Anadolu Efes Mike James will miss 7-9 months after undergoing surgery to repair his Achilles tendon, the club announced. The procedure was performed by Dr. Kerem Ülkü following an injury sustained during a match against Red Star Belgrade in Belgrade.
Belgrade Injury Occurs Late in the Third Quarter
The incident occurred with 2 minutes and 40 seconds remaining in the third quarter of the contest at Belgrade, with Red Star holding a 53-51 lead. James chased a loose ball, attempted a brief forward sprint, and immediately collapsed to the floor clutching his lower right leg. Anadolu Efes ultimately dropped the fixture 77-72.
Coach Pablo Laso addressed reporters regarding the severity of the incident. “It doesn’t look good,” Laso said in his post-game press conference. Before undergoing exams, James shared his frustration on social media platform X, writing, “Well it sucks…..Fucking awful. Thank you for everybody who reached out.”
Well it sucks…..Fucking awful.Thank you for everybody who reached out.
— Mike James (@TheNatural_05) October 1, 2026
Club Medical Staff Confirm Seven to Nine Month Recovery Timeline
Anadolu Efes issued a formal medical update following the surgical intervention performed by Dr. Kerem Ülkü. Team physician Uğur Diliçıkık provided the prognosis for the former Monaco standout. “During the match against Red Star Belgrade played yesterday, Mike James sustained an injury, and a repair procedure for his Achilles tendon was performed by Dr. Kerem Ülkü,” the club stated. “Our doctor Uğur Diliçıkık stated that, based on the course of the post-operative treatment process, our player is expected to stay away from the courts for 7-9 months.”
The timeline places James’s potential return 7-9 months from the time of the announcement.
Roster Implications and Schedule Pressure for Pablo Laso’s Squad
The absence of James leaves a void in the Anadolu Efes squad. Without him, the coaching staff faces rotation adjustments.
Anadolu Efes has not yet announced any roster additions or temporary signings to offset the loss, leaving the current squad to absorb the minutes.
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