Mike James shared a heartfelt tribute to Sasa Obradovic after his firing as AS Monaco's head coach, saying, "You pushed me to be the best version of myself every day, even when I didn't see it myself," and calling him "one of my favorite coaches."
AS Monaco have decided to part ways with head coach Sasa Obradovic, making him the first EuroLeague tactician to lose his job this season.
Mike James, the team's leader, took to social media to express his gratitude toward Obradovic, who had been with the team since late 2021.
"Obradovic, in the most simple of words I want to say thank you. For not only being one of my favorite coaches I've ever had but one of my favorite people," James wrote on Instagram. "You came to a team in a horrible state with a horrible version of me and turned it into a European household name.
"Roca Team, since you have arrived, has been a team to be feared and a team many fans love to watch," the star added. "You pushed me to be the best version of myself every day, even when I didn't see it myself. I appreciated every second of it, coach, and I know this won't be our last encounter. Thank you, coach."
The decision to part ways with Obradovic followed Monaco's home loss to Le Mans on Sunday, which left them with a 5-3 record in the French League. In the EuroLeague, Monaco holds a 6-4 record, tied for seventh place.
Under Obradovic's leadership, Monaco won French championships in 2023 and 2024 and reached the EuroLeague Final Four in 2023, marking a historic achievement for the club, which only joined the competition in the 2021-22 season.
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