Mike James and the decisive 4-point play: Anadolu Efes win VTB SuperCup

When the game clock in Moscow showed 13 seconds, Mike James turned Lokomotiv Kuban's home court into his own stage. He caught the ball from a teammate, stopped to freeze the defender, and rose for a three-pointer. The ball hit the glass and fell through, the referee's whistle following right after. He then made the free throw to seal an 88-82 victory. It was a declaration from a new leader, delivered on the biggest stage of the preseason.

The VTB United League SuperCup may not carry the weight of the EuroLeague, but for teams fine-tuning their rosters, it serves as a meaningful test. This year, the field featured CSKA Moscow, Unics Kazan, Lokomotiv Kuban, Zenit St. Petersburg and two-time EuroLeague champions Anadolu Efes. The Turkish club arrived as a side in transition, while Lokomotiv came determined to prove they were back.

Anadolu Efes dominated European basketball in 2026 and 2026, but last season they fell apart. Their wake-up call came in the form of a bold move: bringing Mike James, one of Europe's premier scorers of the past decade, from AS Monaco to Istanbul. They also added Dario Saric, a forward with NBA experience, forming a core that opponents can no longer ignore.

Lokomotiv Kuban, on the other hand, are a young and unpredictable team. Aleksej Pokusevski, a former Oklahoma City Thunder player, showed remarkable growth; Maksim Barashkov emerged as a reliable backcourt engine. They lack established stars, but make up for it with balance and fight. That is why the final was never one-sided.

I have spent over a decade watching European basketball, and I can say this: Mike James has a special ability to pick the right moment to shine. 27 points in this game do not tell the whole story. What matters more is how he handled each possession. He started modestly, moving the ball to get his teammates involved. In the fourth quarter, he switched to hunting mode.

James' decisive shot late was a perfect example. With the score 84-82 and 13 seconds left, few players would dare take a three-pointer, knowing how costly a miss could be. James took the shot and drew the foul, turning the play into a four-point opportunity. That skill is not luck; it comes from countless repetitions in pressure situations.

Dario Saric's presence was clearly a key factor. He did not score a lot, but his 15 points and 6 rebounds were enough to stretch Lokomotiv's defense. Every time Saric received the ball in the middle, the defense had to rotate, creating space for James. This was a well-designed system where each piece had a clear role.

For Lokomotiv, Pokusevski and Barashkov each scored 20 points, a respectable stat. But basketball is not a game of individual milestones. During the most tense moments, Lokomotiv lacked someone willing to take responsibility. A team can have many shooters, but it still needs someone willing to pull the trigger in the final five minutes. Lokomotiv did not have that person; Efes had James.

CSKA Moscow, the proudest Russian club in history, settled for third place after beating Unics Kazan 79-59. This result shows the gap between teams is shrinking and raises the question: is CSKA finished or are they just saving energy? Meanwhile, Igokea beat Zenit St. Petersburg 83-79, a surprising result that proves no opponent can be taken lightly.

Looking back at the final, many will say Lokomotiv lost because of inexperience. I disagree. They lost because they defended with too much respect for James. Instead of pressing him upon receiving the ball, they backed off beyond the arc, giving him room to shoot. They had no scheme for aggressive denial. When an elite scorer is that comfortable, defeat becomes inevitable.

I have always said: data never lies, but the reader often does. If you only look at the box score, both teams had good scorers, and you might call the game balanced. But when you dig into the decisive play, Lokomotiv were beaten before James even caught the ball. That was a defensive preparation failure at the biggest moment, not a punishment from fate.

Giants do not fall because they are weak; they fall because they forget they were once small. Anadolu Efes, after reaching the top, learned that lesson. Now, with Mike James and Dario Saric, they seem to have rediscovered their hunger. But is that enough for a long and grueling season? Predators like Real Madrid and Panathinaikos are not easy prey.

An empire is not built in one night, but data can build them in a single season. By winning the SuperCup, Efes sent their first message. But European basketball does not forgive complacency. The biggest question now is: will Mike James keep this fire through May, or will he become a star who only shines in preseason games?

This game also exposed a weakness in Efes: they rely too much on a few individuals in crunch time. If James gets injured or locked down, who will step up? Saric can provide stability, but he is not the type to create his own shot in decisive moments. Efes' coaching staff must find a Plan B before the season begins.

Lokomotiv, on the other hand, leave with more hope than disappointment. They showed a young, deep team capable of competing with bigger names. They were missing one moment of genius. Can Barashkov or Pokusevski become that hero in the near future? If they keep developing, their story is far from over.

From another angle, Mike James' success at the SuperCup echoes the journey of players who were once underrated. He was labeled a problem in the NBA, too difficult to manage, but he found his true home in Europe. He understands that to win championships, you sometimes have to fit into a system. That is a lesson every rebuilding team should take note of.

The VTB United League SuperCup is over, but its stories are just beginning. Anadolu Efes have reason to dream, Lokomotiv have reason to work, and the other teams have reason to worry. European basketball is heading into an unpredictable season, with Turkey and Russia as key players.

Giant failure is a gift for the observer. In this game, no giant fell, but there is a big lesson: in modern basketball, having an outstanding individual is an invaluable advantage. Lokomotiv lost in the hunter's game, and they will have to become hunters themselves if they want to stand on top.