Pablo Laso: 'Only Mike James Can Stop Mike James'

As Anadolu Efes enters the post-Shane Larkin era, Pablo Laso did not dodge the question that defines the entire season: whose team is this? His answer was both a declaration and a risky admission — "Only Mike James can stop Mike James." Efes won two EuroLeague titles (2026, 2026) with Larkin as the conductor of a high-tempo pick-and-roll system. Larkin left, and Efes decided to completely restructure its offense around a different architect: Mike James — the American all-time leading scorer in EuroLeague history. Laso stated plainly: "After Larkin, we needed a player who would become the focal point of our offense." This is not merely a substitution; it is a change of offensive DNA — from the orchestration of a pick-and-roll artist to the self-creation of a solitary scorer. The critical element lies in Laso's awareness of the weaknesses embedded in the very system he is building. The statement "we can't be only his team" shows the coaching staff understands the danger of single-point dependency. The clearest evidence is the signing of Daron Russell — the EuroCup top scorer — to create a "dual-engine machine" that relieves James when he is trapped or needs rest. This is the classic solution to the problem every star-centric team must face. Nevertheless, the "hero-ball" model of James carries a tactical blind spot: in the playoffs, where opponents can blitz, trap, and force the ball out of his hands, success will depend on whether the supporting cast can punish those adaptive defenses. History shows James tends to elevate his numbers in elimination rounds, but a system too dependent on individual brilliance remains fragile against seasoned strategists. Add another variable: Georgios Papagiannis is not fit for the start of the season. The absence of the Greek center creates a void near the rim — the anchor for pick-and-roll tactics and interior defense. With a new system that needs time to absorb, the missing starting center will force Efes to adjust more during the opening stretch. Age 30 is a worrying milestone for a scoring guard, but James is now 34-35. His foundation lies in skill, craftiness, and spatial awareness — qualities that helped legends like Vassilis Spanoulis and Milos Teodosic sustain excellence until the end of their careers. The question is not whether James can score at this age, but whether those around him can turn those points into wins. Laso has chosen his path. Now we must see whether the strategist who built team-oriented basketball at Real Madrid can reconcile the personality of the most solitary scorer in Europe. Statistics, through my three-plus decades of following elite basketball, always provide answers for what has already happened — but with a new system still finding its identity, the game itself is the real storm.