TJ Shorts receive EuroLeague Basketball MVP for October honors

EuroLeague Basketball named Valencia Basket point guard TJ Shorts EuroLeague Basketball MVP for the Month of October this morning, although this first monthly award covers the period since the start of the competition, as it also includes the first two rounds played in September.

It is the second time in his professional career that Shorts has received this award, having previously won it with Paris Basketball in November 2024. It is also only the second time that a Valencia Basket player has been named the best player of the month in Europe's premier club competition, following Nikola Kalinić’s selection as EuroLeague MVP for February 2021.

Over the opening stretch of the season, the Valencia Basket playmaker has led the team to a 6-3 record while averaging 17.1 points per game (the third-best scoring mark in the competition) on 54.5% three-point shooting, along with 1.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists (third in the league), and 5.7 fouls drawn, for an average performance index rating of 20.7 (the third-highest in the EuroLeague).

His best performance so far in a Valencia Basket jersey came during his return to the court of Paris Basketball, where he posted 25 points and 9 assists for a performance index rating of 34. That display earned him a share of the Round 7 MVP award alongside Zach LeDay.

In the interview conducted by EuroLeague Basketball to announce the award, Shorts revealed that being named MVP of the month “feels amazing. Obviously, everyone knows about my story about last year, how it went. And I mean, for me, it was just a learning experience. And now to be here in Valencia, to be back in a role where I can really excel, I feel confident. I feel like I've just got a breath of fresh air to be able to play basketball again. And I've really enjoyed being here so far in Valencia”.

Regarding his first moments with Valencia Basket, TJ Shorts highlighted that "the fan support has been crazy. I mean, for people who haven't been like yourself, firstly, just look at the arena, Roig Arena here. It's an amazing arena, probably one of the best in the EuroLeague. And then you throw the fans in here. They have been a huge support for us. They've been showing up every home game. They've been giving us the support. And for me, it's been like almost like an instant connection between me and the fans. They've shown me a lot of love. I've given them energy. They give me energy back. It's been a great fit so far. I hope it continues this way. But yeah, it's been very exciting. That's the word I'd use."