Forty EuroLeague players cast their votes for the BasketNews mid-season awards, with Paris Basketball dominating the survey by claiming first place in three of six categories and making a strong impact in several others.
BasketNews is thrilled to present the EuroLeague Players Mid-Season Survey for the second consecutive year, highlighting standout performances from the first half of the 2024-25 season.
This survey collected insights from 40 EuroLeague players, who shared their candid thoughts anonymously on a range of categories, including Most Valuable Player (MVP), Best Coach, Rookie, Defensive Player, Breakout Player, and the All-EuroLeague Team selections.
BasketNews expresses sincere gratitude to the players for their active participation, response to invitations, and contribution to the discussions that shed light on some of the best EuroLeague players of the season.
This player-centric approach highlights BasketNews' dedication to involving players in the ongoing discussions revolving around the league's most compelling topics.
MVP
TJ Shorts has taken the EuroLeague by storm just three months into his debut season, emerging as the standout star of Europe's premier club competition.
The 27-year-old American-North Macedonian point guard dominated the mid-season survey, receiving an overwhelming 61.5% of the votes.
Shorts ranks third in scoring (19.3 PPG), second in assists (7.9 APG), and leads the league in PIR (23.6).
His offensive impact is historic, creating an average of 38.0 points per game through scoring and assists – a mark unmatched by any other player in the EuroLeague. This accounts for nearly 44% of Paris Basketball's total points per game created through TJ Shorts' involvement.
For context, since BBallytics began tracking PTS+AST data in 2021-22, only Mike James has surpassed the 30-point creation average, recording 30.5 in his first season with AS Monaco.
Paris Basketball, led by TJ Shorts, sits atop the EuroLeague standings – a feat even the most optimistic French fans couldn't have imagined before the season.
Kendrick Nunn was the only other player to receive a few votes (12.8%). The EuroLeague's second-leading scorer (20.2 PPG) holds the season's single-game high with 39 points.
Sasha Vezenkov, who is quietly posting career-high averages of 18.7 points and a 22.9 PIR, surpassing even his MVP season numbers (17.6 PPG and 21.5 PIR in 2022-23), was third with multiple votes (5.1%).
Nikola Mirotic, Nigel Hayes-Davis, Zach LeDay, Devin Booker, Mathias Lessort, Mike James, and Sylvain Francisco received mentions from the players in the MVP voting.
| Player | Vote cast |
| 1. TJ Shorts (Paris) | 61.5% |
| 2. Kendrick Nunn (Panathinaikos) | 12.8% |
| 3. Sasha Vezenkov (Olympiacos) | 5.1% |
How TJ Shorts Became a Part of a Cheat Code in European Basketball:
Breakout Player
When Carsen Edwards entered the EuroLeague in 2022, most GMs recognized him as the best rookie with star potential. Ahead of the 2023-24 season, EuroLeague players picked him as the player poised for a breakout year after his move from Fenerbahce to Bayern Munich.
It took two seasons for Edwards to find his groove, but the predicted rise became a reality in his third year. Now, under Gordon Herbert's guidance, he has sharpened his game to become the league's top scorer, averaging 20.7 points per game.
This marks an impressive leap from his 11.5 points last season under coach Pablo Laso, a scoring improvement of 9.2 points per game.
EuroLeague players took notice, with 40.5% casting their votes for Edwards, making him the clear winner in this category.
A versatile offensive threat, Edwards shoots 52.8% on two-pointers, 37.2% from beyond the arc, and a remarkable 94.9% from the free-throw line. He has also boosted his assists from 1.8 to 3.1 per game, driving his PIR from 8.1 last season to 16.8 this year.
Edwards' scoring brilliance propelled Bayern to a surprising top 4 spot in the EuroLeague standings.
Theo Maledon, who averaged 22.8 points (47% 2P, 48% 3P, 91% FT), 4.3 rebounds, and 5.8 assists in the last nine-game stretch, ranked second in the voting, with nearly one-fifth of the voters (18.9%) impressed by his leadership, which has ASVEL Villeurbanne just one win away from the play-in pool.
Tamir Blatt, the EuroLeague leader in assists with 8.6 per game, finished third with 13.5% of the votes.
Sylvain Francisco, whose standout performances secured key wins for Zalgiris, came in fourth with 10.8%. Tyrique Jones of Partizan ranked second in offensive rebounds (2.8 ORB) and among the Top 15 in efficiency (16.8 PIR), rounded out the top five with 5.4%.
Isaia Cordinier, Rokas Jokubaitis, Matteo Spagnolo, and Nico Mannion also received mentions.
| Player | Vote cast |
| 1. Carsen Edwards (Bayern) | 40.5% |
| 2. Theo Maledon (ASVEL) | 18.9% |
| 3. Tamir Blatt (Maccabi) | 13.5% |
| 4. Sylvain Francisco (Zalgiris) | 10.8% |
| 5. Tyrique Jones (Partizan) | 5.4% |
Best Rookie
It was hardly a fair race, as TJ Shorts is delivering a rookie EuroLeague season worthy of MVP consideration.
The dynamic point guard has consistently proven himself at every level over the past three seasons.
In 2022-23, Shorts joined the Basketball Champions League (BCL) and led Telekom Baskets Bonn to a title. In his debut campaign, he earned both the season and Final Four MVP honors.
The following year, he moved to the EuroCup with Paris Basketball, claiming yet another championship while securing both the season and Final MVP awards.
Now, history seems to be repeating itself in the EuroLeague.
Unsurprisingly, Shorts dominated the vote, receiving 65% of the players' ballots.
Jaylen Hoard finished second in the voting, receiving 10% of the mentions.
Hoard, making a strong all-around impact for Maccabi, ranks in the top 10 for rebounding (5.5 RPG), 12th in scoring (15.3 PPG), and 12th in PIR (17.6).
A former NBA player, Lonnie Walker IV, also received multiple mentions (5.0%). He ranks 14th in scoring (14.8 PPG) and recently had a six-game stretch, averaging 20.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 26 minutes.
Nadir Hifi, Neal Sako, Trevion Williams, Levi Randolph, Matt Morgan, Mouhamet Diouf, Collin Malcolm, and Deividas Sirvydis received mentions among the players.
| Player | Vote cast |
| 1. TJ Shorts (Paris) | 65.0% |
| 2. Jaylen Hoard (Maccabi) | 10.0% |
| 3. Lonnie Walker IV (Zalgiris) | 5.0% |
Best Defensive Player
The always intense and competitive category lived up to its reputation midway through the 2024-25 season.
Several EuroLeague players earned multiple votes, with every ballot playing a pivotal role in the final outcome.
In a photo finish, AS Monaco forward Alpha Diallo claimed first place in the voting, earning 15.4% of the votes.
This marks the first time in his four-year EuroLeague career with AS Monaco that he has received such public recognition among the top defenders.
Diallo is enjoying career highs in scoring (12.1 PPG), efficiency (14.6 PIR), assists (2.0 APG), and steals (1.6 SPG), also shooting efficiently, making 62.9% of twos and 48.2% of threes.
Diallo ties for third place in total steals (22) despite playing three fewer games than the two players ahead of him—Sylvain Francisco (23) and Nick Weiler-Babb (27).
His team, Monaco, ranks in the top 5 for defensive rating, per BBallytics.
Edy Tavares, who leads the EuroLeague in total rebounds and blocked shots, finished second with 12.8% of votes.
Jerian Grant and Tyson Ward shared third place with 10.3% of votes, while three players—Thomas Walkup, Dovydas Giedraitis, and Nick Weiler-Babb—tied for fifth with 7.7% of votes.
Jan Vesely, Jaron Blossomgame, and Alessandro Pajola were other players who received multiple votes.
Bonzie Colson, Chima Moneke, Vincent Poirier, Collin Malcolm, and Justin Anderson also received mentions.
| Player | Vote cast |
| 1. Alpha Diallo (Monaco) | 15.4% |
| 2. Edy Tavares (Real) | 12.8% |
| 3-4. Jerian Grant (Panathinaikos) | 10.3% |
| 3-4. Tyson Ward (Paris) | 10.3% |
| 5-7. Thomas Walkup (Olympiacos) | 7.7% |
| 5-7. Nick Weiler-Babb (Bayern) | 7.7% |
| 5-7. Dovydas Giedraitis (Zalgiris) | 7.7% |
Best Coach
Tiago Splitter, once a popular pick among players for which the EuroLeague coach might face an early dismissal, has defied all expectations. Now, midway through the 2024-25 season, the former NBA and EuroLeague player is the players' top choice for the best coach in the league.
Splitter is thriving in his rookie coaching season, leading Paris Basketball to an unexpected position at the top of the standings. Much of the credit traces back to former Paris coach Tuomas Iisalo, who revolutionized European basketball by winning back-to-back BCL and EuroCup titles with the same core of players.
After Iisalo moved to the NBA, Splitter took over with a vision to blend Iisalo's innovative concepts with his own ideas. The results have been spectacular, as Paris continues to shock the competition.
This remarkable run hasn't gone unnoticed, earning Splitter significant recognition from EuroLeague players, with 44.7% votes highlighting his impact.
Several other coaches also received praise in this highly competitive category.
Gordon Herbert, who returned to the EuroLeague after 16 years and guided Bayern to a surprising Top 4 position, finished second with 31.6% of votes.
Andrea Trinchieri, who took Zalgiris to a 5-8 position in the first half of the season, was third with 15.8% of votes.
Zeljko Obradovic, Sarunas Jasikevicius, and Pierric Poupet received mentions.
| Coach | Vote cast |
| 1. Tiago Splitter (Paris) | 44.7% |
| 2. Gordon Herbert (Bayern) | 31.6% |
| 3. Andrea Trinchieri (Zalgiris) | 15.8% |
All-EuroLeague Team
If the All-EuroLeague Team of the season were decided by the players today, the best five wouldn't feature a true center.
Forty EuroLeague players selected three guards and two forwards to form their best lineup.
The players' MVP for the first half of the season, TJ Shorts, also received the most All-EuroLeague Team votes from his peers, appearing on 84.2% of all ballots.
Sasha Vezenkov was second with 63.2% of the votes. In addition to career highs in scoring and efficiency, Vezenkov is also achieving personal bests in free-throw shooting (90.2%) and drawing fouls, increasing his previous career high from 2.8 to 3.9 per game.
Kendrick Nunn came close with 60.5%. He has scored in double digits in all 16 games this season, dipping below 20 points only twice in his last nine appearances. Since Round 9, he's averaged 23.2 points while shooting 63% on two-pointers and 45% from beyond the arc.
Nigel Hayes-Davis ranked fourth with 50% of the votes. Despite a slight decrease in playing time (30:30), Hayes-Davis is averaging career highs in points (17.4, a 3.7-point increase from last season), efficiency (17.9 PIR), rebounding (5.2), and drawn fouls (4.0). He's also shooting 43.8% from three, his second-best average in six EuroLeague seasons.
Carsen Edwards rounded out the All-EuroLeague Team with 42.1% of votes. He is tied with Nunn for the most total three-pointers made in the EuroLeague (48) and ranks second in attempts (129), showcasing his consistent threat every minute of his 28-minute average on the floor.
Nikola Mirotic was the first player after the top 5, receiving 34.2% of votes.
Among the centers, Mathias Lessort, who was 7th overall in voting, topped the list with 21.1% of votes.
| Player | Vote cast |
| 1. TJ Shorts (Paris) | 84.2% |
| 2. Sasha Vezenkov (Olympiacos) | 63.2% |
| 3. Kendrick Nunn (Panathinaikos) | 60.5% |
| 4. Nigel Hayes-Davis (Fenerbahce) | 50.0% |
| 5. Carsen Edwards (Bayern) | 42.1% |
| 6. Nikola Mirotic (Milan) | 34.2% |
| 7. Mathias Lessort (Panathinaikos) | 21.1% |
| 8. Theo Maledon (ASVEL) | 18.4% |
| 9-10. Kevin Punter (Barcelona) | 10.5% |
| 9-10. Lonnie Walker IV (Zalgiris) | 10.5% |
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