaded to YouTube; Eris was discovered in ...
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Houston
Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 in ...
, 7 , , 0 , , 24.4 , , .468 , , .000 , , .958 , , 1.9 , , 2.3 , , .9 , , .3 , , 11.6
, -
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2008
File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; ...
, align="left" ,
, 4 , , 0 , , 7.0 , , .333 , , .400 , , 1.000 , , .3 , , .3 , , .5 , , .0 , , 3.0
, - class="sortbottom"
, style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career
, 33 , , 0 , , 11.9 , , .425 , , .286 , , .810 , , 1.2 , , 1.2 , , .4 , , .1 , , 4.5
See also
*
List of National Basketball Association undrafted players
Personal life
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). The family appeared in a 2008 episode of ABC's ''
Supernanny
''Supernanny'' is a British reality television programme about parents struggling with their children's behaviour, mealtime, potty training, etc. The show features professional nanny Jo Frost, who devotes each episode to helping a family wher ...
''.
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:James, Mike
1975 births
Living people
African-American basketball players
Aliağa Petkim basketball players
American expatriate basketball people in Austria
American expatriate basketball people in Canada
American expatriate basketball people in China
American expatriate basketball people in France
American expatriate basketball people in Turkey
American men's basketball players
Basketball players from New York (state)
Big3 players
Boston Celtics players
Chicago Bulls players
Dallas Mavericks players
Detroit Pistons players
Duquesne Dukes men's basketball players
Élan Chalon players
Erie BayHawks (2008–2017) players
Houston Rockets players
Miami Heat players
Milwaukee Bucks players
Minnesota Timberwolves players
New Orleans Hornets players
People from Amityville, New York
Point guards
Rockford Lightning players
SLUC Nancy Basket players
Sportspeople from Suffolk County, New York
Texas Legends players
Toronto Raptors players
Undrafted National Basketball Association players
United States Basketball League players
Washington Wizards players
Zhejiang Golden Bulls players
21st-century African-American sportspeople
20th-century African-American sportspeople
American men's 3x3 basketball players
American expatriate sportspeople in Austria