SANTO DOMINGO (Dominican Republic) – Mike James wasted no time showing why he has been one of Europe's premier players over the past decade. The 35-year-old veteran point guard made his debut for the USA National Team on Friday and played a starring role in an 82-81 victory over the Dominican Republic. The AS Monaco standout finished his first international appearance for the United States with a double-double of 15 points and 12 assists. Although he struggled from the field, shooting 4-for-15, he delivered when it mattered most, scoring seven points in the fourth quarter to help fuel the American comeback after the visitors trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half.
With the victory, USA (4-1) moved into sole possession of first place in Group A. The Dominican Republic (3-2), however, secured the head-to-head tiebreaker between the two teams thanks to its 87-79 victory in their first meeting. James also received strong support from his teammates. Veteran forward Torrey Craig recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, including the go-ahead three-pointer with 23 seconds remaining. Terry Taylor added 14 points, while center Jay Huff, who ranked third in the NBA in blocks per game (1.9) with the Indiana Pacers last season, finished with 12 points and four blocks. Orlando Robinson also chipped in with 10 points. For James, a longtime European basketball star, his USA debut marked another milestone in an outstanding career, as he helped lead the Americans to a crucial road victory in World Cup qualifying. USA will close out the First Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Americas Qualifiers on July 6 against Mexico, looking to carry the momentum into the Second Round.
FIBA