Mike James makes Anadolu Efes debut with win: Don't celebrate too soon, it's only the beginning

Mike James makes his Anadolu Efes debut with a win: Don't celebrate too soon, it's only the beginning. Anadolu Efes opened their preseason with a 76-71 victory over Trabzonspor. The spotlight was firmly on Mike James — the marquee signing of the Istanbul club this summer. The 34-year-old finished his debut with 14 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists. On the surface, it was a solid if unspectacular start. But looking beyond the box score, many questions remain before we can dream about another deep EuroLeague run. James joined Efes after leaving AS Monaco, where he won the 2026-24 EuroLeague scoring title with about 18.2 points per game. He is widely regarded as one of Europe's most accomplished offensive players. Efes, a club in transition after the Ataman-era glory, invested heavily to bring him in. The message is clear: they want to win now. Tuesday's game was nothing more than a warm-up against a lower-tier opponent. Efes led just 34-31 at halftime and only stretched the score to 76-71 at the buzzer. A win is a win, but preseason chemistry remains a concern. Daron Russell, the game-high scorer with 16 points, adds another dangerous scoring option next to James. Dario Šarić contributed 11 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists from the frontcourt — a signal that Efes can use Šarić as a secondary playmaker to take pressure off James. Matthew Strazel, James's former Monaco teammate, added 8 points. Yet the abundance of guards creates a critical question: who is the primary ball-handler? James and Russell both thrive with the ball in their hands. Jordan Loyd, another veteran guard, adds more competition. Coach Tomislav Mijatović must define roles clearly, or risk overlap and friction. Age is another factor. James and Loyd are both 34, Šarić is 30, Kai Jones is 27. This is a veteran-heavy roster designed for immediate success. But such rosters have narrow championship windows. James's burst and defensive intensity won't last forever. Mijatović needs to manage his usage intelligently, possibly relying on Šarić's ability to create for others. The transfer has also shifted the EuroLeague landscape. Monaco lost their primary scorer and must now replace nearly 18 points per game. Efes have gained a proven offensive machine. However, if James fails to fit in or locker-room issues arise, the cost would be enormous. Reports of friction between James and Monaco's coach Sasa Obradovic add another layer of caution. Efes are not just signing a scorer; they are signing a strong personality. Financially, EuroLeague clubs do not operate under a hard salary cap, but they must respect Financial Fair Play rules. Signing James, Šarić, Russell and Loyd together has surely pushed Efes's wage bill to a high level. If results disappoint, mid-season additions will be extremely difficult. This is a high-risk bet with little room for error. Collin Malcolm, Darius Karutasu and Burak Can Yıldızlı all contributed, reminding us that Efes are also keeping young players. But whether those young players will get real rotation minutes during decisive EuroLeague games remains uncertain. For Vietnamese basketball fans, the important takeaway is simple: Mike James has made a decent debut, but one preseason win over Trabzonspor proves nothing. The true test will come against Real Madrid, Panathinaikos, Olympiacos and other elite clubs. Efes won the EuroLeague in 2026 and 2026, but that era is over. Now they are writing a new story with Mike James as the main character. In basketball, one star is never enough. He needs a well-oiled system, a coach capable of managing egos, and a group willing to sacrifice. Until then, stay calm. Preseason success is sweet, but real lessons are written in the regular season.