TJ Shorts Named EuroLeague October MVP

Just months after leaving Panathinaikos through the back door with a year remaining on his contract and statistics far removed from his Paris stardom, TJ Shorts is now the best player in the opening stretch of the EuroLeague. The competition has named him October MVP, an award that also includes the two September matchdays and recognizes his role in Valencia Basket's strong 6-3 start through nine games.

The Engine of New Valencia

Valencia Basket arrived at the season forced to reinvent itself after losing important pieces from its roster, and Shorts has become the centerpiece of Xavi Albert's project. He is the third-leading scorer and third-best passer in the competition, and he's shooting three-pointers better than ever: more than half of his three-pointers have gone in. His impact is also visible on the scoreboard: in Valencia's six wins, he has a +89 rating when on the court.

His best night came in matchday seven, on his return to Paris. Against his former team, he posted 25 points, 9 assists, and a 34 efficiency rating in Valencia's 93-104 victory, a performance that earned him co-MVP of the matchday with Zach LeDay.

Read also:

• TJ Shorts and Zach LeDay, Matchday 7 MVP of the EuroLeague
• Barcelona Continues Growing with Win Over Combative Valencia Basket (98-94)
• Theo Maledon, October MVP

From Frustration in Athens to Confidence in Valencia

The contrast with his previous season is enormous. At Panathinaikos, Shorts played a secondary role: 8.1 points and 2.9 assists in 16 minutes across the 17 EuroLeague games he played, though he was decisive in the play-in, where he was named MVP for the second consecutive year. In June, the Greek club announced his departure despite having a contract through 2027, and Valencia Basket moved quickly to sign him.

The player himself explained the change in an interview with the EuroLeague on the occasion of the award: "It feels like I've taken a breath of fresh air to be able to enjoy basketball again."

An Award with History

It is the second monthly MVP of his career. The first came in November 2024, in the season when he led Paris Basketball to the playoffs and made the EuroLeague All-Star Five, while also being the competition's leading passer. At Valencia Basket, only Nikola Kalinić had achieved it before, in February 2021.

The point guard and his team return to the court this Thursday in Milan, facing Armani Olimpia Milano, which has won just one of its nine games.