My favorite moment from 2023-24: Geoff Gillingham

In a season rich with magical moments and historic feats, who better to highlight them than the people who covered the league closest? We have asked the reporters from EuroLeague.net to reflect on their favorite moments from the 2023-24 campaign.

When I got to see Mike James make history

by Geoff Gillingham

For those who are curious, Mike James is the player who really got me hooked on the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Therefore, I was more than delighted when Euroleague Basketball Editorial Director Frank Lawlor asked me: “Geoff, would you like to go to Monaco to speak with Mike James, the MVP of the Month for February, and stay to cover him becoming the all-time leading scorer?” Even before I sat down with Mike ahead of the interview, I felt nervous. I never feel like this. But once we started talking, I calmed down and the interview went down a treat. James even stayed for 10 minutes after the interview to speak with me; I explained how much I’ve enjoyed watching him over the years and we shared some brief stories. On an individual basis, that’s something I’ll never forget.

Then came the big day. Needing just 12 points to surpass Vassilis Spanoulis as the EuroLeague’s scoring king, James got to work and scored 5 first-quarter points. Sitting in the media section at Salle Gaston Medecin, it was fascinating to see his every move – even when he didn’t have the ball – but disaster almost struck when he came up limping after getting up a shot in the lane. With his family and friends in attendance, as well as an English journalist from Euroleague.net called Geoff Gillingham, there was a fear that the 33-year-old’s night might be done early. Instead, he rested up on the bench and reentered the game with 8:47 minutes remaining in the second quarter.

In 70 seconds, James scored four points, meaning he needed just three to go past Spanoulis. With 6:40 minutes to go before halftime, the AS Monaco star hit a couple of free throws to officially tie the Olympiacos Piraeus legend’s tally of 4,455 points. Then, everyone was on the edge of their seats. It was clear what was coming next. Some two minutes and 47 seconds after his second make from the free-throw line, there we had it – history had been made. James dipped into his bag and scored a right sidestep mid-range jumper to go first all-time in points, leading to the game being paused and a big ovation from the crowd. While he doesn’t enjoy being the center of attention, it was a chance for James to realize the magnitude of what he had just accomplished.

Come the end of the game, he had 20 points and, importantly, had led Monaco to a seventh straight win in the EuroLeague. His name continued to ring around Salle Gaston Medecin in the final minutes of the game as the Monaco fans gave their hero his dues. Meanwhile, I had to race up to the media room for a special Mike James post-game press conference. There, Mike was gracious enough to answer questions from the French press pack before yours truly got to ask him a couple of questions. Just as he had been one day earlier, Mike was incredibly kind and there was mutual respect between us. And off I went back to the hotel to write about the game, while James basked in the glory of his memorable night, surrounded by his family and close friends.