#Mike James feels he can shine with Nets after Russia exit

Mike James’ controversial exit from Russia already has benefitted the injury-ravaged Nets backcourt.

James appeared in his first NBA game since 2018 in Friday’s win over the Celtics, scoring eight points with two steals in 21 minutes.

Afterward, the 30-year-old guard explained his departure from EuroLeague power CSKA Moscow last month after he was suspended indefinitely over an altercation with coach Dimitris Itoudis.

“Some things happened in my personal life and I felt like stuff didn’t go how I thought somebody should handle my situations,” said James, who previously was suspended by the club in January. “We had a little clash there. Not really as a basketball player did I have a clash with Itoudis, more as an individual. As two men we had clashes, not really on the basketball court.”

James became the 27th player to appear in a game this season for the first-place Nets, who are 40-20 entering Sunday’s matinee against the Suns (42-17) at Barclays Center. James, who played in Eastern Europe and Israel after going undrafted out of Lamar in 2012, appeared in 32 games for Phoenix and four for New Orleans in the 2017-18 season before returning to play overseas.

“I liked playing a lot and having a star role. Just as you get older, I just don’t want to have that much responsibility on my shoulders every night,” James said. “Playing 21 minutes a night is better for me and just not being as much of a focal point and just trying to help out. I feel like I can shine in that if I got the opportunity.”

With guards James Harden (hamstring), Tyler Johnson (knee) and Chris Chiozza (hand) among the Nets sidelined with injuries, James has a chance to play important minutes, at least over the remainder of the 10-day contract he inked Friday.

“We know he’s a talented player,” Nets coach Steve Nash said. “He obviously can score the ball, but I was really impressed with his pace, his ability to draw and kick and make the offense run faster and create openings for his teammates.”

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Kevin Durant has been listed as probable for Sunday’s game against the Suns after missing the Nets’ past three games with a left thigh contusion.

The 11-time All-Star was listed as questionable for Friday’s game, but didn’t play. Nash said before that game that Durant was “close, but not quite there.” He added that Durant playing Sunday against the Suns was “a possibility, but it may not be.”

Johnson (knee) also has been listed as probable.

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Kyrie Irving said Friday night that he has been fasting for Ramadan, which means he can’t eat or drink until sundown. He was shown on TV eating on the bench during the win over the Celtics.

The All-Star guard shot just 4-for-19 from the floor, but he finished with 15 points, 11 assists, nine rebounds and four steals in the win.

“I am taking part in Ramadan with a lot of my brothers and sisters, my Muslim brothers and sisters,” Irving said. “It’s been an adjustment, that’s really what I can say, just being committed to my service, to God, Allah, and then continuing on with whatever I’m guided with.”