Sports · Basketball · 3 hrs ago
Mike James' Achilles injury leaves Anadolu Efes without its star guard
Anadolu Efes lost guard Mike James to a serious Achilles injury after its October 1 defeat to Crvena Zvezda.
James underwent surgery and is expected to be out for seven to nine months.
Efes signed Cameron Payne through the end of the season to add an experienced ball-handler, but he is not a direct replacement for James.
James averaged 16.5 points and 6.4 assists for Monaco in the 2025–26 EuroLeague season, and his ability to create shots helped shape Efes' offense.
The injury adds to an uneven start: Efes won one of its first three games, including a victory over Real Madrid, and lost to Barcelona and Crvena Zvezda.
The team must now find ways to create scoring chances without its star guard, while the extent of the injury's effect on Efes' prospects remains uncertain.
Mike James underwent Achilles tendon surgery after Anadolu Efes lost to Crvena Zvezda on October 1.
He is expected to miss seven to nine months.
Efes signed Cameron Payne through the end of the season after James’ injury.
Efes had won one of its first three EuroLeague games before James’ absence was confirmed.
- Who
- Mike James, Anadolu Efes’ star guard.
- What
- He underwent Achilles tendon surgery and is expected to miss seven to nine months.
- When
- He was injured on October 1; the surgery followed the defeat to Crvena Zvezda.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- He suffered an Achilles injury during the game against Crvena Zvezda.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
James suffered an Achilles injury late in the third quarter of Efes’ 77–72 defeat away to Crvena Zvezda.
Efes announced that Cameron Payne had joined the team through the end of the season.
Eurohoops reported that James had undergone surgery and was expected to miss seven to nine months.
- Expected absence
- Seven to nine months
- Efes record
- One win and two losses after three games
- Replacement signing
- Cameron Payne, through the end of the season
- Injury
- Achilles tendon
- Surgery
- After the October 1 defeat to Crvena Zvezda