Now that was a statement. T.J. Shorts could hardly have asked for a better start to the season, emerging as the clear MVP in Valencia’s road win over Besiktas in the EuroLeague opener (94-96). The diminutive guard delivered the kind of performance that brought back memories of his vintage self with Paris, and for the more nostalgic fans, even his days in Bonn.
More specifically, Shorts finished the game with 26 points on 2/2 free throws, 9/17 two-pointers and 2/3 three-pointers, along with one rebound, two assists, two turnovers and one steal. What made it even more impressive was his efficiency, as he put up those numbers in just 13 minutes on the floor. Above all, though, it was simply great to see Shorts looking like the player we had grown accustomed to, and fallen in love with, during the 2024/25 season, his first year in the EuroLeague.
And, naturally, he offered the most encouraging signs of what may be coming next. A glimpse of things to come, you could say. This dream performance from Timothy Neocartes Shorts II was the perfect opening chapter to what could become a revenge tour, with Istanbul as the first stop. Because last season at Panathinaikos, circumstances made it extremely difficult to see this version of Shorts.
TJ Shorts. Right on time. ⏱️💥@valenciabasket pic.twitter.com/TgmPHe0Yun
— EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) September 25, 2026
We have already analysed that, after all. His responsibilities were clearly more limited and, as a player who needs the ball in his hands, he never really managed to impose himself or stand out in green. That does not mean, of course, that he did not have his moments with Panathinaikos. Overall, however, it was a season well below his usual standards, as he averaged 7.8 points, 1.4 rebounds and 3 assists in 16.1 minutes per game.
The fact that Shorts is beginning to look “Parisian” again in Valencia is also linked to the absence of players with roles comparable to Nunn, Sloukas and Grant, who, for the Spanish side last season, were mainly Montero and Badio. Had even one of those two remained, perhaps the conversation would be different. Even so, Shorts now seems to be playing with far greater freedom and confidence, something that also comes from within. Xavier Albert has clearly given him the green light, and throughout this game he appeared to trust him completely.
After all, Shorts is the kind of player who feeds off his coach’s support. We saw that most clearly under Finnish coach Tuomas Iisalo, and later under Tiago Splitter. Ergin Ataman’s approach, by contrast, never really seemed to suit him and may have felt somewhat unfamiliar. Especially during the moments when the Turkish coach publicly singled him out, saying things such as, “I am 90% dissatisfied with him” and “with him on offense, it was like we were playing four against five.”
Perhaps Shorts is simply better suited to coaches who are more understated and less star-driven in their approach. Ultimately, however, all of that matters very little now that Shorts appears to have started the aforementioned revenge tour. He is set to face Olympiacos on October 13 and Panathinaikos on November 24 at the Roig Arena, as Valencia look to reach the Final Four for a second consecutive season, and for only the second time in the club’s history.