Anadolu Efes Istanbul have announced that star guard Mike James has successfully undergone surgery to repair his injured Achilles tendon, with the veteran expected to miss approximately seven to nine months.
The Turkish club confirmed the procedure in an official statement, explaining that the exact length of James’ absence will depend on his rehabilitation and recovery following the operation.
The 36-year-old sustained the injury during Thursday’s EuroLeague Round 3 encounter against Crvena Zvezda, which Efes lost 77-72 in Belgrade.
With 2:40 remaining in the third quarter, James accelerated toward a loose ball before suddenly collapsing to the floor without making contact with another player.
He immediately grabbed his lower right leg and required medical assistance before eventually being carried off the court on a stretcher.
Before leaving the contest, the EuroLeague’s all-time leading scorer had contributed 11 points and 3 assists in 22 minutes and 30 seconds of action.
The injury comes just three games into James’ 13th EuroLeague season and shortly after his arrival at Anadolu Efes, where he signed during the summer following five years with AS Monaco.
