Mike James refuses to play with Monaco due to unpaid wages

The American leader of AS Monaco refused to travel to Bourg-en-Bresse for the second leg of the Betclic Elite play-offs quarter-final. After Elie Okobo, Mike James in turn denounces unpaid salaries within the Monegasque club.

The financial crisis continues to shake AS Monaco Basketball. After Elie Okobo, Mike James has decided not to play with Monaco. The American point guard refused on Tuesday to travel with the squad for the trip to Bourg-en-Bresse, where ASM must play Wednesday in the second leg of the Betclic Elite play-offs quarter-final.

Back after a three-game suspension in the French Championship, following his ejection against ASVEL Basketball on April 19, Mike James was supposed to rejoin the Monegasque squad. Finally, the captain of Roca Team declined his call-up to denounce unpaid wages.

According to several sources close to the club, the highest scorer in EuroLeague history would be claiming a substantial sum from the Monegasque management. A debt estimated at around one million euros is circulating around the matter.

Monaco weakened before the trip to Bourg-en-Bresse

A few days earlier, Elie Okobo had already adopted the same position. The French point guard had refused to play in the last two regular season games in order to obtain payment of 400,000 euros in unpaid wages. After settlement, Elie Okobo’s return had allowed Monaco to beat Bourg-en-Bresse in the first game of the series (81-75).

Elie Okobo’s absence in the last matches had nevertheless cost ASM the first place in the championship. Now, the Principality club could have to play without Mike James in an attempt to reach the semi-finals.

Since the defeat against Olympiacos B.C. in the EuroLeague quarter-finals on May 5, Mike James has not worn the Monegasque jersey again. Discussions between the American player and president Aleksej Fedoricsev would now be necessary to unlock the financial situation.

The Russian-Hungarian owner of the club is currently going through a difficult period due to the freezing of part of his assets, particularly in Ukraine. Monaco still hoped on Tuesday to convince Mike James to join the squad before the trip to the Ain region.