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Mike James Achilles injury and Anadolu Efes response

Updated 4 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-10-03 11:10 UTC → 2026-10-03 12:23 UTC · added ~~removed~~

During a EuroLeague match in Belgrade, Anadolu Efes player Mike James suffered a severe Achilles tendon injury in the third quarter while playing against Crvena zvezda. James was forced to leave the court on a stretcher after sustaining the injury without contact from an opponent. Crvena zvezda won the match 77-72, capitalizing on defensive pressure to force 17 turnovers. Key performers for Zvezda included Chima Moneke with 18 points and Ognjen Dobrić with 10 points and 7 rebounds. Efes head coach Pablo Laso described the situation as a major blow to the team. Anadolu Efes confirmed that James underwent successful reconstructive surgery in Turkey, performed by Dr. Kerem Ülkü. Medical assessments indicate that the EuroLeague’s all-time leading scorer will be sidelined for an estimated seven to nine months, effectively ending his participation in the current EuroLeague season. James previously expressed his distress on social media, describing the injury as ‘fucking awful’. In response to the loss of their primary playmaker and leading scorer, Anadolu Efes has officially signed 32-year-old American guard Cameron Payne. Payne, a former NBA player who also played for Partizan last season, has signed a contract through the end of the 2026-27 season to bolster the team's perimeter ~~rotation.~~ rotation as they continue their domestic and international campaigns.

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