Advisory Board

Mr. Michael Lamont James is a 2004 Detroit Pistons NBA Champion. He was an integral part of the 2003/2004 Detroit Pistons World Championship Team. 

His successful Point Guard basketball career at Duquesne University Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 1995-1998  comprised fifth place in assists (348), 10th place in points (1,411) and the all time leader in steals (201). During his senior year he was named to the All-Atlantic 10 Conference First Team. 

At the retirement of his jersey ceremony, Mr. Dave Harper the Director of Athletics, spoke of Mr. James as thus: "The drive, determination and will to succeed he displayed from the time he stepped on campus paved the way to a distinguished NBA career. To play at the highest level of professional basketball for 12 seasons is proof of Mike's work ethic. It isn't also work ethic that also carried over to the classroom, as Mike made leaving the Bluff with his undergraduate a degree his priority. We are honored to welcome Mike back to the Palumbo Center as one of Duquesne's all-time greats." PittsburghSportsNow.com, February 22nd, 2017. 

Mr. James graduated with a degree in Psychology. 

In 1998 Mr. James played for the Long Island Surfs of New York (United States Basketball League) before proceeding to Europe to play for SKN St. Polten in Austria (1998/99), ESPE Chalons-en-Champagne in France (1999/2000) and SLUC Nancy Basket in France (2000/01). In 2001 he played for Rockford Lightning of Illinois (Continental Basketball Association).  

Mr. James commenced his NBA career in 2001 when he signed with Miami Heat as a free agent for the 2001/02 season. His Point Guard prowess took his career to the Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks, Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors, New Orleans Hornets, Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls.  Mr. James also played for China's Zhejiang Golden Bulls and Turkey's Aliaga Petkim. He completed his professional career with the NBA G-League's Texas Legend scoring the team's first ever triple double of the season with 21 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds in the 115-111 win over the Delaware 87ers.  

In January 2006, Mike James was the second leading scorer in the game against Kobe Bryant's 81 points. In April of the same year he became the first Raptor to score 30 or more points in four consecutive games. To date, he is the only non-drafted basketball player to spend a record 12 years in the NBA. He is the only Duquesne University basketball player who has recorded the longest tenure in the NBA.  

Mr. James was inducted to the Merle E. Gilliand Duquesene University Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. In conjunction with the college's 100th season of basketball, Mr. James was named to Duquesne's All-Century Team. In February 2017 his Number 13 Jersey was lifted to the rafters and retired in a special ceremony. 

With his overall excellence on and off court, Mr. Mike James is abundantly exceedingly well-equipped for the purposes of The Educational Basketball Advisory Board. 

The above photo shows Ms. Angela James together with her husband at his Jersey Retirement Ceremony. 

Photo Credit: Andrew Russell for Tribune Review.

archive.triblive.com/sports/college/duquesne

Attorney Randy Paschal is a distinguished licensed sports and entertainment attorney with several years of experience working with esteemed NBA teams, current and former NBA players, NFL players and other professional athletes and sports organizations. As a first-generation Nigerian American, he possesses an unparalleled drive and willingness to learn and educate himself, utilizing the knowledge acquired to serve others effectively.

Attorney Paschal is a shining academic star, having graduated with summa cum laude honors from law school while representing the institution's student body government as Mr. Thurgood Marshall School of Law. During his time in law school, he was exceedingly active and involved in several organizations, including African Law Students Association and Thurgood Marshall's Law Review. Furthermore, he selflessly served as a Contracts tutor to his peers and a research assistant to his professors, all while focusing on his studies and graduating in the top 5% of his class.

Attorney Paschal's professional sports career commenced with the Houston Rockets, where he worked in various departments, including marketing, community, and basketball operations. It was during his tenure with the Rockets that he decided to pursue law school. He later worked in the Office of General Counsel for the Dallas Mavericks during an exciting and crucial time when Mark Cuban hired Cynt Marshall, making her the first black woman to be a CEO of an NBA team, a significant breakthrough in sports. Attorney Paschal was privileged to work on several legal matters for the Mavericks, including projects related to Collective Bargaining Agreement, NBA Rules & Regulations, Uniform Player Contracts, Breach of Contract claims, Product Liability concerns and matters relating to Intellectual Properties.

In 2020, Attorney Paschal gained invaluable work experience with Attorney Ricky Anderson, a top USA entertainment law firm. He performed legal representation for artists, radio personalities, television hosts, music executives, and record labels, further enriching his knowledge of the industry.

Attorney Paschal was called to the National Bar Association to serve as the Treasurer for the Sports, Entertainment, and Arts section. The National Bar Association is the nation's oldest and largest global network of predominantly Black American attorneys and judges, representing the interest of approximately 67,000 lawyers, judges, law professors, and law students. As Treasurer, he provided financial management of the section by creating budget plans and collecting, organizing, depositing, and keeping track of organizational funds. He also provided financial reports to committee members, reconciled bank statements, managed cash flow, invested funds in accordance with the law, and assisted in fundraising efforts. Attorney Paschal served in this position for two years, exhibiting excellence in his duties, and he currently holds the position as Treasurer in 2023. 

Attorney Paschal currently sits on the Board for Impact 13 Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by NBA Player and 2017-2018 League MVP, James Harden.

With his formidable business acumen, and overall professional experience, Attorney Paschal is well-equipped for the purposes of The Educational Basketball Advisory Board. 

Photo Credit: Randy Paschal

https://www.rcplawpractice.com/