The EuroLeague has a strange way of making time fly and stand still at once.
It feels as though the season has only just started – at least when you look at the calendar. And yet, nine rounds are already behind us, and we’re approaching the quarter mark of the regular season.
Time for our first statistical review.
Leading Scorers
1. Nadir Hifi (Paris) – 21.2 points per game
Paris are 3–6, Hifi is shooting 40.7% from the field and averaging 3.3 turnovers. For now, though, his scoring lead comes with a catch – Paris are winning far less often than Hifi is filling up the box score.
We’ve established by now that Hifi is the big fish in a small pond. Perhaps it’s time for him to try swimming in deeper waters next season.
2. Sasha Vezenkov (Olympiacos) – 18.1 points per game
Death, taxes and Sasha Vezenkov scoring at least 15 points.
3. TJ Shorts (Valencia) – 17.1 points per game
An early MVP candidate and, dare we say it already, a near-lock for an All-EuroLeague team.
He’s shaken off his Athens nightmare and simply picked up where he left off.
4. Dwayne Bacon (Dubai) – 16.7 points per game
A one-on-one nightmare for defenders. Built like a tank, with a scoring arsenal to match.
So far, he’s delivering exactly that, with impressive efficiency and – by his standards – good shot selection.
5. Kevin Punter (Barcelona) – 16.7 points per game
When Punter arrived in Catalonia, he surely didn’t imagine having this particular team around him. Yet Barcelona sit at an impressive 6–3, with Punter firmly at the helm.
Leading Rebounders
1. Jonas Valanciunas (Zalgiris) – 8.1 rebounds per game
He hasn’t been flawless, but Valanciunas has given Zalgiris exactly what they brought him in for – and raised the team’s ceiling in the process.
And the feeling is that his best is still to come.
2. Mfiondu Kabengele (Dubai) – 7.7 rebounds per game
If Kabengele needed to prove that last season was no fluke, he’s certainly doing a fine job of it.
3. Mathias Lessort (Panathinaikos) – 7.4 rebounds per game
Of those, 3.6 come on the offensive glass. Lessort is healthy again, and when that’s the case, he’s among the best in the EuroLeague.
4. Walter Tavares (Real Madrid) – 7.4 rebounds per game
He started playing basketball late. Apparently, he’s still making up for lost time.
Tavares turns 35 in March, and opposing players still aren’t exactly thrilled at the prospect of entering the paint when he’s waiting for them.
5. Josh Nebo (Barcelona) – 7.2 rebounds per game
He’s played six games so far, and if he can stay healthy, Barcelona’s playoff chances improve considerably.
Assist Leaders
1=. Chris Jones (Crvena Zvezda) and Carlik Jones (Partizan) – 5.9 assists per game
Zvezda’s point guard plays eight fewer minutes per game and commits fewer turnovers – 1.1 compared with Carlik’s 2.0.
Chris is a basketball craftsman, the man who gives Zvezda’s offense structure and purpose. Carlik, meanwhile, remains Partizan’s best player, even if his performances have fluctuated over the past few games.
3. TJ Shorts (Valencia) – 5.7 assists per game
We’ve already said plenty about Shorts. Let’s just add that Valencia’s style of play seems tailor-made for him.
4. Theo Maledon (Real Madrid) – 5.4 assists per game
Real Madrid are on a winning streak, and Maledon is emerging as a leader under Pedro Martinez, who clearly trusts him far more than Scariolo did.
The Frenchman is repaying that faith with interest.
5=. Marcus Carr (Virtus) and Codi Miller-McIntyre (Olympiacos) – 5.1 assists per game
Carr has been one of the most pleasant surprises of the EuroLeague season. If he keeps playing like this, don’t be surprised to see him at a title contender next year.
Miller-McIntyre, meanwhile, is still adjusting. With Montero injured, he’s likely to see even more minutes – and we know he’s the kind of player who needs space, freedom and the confidence that comes with both.
The Rest of the Numbers
Steals and blocks: Partizan’s Luca Vildoza leads the league in steals with 2.1 per game, the only player averaging more than two. Virtus center Aliou Diarra tops the blocks chart, also at 2.1 per game.
Turnovers: Behind Hifi, Cameron Payne and Jimmy Clark are giving the ball away most often, with three turnovers per game apiece.
Three-point shooting: Santi Yusta leads the league at 60%, although he attempts just 1.2 threes per game. Nine players are shooting better than 50% from three, but Sterling Brown’s numbers are particularly impressive – 54.5% on a healthy 3.7 attempts per game.
Minutes played: Elijah Bryant leads the EuroLeague in playing time. Dimitris Itoudis keeps him on the floor for an average of 28 minutes and 40 seconds per game.
