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In 2017, Mike James attended the NBA’s Las Vegas Summer League with the Phoenix Suns. After leading the team in points (20.5) and assists (5.0), the Suns signed him to a two-way contract. He became the first player to sign a two-way contract after spending several years overseas in Europe.
After some good performances in the Association, the Suns converted his contract to a guaranteed one-year deal. Two weeks later, however, Phoenix decided to waive him. Three years later, James said ‘I don’t care no more’ about playing in the NBA, and admitted he never got an answer as to why the Suns released him.
In the same season (2017-18), he signed a two-way contract with the Pelicans, but he played in just four games before parting ways with the team.
