Monaco’s point guard against Red Star became the best scorer in the history of the Euroleague, a competition which however he never won. They said he wasn’t short, that he didn’t defend, then…
The match is Monaco-Red Star. There are 3 minutes and 55 seconds left in the second quarter. Dribble, dribble, side step to the right. Stefan Lazarevic’s hand extends towards his face to obscure his view of the basket: the effort is in vain, like that of many other defenders who have helplessly witnessed that release over the last ten years. Network only. The Dalle Gaston Medecin crowd jumps to their feet and rejoices, the speaker shouts his name, the match stops and the celebration begins. Mike James reached 4457 points (they will be 4464 at the end of the match), thus becoming the best scorer in the history of the Euroleague: beating the historic record belonging to “Kill Bill” Vassillis Spanoulis, who had stopped at 4455. Looking at him, however , it seems he scored a long-two on the pitch with friends on a quiet spring afternoon. No particular celebration, no shout, no facial expression: his teammates compliment him, Obradovic even gives him a hug, but the expression on his face remains composed and concentrated.