Olympiakos – Monaco has been a collapse in every way for ASM, represented by Mike James who literally abandoned his team.
Mike James definitely struggles to keep his cool in this particular season for AS Monaco, where payment delays are accumulating in a very delicate economic situation, but where the vice-champions of Europe remain qualified for the quarter-finals in the Euroleague (while also winning the Leaders Cup in February and the French Cup last weekend, and remaining at the top of the Betclic Elite championship). A special mention for their American leader, who has confirmed his departure at the end of this 2025-2026 season.
“I will no longer speak to the referees”
Already excluded twice in the championship, against Le Mans in November and ASVEL in April, Mike James was once again shown the way to the locker room on Thursday on Olympiakos’ court (94-64) even before halftime. The next day, he repents and wants to commit to a personal goal: “I will no longer speak to the referees about their decisions. It will be a difficult mission, but even if the match was probably over, I have harmed my team and I have not made things easier. I must do better.” At one minute before the break, the score was 59-31 in favor of Olympiakos… The Monégasques are 2-0 down in this series against the Greeks, who are series leaders #1, who they eliminated in the semi-finals last year. They would need an exploit to overcome this round, coming back to 2-2 in the next two home matches before hoping for a final reversal at the Piraeus, for a potential game 5.
Two months ago, Mike James also had to apologize after an altercation in the middle of a game, on Fenerbahçe’s court, with his teammate Elie Okobo who was literally pushed by his partner. “It’s embarrassing for all of us, I should have behaved differently and managed my emotions much better,” wrote the all-time leading scorer in Euroleague history.
