Mike James posts farewell message as Roca Team exit looms
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
Star point guard Mike James has published what appears to be a goodbye to AS Monaco Basketball after a pay dispute kept him off the court.
Mike James, the American point guard who became one of the most recognisable figures at Salle Gaston Médecin over the past five years, has posted what reads as a farewell message on his Instagram account. The post, which includes photographs and a personal text, follows a period on the sidelines caused by unpaid wages from AS Monaco Basketball.
James has not featured for the Roca Team for several matches amid the financial dispute with the club. His absence from the floor had already fuelled speculation about his future, and Thursday's Instagram post appears to confirm he will not pull on the red-and-white jersey again.
For residents who have watched James develop into one of EuroLeague basketball's most electrifying players during his time in the Principality, the departure marks the end of a significant chapter for the Roca Team. He wrote of the last five years being "formidable", a sign-off that suggests both sides now accept the relationship is over.