Michael Lamont James was born on June 23rd, 1975, in Amityville.  He was the youngest of the seven children of Jasper and Pauline James.  Along with his six older brothers and sisters, James' parents provided him with a stable home life that allowed him to dream of one day playing in the NBA.  Basketball occupied most of his spare time growing up, and helped to keep James away from the lure of the streets. 
After an illustrious playing career at Amityville High School, James heard the doubts of fellow players and coaches who claimed that he was not good enough to play Division 1 basketball.  He quickly proved those doubters wrong, attending Duquesne on a full scholarship and earning All-Atlantic 10 Conference First Team honors during his senior year. After his graduation from college, the doubters returned. This time they claimed that James would never be able to play professionally.  Fate almost caused that prediction to come true.  James went undrafted in the 1998 NBA draft, and could not even try out for an NBA team because of the lockout that suspended league play that year.  Undaunted, he decided to take his game to the European Professional Leagues, where he excelled for Austria's St. Poelten.  His level of play, which earned him a spot in the Austrian All-Star Game, also earned the attention of NBA scouts, and James joined the Miami Heat in 2001.  In 2003, he became a Boston Celtic, earning a spot as their starting point guard while leading the team in assists and averaging 10.7 points a game. The Detroit Pistons traded for him 55 games into the season for their playoff run.  James became an integral part of that Pistons team, helping them capture the 2004 NBA Title.  After signing with the Houston Rockets and being traded to the Toronto Raptors in 2005, James went on to have his best season in the league.  He averaged over 20 points per game and shot 44.2% from the three point line, which placed him among the league's leaders.  He also became the first undrafted player to average over 20 points per game in a season, and the first Raptor to score 30 or more points in four consecutive games.  He has since played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Rockets for a second time, and is currently a member of the New Orleans Hornets. 
James' success extends to areas both on and off the basketball court.  Along with his wife Angela, he created the Mike James Scholarship Foundation in December of 2004.  The foundation's goal is to help exceptional young people achieve their dreams through education.  He also heads the Mike James Basketball Experience, a youth-oriented basketball life skills camp that began in August of 2005. 
Despite his accomplishments, James has never forgotten his Long Island roots.  In 2005, Suffolk County officially declared July 29th to be "Mike James Day", and renamed the basketball courts where he spent his youth in his name.  He now holds an annual Mike James Day celebration to provide his community with a day of family fun and entertainment, free of charge.  This is another of the many ways in which he has proven himself to be one of the most generous community benefactors in today's NBA. 
Mike and Angela call Houston home now, and have two daughters,  Jadon and Amaya.
James talked with Longislandbasketball.com about his most vivid memories of basketball and Long Island. 
 
LIB.com: How old were you when you started playing basketball?
James: All my life I had pictures of me holding a basketball, and the ball is bigger than me.  I always had a passion for the game. Living next to a park and that being my only outlet, it's almost like I had no choice other than for it to become my number one.  It really became my top sport after I broke my wrist playing football my sophomore year of high school, and I never picked up a football again.
LIB.com:Who first taught you the game?
James: My cousin Chris Nicholson had a big influence on me early but mainly I learned from watching the older guys playing and picking the game up.  Early on I used to shovel snow to play, in the rain, it was all I  had besides getting in trouble.  The biggest hurdle for me growing up were all the negative influences around. I was encircled by negativity and at some point you may start believing it but I refused. That's why I try to support the younger kids out there. I try to make them understand that they don't need handouts, cause I look at my own life, I didn't have a handout growing up.
LIB.com:When did you first start playing on an organized team?  What do you remember most from those years?
James: 7th grade was the first time I played organized basketball for the school.  I also played AAU for the Long Island Panthers. I remember once in 8th grade we were down one point versus Bay Shore with 10 seconds left in the game. Me and a buddy of mine trapped a kid at half court and I stole the ball and made my first buzzer beater shot to win the game. 
LIB.com:Did any of your youth coaches have a major impact on you?
James: In 9th grade coach Roy Voliton  was the toughest coach I have ever had in my career. He  prepared me for all the tough coaches after him. He told us we were the worst  team and players he had ever coached and we went undefeated.  I still keep in touch with some guys from that team.
LIB.com: What grade were you in when you first made the varsity?
James: I knew I  was good enough to make the team when I was in middle school.  I used to tell  everyone that when I got to high school I would  play varsity. 9th grade was still at the  middle school in Amityville, so I first played varsity in 10th grade.  I wasn't always the best player on the team, that came later. I had a very good high school team. The more I worked I passed up everybody.  In 11th grade I started the whole season.  Before my first game as a starter, I was nervous but thinking about how I was going to help my team win this game.  My best memory of high school ball is going to Glen Falls for the State Championships.  In high school I was 2nd team All-Long Island, All-County, and All-State.  I didn't care because I should've been first team All-LI my senior year.
LIB.com: What colleges recruited you?
James: No colleges recruited me out of high school. I got recruited out the park {Roosevelt Park} by Duquesne University.  I remember my first day on campus I thought, "Wow, I made it to college, I never thought I'd be here."  After my first practice I knew it was gonna be harder than I thought it would be. My best memory of college ball is catching a windmill dunk in a game against LaSalle.  I had three dunks that game.  I had hops in college.  My best non-basketball memory from college is graduating with a degree in Children's Psychology and a minor in Communications.  I became a better student as I got older.  In high school, I was happy just to graduate on time. Also, I met my wife in college my senior year. We were friends first and then fell in love. That's my best friend.
LIB.com: Where did you play after college?
James: I played three years overseas for three different teams.  Even on those levels I was the best player so it helped me continue to believe that I was good enough to be in the NBA.   Then the Miami Heat signed me at a free agent camp and cut me. I went to the CBA for a month and played with the Rockford Lightning.  Then the Heat brought me back and the rest is history.  I was happy making it out of Europe and not looking back.  I couldn't believe I was finally in the NBA after all the blood, sweat, and tears.  It's great knowing that I've played seven years in the NBA now and I never have to go back to Europe unless I want to.  Also, I've played in some of the best summer leagues. I remember giving {Adrian} Whole Lotta Game {Walton} 50 at Hunter College Nike Pro Am, that's the best league in NY. 
LIB.com: What have been your most important accomplishments in the NBA so far?
James: Winning the NBA championship with the Detroit Pistons and being the only undrafted player in NBA history to average 20 points a game.  What stands out in my mind about the season with the Detroit Pistons is all 14 of those guys.  That was the best team that I've ever played for in my career. We were so close I could seriously say we were all friends. Sometimes you have teams where the guys are just teammates, it's business, but on this team the guys were all genuinely close and that carried over to the basketball court.
LIB.com: What unique challenges are there to having a basketball career and raising a family?
James: It's tough but we are enjoying this ride. Eventually it will come to an end so we are taking full advantage of it. My family understands my lifestyle. It's a  lesser sacrifice for greater results.
LIB.com: Besides family, what’s important to you now?
James: My heavenly FATHER is the most  important person to me. Living for HIM and trying to be the best man I can be, an entrepreneur and a great basketball player.  All my life I was always being doubted.  No one ever believed I was good enough.  I've made it this far and they still don't believe, which means I still have a lot to prove.  Making  it out of Amityville was tough, it's a war zone there - no different than any borough - and to have the success I do now is a blessing from GOD.  That's why my advice is: DO YOU. Whatever advice others give you, whether good or bad, you have to live with the final decision. Trust your inner man, believe in yourself, and DO YOU!  Truly love, then follow your heart.                                         
Back In The Day
By Sam Thomas
Mike James grew up next to a basketball court.  On the courts of Bolden Mack Park in Amityville, he found the dedication and love of the game of basketball that would take him to a Division 1 college, to Europe and back, and then to the NBA, where he has gone on to have an outstanding career.
Looking back on basketball life on Long Island