Mike James (basketball, born 1975)

American basketball player

Mike James

James with the Wizards in 2009

Personal information
Born|  (1975-06-23) June 23, 1975 (age 49)
Copiague, New York, U.S.
Listed height| 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight| 188 lb (85 kg)
Career information
High school| Amityville (Amityville, New York)
College| Duquesne (1994–1998)
NBA draft| 1998: undrafted
Playing career| 1998–2015
Position| Point guard
Number| 12, 7, 13, 5, 8
Career history
1998| Long Island Surf
1998–1999| UBC St. Pölten
1999–2000| ESPE Châlons-en-Champagne
2000–2001| SLUC Nancy Basket
2001| Rockford Lightning
2001–2003| Miami Heat
2003–2004| Boston Celtics
2004| Detroit Pistons
2004–2005| Milwaukee Bucks
2005| Houston Rockets
2005–2006| Toronto Raptors
2006–2007| Minnesota Timberwolves
2007–2008| Houston Rockets
2008| New Orleans Hornets
2008–2010| Washington Wizards
2010| Zhejiang Golden Bulls
2011| Aliağa Petkim
2011–2012| Erie BayHawks
2012| Chicago Bulls
2013| Texas Legends
2013| Dallas Mavericks
2013–2014| Chicago Bulls
2014–2015| Texas Legends
Career highlights and awards

* Austrian League Champion (1999)
* Austrian League All-Star (1999)
* NBA champion (2004)
* No. 13 retired by Duquesne Dukes

Career statistics
Points| 5,863 (9.9 ppg)
Rebounds| 1,324 (2.2 rpg)
Assists| 2,075 (3.5 apg)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference

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]

* Sports portal

* List of National Basketball Association undrafted players

## 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 June 14, 2007.
8. ^ "Wizards Complete Three-Team Trade". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012.
9. ^ "Washington Wizards get two guards in 3-team trade - ESPN". ESPN. December 10, 2008. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
10. ^ "Wizards Acquire Javaris Crittenton and Mike James". NBA.com. December 10, 2008. Retrieved December 10, 2008.
11. ^ "NBA.com: Wizards buy out guard Mike James, waive him". nba.com. Archived from the original on January 30, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
12. ^ "Bulls sign free agent guard Mike James". NBA.com. January 11, 2012. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
13. ^ "Bulls waive guard Mike James". NBA.com. January 28, 2012. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
14. ^ "Bulls sign Mike James to 10-day contract". NBA.com. February 14, 2012. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
15. ^ "Bulls sign guard Mike James to a 10-day contract". NBA.com. March 14, 2012. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
16. ^ "Bulls sign Mike James for remainder of the season". NBA.com. April 5, 2012. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
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 October 15, 2013.
20. ^ "Texas Guard Mike James Signs with Dallas Mavericks". NBA.com. January 8, 2013. Archived from the original on October 26, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
21. ^ "Mavericks sign Mike James to 10-day contract". ESPN.com. January 8, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
22. ^ "Mavs sign guard Mike James to second 10-day contract". InsideHoops.com. January 18, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
23. ^ "Mavericks sign Mike James for rest of season". InsideHoops.com. January 28, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
24. ^ "Patrick Christopher, Mike James, Dahntay Jones, Kalin Lucas, Dexter Pittman and D.J. White in Bulls training camp". Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
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.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mike James (basketball born 1975).

*   * Career statistics and player information from NBA.com and Basketball-Reference.com

* v
* t
* e

Detroit Pistons 2003–04 NBA champions

* 1 Billups (Finals MVP)
* 3 B. Wallace
* 7 James
* 8 Ham
* 10 Hunter
* 13 Okur
* 22 Prince
* 24 Fowlkes
* 30 R. Wallace
* 31 Miličić
* 32 Hamilton
* 34 Williamson
* 41 Campbell

* Head coach L. Brown

* Assistant coaches H. Brown
* Hanners
* Kokoškov
* Kuester
* Woodson

* Regular season
* Playoffs

*[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
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template