When the Nets signed Mike James last Friday, he was largely ignored as a 10-dayer. It was a name that most fans did not remember or did not know.
They now know him. It did not take James long to see this.
It was James, who was on the floor down the stretch on Tuesday night, running the show as the Nets beat the Raptors to come from behind and get a playoff berth.
“Mike James played a very big role for us,” said Joe Harris. “And this is literally his second game playing with us.”
Technically, third. But Harris stands the point.
On 27 March – the day before Tuesday’s win – James played his final game for CSKA Moscow. Much has been done about his feud with his coach, which made him available.
With his backcourt due to injuries, the Nets happily silenced him.
James Harden, Spencer Dinwiddie, Bruce Brown and Chris Chioza all bowed out on Tuesday and will be in Indiana on Thursday.
Enter James, right when he is needed most.
“Mike is coming very well and playing his game,” Harris said. “He is just a good point guard, able to get in the paint, make for people, do an excellent job driving and find guys who are open. But he can also get his own shots; and he has up to a week Staying with us and we are playing the drama for him at the end of the game says a lot. “
Hours after signing last Friday, James made his debut and helped the Nets beat the Celtics. He had eight points, two assists and two rebellions to finish plus-17 in 21 minutes.
After being limited to a cameo in his second game on Sunday, against the Suns, he was faltering against the Raptors in his third: 11 points, eight assists and was being handed the key down the stretch.
James played every second in the fourth quarter, where he completed all of his points, six assists and a plus-16, helping the Nets to Toronto 36-20.
“Steve James was great,” coach Steve Nash said. “Played with a bit more speed and made it more difficult for them defensively.”
This is impressive for a player who was not seen in the NBA as he played 36 games in 2017-18. But out of the game did not mean out of the game.
Sandwiched around that season with Phoenix and New Orleans, the 30-year-old James has been on an Odysseus-like trip to Croatia, Israel, Italy, Greece and Spain with ports of call. He brought that experience to Brooklyn with him.
Kevin Durant, who knows James through his brother Tony, “has been around the world just to play the game of basketball, so he’s looking at different styles of play.” “At his age, with his experience, he is one of those people you can throw at any time and he can be himself.
“He knows who he is as a player. Once people figure out what their games are and how they approach the game, it’s easy for them to just slide and contribute right away. Mike is one of those people. He warmed up for us and we clung to him. “
And the Nets could stick with him for a while. His 10-day deal expires on Sunday, but the Nets may give him another one, which will bring him closer to the end of the regular season. To use them in the playoffs they would have to create a roster spot to convert to a two-way or standard deal.
It no longer feels like a stretch.
“He is an athletic and skilled player. As long as he plays simple and plays good basketball – like he plays the first few games with us – he can play a role for us, ”Nash said. “He has pace, he can come in colors, play draws and kicks,” he said.
“He showed clearly that he can score the ball, and we know that from his history. But if he can be the guard who increases speed, who enters, draws defense and makes extra passes. “So, it’s a huge value for our team. So, really, really great performance from them. Those are some of the tools that he can bring to the table for us.”
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