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.

NBA career

James began his National Basketball Association, NBA career when he signed as a free agent with the Miami Heat during the 2001–02 NBA season, 2001–02 season. He went on to play for the Boston Celtics, the

, the Milwaukee Bucks, the Houston Rockets, the

, 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.

Detroit Pistons

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.

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
, 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 Detroit Pistons, 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". While playing for Toronto in the 2005–06 season, he reached a career high of 39 points in a win against the

. 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 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 would be traded to the Houston Rockets for Juwan Howard.

Later career

On February 21, 2008 it was announced that James and teammate Bonzi Wells would be traded to the New Orleans Hornets for Bobby Jackson (basketball), Bobby Jackson, and Adam Haluska. This ended his second short tenure as a Houston Rocket. James was traded on December 10, 2008 in a three-team trade between the New Orleans Hornets, Memphis Grizzlies, and Washington Wizards. 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. 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. 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 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 of the D-League, James was signed to a 10-day contract by the Dallas Mavericks 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.

NBA career statistics

Regular season

, - , align="left" , , align="left" , 2001–02 Miami Heat season, Miami , 15 , , 0 , , 7.9 , , .349 , , .381 , , .571 , , .9 , , 1.3 , , .4 , , .1 , , 2.8 , - , align="left" , , align="left" , 2002–03 Miami Heat season, Miami , 78 , , 8 , , 22.1 , , .373 , , .294 , , .732 , , 1.9 , , 3.2 , , .8 , , .1 , , 7.8 , - , align="left" , , align="left" , 2003–04 Boston Celtics season, Boston , 55 , , 55 , , 30.6 , , .418 , , .381 , , .800 , , 3.2 , , 4.4 , , 1.3 , , .0 , , 10.7 , - , style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;", † , align="left" , 2003–04 Detroit Pistons season, Detroit , 26 , , 0 , , 19.7 , , .401 , , .364 , , .844 , , 2.2 , , 3.7 , , 1.0 , , .0 , , 6.3 , - , align="left" , , align="left" , 2004–05 Milwaukee Bucks season, Milwaukee , 47 , , 0 , , 24.8 , , .446 , , .382 , , .744 , , 2.6 , , 3.9 , , .9 , , .1 , , 11.4 , - , align="left" , , align="left" , 2004–05 Houston Rockets season, Houston , 27 , , 5 , , 25.6 , , .433 , , .393 , , .764 , , 3.2 , , 2.9 , , .9 , , .1 , , 12.4 , - , align="left" , , align="left" , 2005–06 Toronto Raptors season, Toronto , 79 , , 79 , , 37.0 , , .469 , , .442 , , .837 , , 3.3 , , 5.8 , , .9 , , .0 , , 20.3 , - , align="left" , , align="left" , 2006–07 Minnesota Timberwolves season, Minnesota , 82 , , 65 , , 25.2 , , .422 , , .372 , , .837 , , 2.0 , , 3.6 , , .7 , , .1 , , 10.1 , - , align="left" , , align="left" , 2007–08 Houston Rockets season, Houston , 33 , , 1 , , 16.3 , , .350 , , .324 , , .786 , , 1.6 , , 1.6 , , .5 , , .1 , , 6.5 , - , align="left" , , align="left" , 2007–08 New Orleans Hornets season, New Orleans , 21 , , 0 , , 8.7 , , .344 , , .304 , , 1.000 , , .8 , , .3 , , .2 , , .0 , , 2.7 , - , align="left" , , align="left" , 2008–09 New Orleans Hornets season, New Orleans , 8 , , 0 , , 9.3 , , .320 , , .750 , , .500 , , .9 , , 1.0 , , .3 , , .0 , , 2.5 , - , align="left" , , align="left" , 2008–09 Washington Wizards season, Washington , 53 , , 50 , , 29.7 , , .387 , , .367 , , .838 , , 2.4 , , 3.6 , , .8 , , .1 , , 9.6 , - , align="left" , , align="left" , 2009–10 Washington Wizards season, Washington , 4 , , 0 , , 11.5 , , .300 , , .333 , , .500 , , .8 , , 1.3 , , .8 , , .0 , , 4.5 , - , align="left" , , align="left" , 2011–12 Chicago Bulls season, Chicago , 11 , , 0 , , 10.9 , , .408 , , .600 , , .875 , , .9 , , 2.6 , , .4 , , .2 , , 4.8 , - , align="left" , , align="left" , 2012–13 Dallas Mavericks season, Dallas , 45 , , 23 , , 19.2 , , .373 , , .384 , , .793 , , 1.6 , , 3.1 , , .6 , , .1 , , 6.1 , - , align="left" , , align="left" , 2013–14 Chicago Bulls season, Chicago , 11 , , 0 , , 7.0 , , .238 , , .200 , , .000 , , .6 , , 1.5 , , .2 , , .0 , , 1.0 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 595 , , 286 , , 24.1 , , .417 , , .379 , , .802 , , 2.2 , , 3.5 , , .8 , , .1 , , 9.9

Playoffs

, - , style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;", 2004 NBA Playoffs, 2004† , align="left" , 2003–04 Detroit Pistons season, Detroit , 22 , , 0 , , 8.9 , , .396 , , .429 , , .563 , , 1.2 , , 1.1 , , .2 , , .0 , , 2.6 , - , align="left" , 2005 NBA Playoffs, 2005 , align="left" , 2004–05 Houston Rockets season, Houston , 7 , , 0 , , 24.4 , , .468 , , .000 , , .958 , , 1.9 , , 2.3 , , .9 , , .3 , , 11.6 , - , align="left" , 2008 NBA Playoffs, 2008 , align="left" , 2007–08 New Orleans Hornets season, New Orleans , 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

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 (American TV series), Supernanny''.

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