Will Mike James remain Monaco’s captain? President Fedoricsev’s surprising response
EuroLeague - Back at Monaco after a suspension and doubts about his future, Mike James has extended until 2027. But the question of his role as captain remains open, while Matthew Strazel has clearly declined this responsibility.
Photo Credit : Julie Dumélié
Suspended at the end of last season, Mike James (1.85m, 35 years old) took this situation very badly. While his future at Monaco was uncertain, the Roca Team’s star guard finally found common ground to sign a new extension with the club until 2027. But one question remains: will he keep his role as captain?
The American inherited the captain’s armband at the start of the 2024-2025 season, when the coach was Sasa Obradovic, with whom he had developed a very good relationship. Since his return last week and his two-season extension, the club management has not clarified this point.
President leaves the decision to the team
During the official presentation of the 2025-2026 season, Aleksej Fedoricsev was questioned about the captaincy. The Monégasque president did not want to commit: « It will never be my decision, it’s the team’s decision, » he explained.
Now it’s up to Vassilis Spanoulis’s staff to decide: either reappoint Mike James, or give the armband to another player, or even organize a locker room vote as is often done.
Strazel rules out the idea of being captain
In this context, Matthew Strazel‘s name could have come up. While he revealed his desire to eventually become captain of the French national team, the 23-year-old point guard does not wish to take on this responsibility: « No, I don’t want to be Monaco’s captain. For different reasons, but I think I still have to prove myself in European competition. There are more experienced, older players than me, and I think they will be eager to take on that role here, » he confided.
It remains to be seen whether Mike James, despite his recent tumultuous past with the club, will retain this symbolic role or if Monaco will decide to open a new chapter in its locker room.
In Monaco,
Gabriel Pantel-Jouve est le fondateur et rédacteur en chef de BeBasket, qu’il anime depuis 2010 (sous le nom de Catch & Shoot). Passé par l’Ecole Publique de Journaliste de Tours, puis deux universités en Amérique du Nord, il a pu développer son expertise sur le basket français, de la Ligue Nationale aux divisions amateurs, durant ces 20 dernières années. En parallèle, il est aussi engagé dans le développement de clubs du côté de Montpellier.
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