Dribbling and Dental Work Can Be a Dodgy Duo

It's not only hockey players who have hockey smiles.

Somehow, though, hoopsters don't consider them to be as much a symbol of commitment as the pucksters do.

Mike James can tell you all about that.

However, his coaches and teammates at Olimpia Milano would rather he'd wait until he's off the court.

 

James had his cuppa coffee in the NBA, getting into 32 games -- and starting 10 -- for the Phoenix Suns as well as 4 more with the New Orleans Pelicans last season.

That's 36 more than most players from Eastern Arizona State and then Lamar can say.

However, that was that, so dude moved overseas to ply his trade, quickly discovering there's a lotta things worse than landing in Milan.

 

That's more than Boogie Cousins ever said about Sac-Town.

James is doing right fine in Euro-Hoops, too. Milano's glad to have him:

 

Dude recently lost a tooth in a EuroLeague bout against Maccabi Haifa of Israel, and its replacement apprently hasn't been tamed yet. Or something.

So there our 28-year-old hero was, saving a bitta clock against Sidigas Avellino when that frisky little bitch went walkies, and dude screwed up his priorities:

 

Being as how this persistent son of Portland is on a three-year, $5million contract and backing it up -- averaging 17.6 points and 6.5 assists in 28 games -- his homies will likely forgive him.

This time.