Mike James suffers severe injury during EuroLeague match in Belgrade

During the EuroLeague third-round match held on October 1, 2026, in Belgrade, Anadolu Efes star Mike James suffered a severe injury to his right Achilles tendon. The incident occurred during the third quarter without any physical contact, leading the player to collapse on the court in visible pain. James was eventually stretchered off the floor as spectators and players watched in silence.

The game concluded with a 77-72 victory for Crvena Zvezda, marking their first win of the season and leaving Anadolu Efes with a 1-2 record. Key contributors for the winning side included Moneke, who recorded 18 points and 7 rebounds, and Carter with 11 points. For Anadolu Efes, Lloyd and Saric led the team with 17 and 13 points respectively. While official medical results are pending, initial assessments by the Turkish club indicate significant concern regarding the severity of the tendon damage.

Following the match, Mike James publicly expressed his frustration regarding the incident via social media, describing the situation as "awful" while thanking those who reached out to offer support. The basketball community continues to await formal updates on the prognosis and the recovery timeline for the league's all-time leading scorer.