By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Telekom Baskets Bonn guard TJ Shorts was named the Basketball Champions League December MVP. Shorts averaged 19.0 points, 6.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds over two games played this month, including a decisive victory over Pinar Karsiyaka that handed his team first place in Group B and the direct ticket to the Round of 16.
Per Basketball Champions League:
It was Joe Ragland in October, it was Marcus Foster in November, and now, it’s TJ Shorts in December. Telekom Baskets Bonn’s point guard continued his impressive season, winning the last MVP of the month award in the Basketball Champions League in 2022.
Shorts led Telekom Baskets Bonn to a 2-0 record this month, including the biggest win of their season so far. On the road in Turkey, he had 26 points, 9 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals to hand Bonn an 89-80 win over Pinar Karsiyaka, clinching first place in what was dubbed as the “group of death” after the draw in July.
Shorts followed that one up with 12 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in a blowout win on the road in Italy, defeating UNAHOTELS Reggio Emilia. That one must have felt special because it was Reggiana who handed the only defeat to Shorts and Bonn in the BCL earlier this season.
Overall, TJ Shorts is averaging 24.2 points, shooting 56.7 percent from the field, 52.4 percent from beyond the arc, and 77.4 percent from the line. The 25-year-old lefty dishes out 6.7 assists each night, and grabs an impressive 4.2 rebounds per game for someone 175cm/5’9” tall. He also became the first player with five straight games of 25+ points in BCL history, nobody else has more than three such games.
With all the Round of 16 and Play-In tickets handed out in December, it seems like it was the most important month of the season so far. To be the best of the best in a month like this speaks volumes of his contribution.
“We knew the month of December was huge because we had the chance to secure the number 1 seed in our group and being able to do that was great for us. Being named the MVP of December – I’m nothing but grateful to my teammates and coaches for trusting in me and my play and allowing me to be myself. It always feels good to be recognized by others with an award like this so rather in December or any month I’m super grateful and excited to be recognized as the MVP.”
He is not the first man from UC Davis to own a BCL MVP award of any kind. His college teammate was none other than Chima Moneke, BCL’s MVP of the Season in 2021-22. Moneke went from being the MVP to becoming the biggest promoter in the “Shorts for MVP” campaign.