Anadolu Efes Signs Cameron Payne Through 2026-27

The club added the veteran guard to provide an experienced ball‑handler to cover Mike James’s role during his long Achilles recovery.

Overview

Anadolu Efes announced on Oct. 3 that it signed Cameron Payne to a contract running through the end of the 2026–27 season, the club said in a statement.
The signing was made to replace Mike James after James suffered a serious Achilles injury that will keep him out for an extended period.
Payne arrives after a season that included a training‑camp cut with the Indiana Pacers, a stint with Serbia’s KK Partizan, a brief February signing with the Philadelphia 76ers and an August workout with the Sacramento Kings.
A 2015 first‑round pick, Payne has multi‑team NBA experience and was a key bench playmaker for the Phoenix Suns during their 2021 Finals run, and he averaged 7.4 points and 2.6 assists in his most recent NBA playing stretch.
Efes gains an immediate, experienced option to run its offense in EuroLeague play and will use Payne to stabilize backcourt minutes while monitoring James’s recovery and how Payne adjusts to the team’s rotation.