By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Running it back in the Basketball Champions League has been a treat for Jayvon Graves. From France to Germany and from Limoges CSP to MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg.
Graves, 24, is among the top performers early in the 2023-24 edition of the BCL. Chipping in 19.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per contest, his side settled for a 1-1 split to start Group D of the Regular Season. His leading performance was a deciding factor in the positive half of the record, fueling the Gameday 2 win over Poland champion King Wilki Morskie Szczecin.
Introducing himself to the Champions League with Limoges, he tallied 9.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per contest over his first two appearances. “I am feeling good and more comfortable. With this being my second year in Europe I have a feel for how things are now. So, I feel as if I’m ahead of last season at this time,” he explained to Eurohoops comparing the start of the previous season to the ongoing continental campaign.
“Having a really good preseason was important for me to continue the momentum into the season,” he added, “I put a lot of work in this summer that I think is showing. I also have a bigger role here in Ludwigsburg.”
Packing 22 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, Graves became the first player to combine at least 20 points with more than five rebounds and five assists in a single game of the 2023-24 Champions League Regular Season. The previous similar achievement by a player of the German club dated back to the 2022 Final Four and Justin Simon tallying 27 points, six rebounds, and six assists in the third-place game.
“Defense is the main thing”
Limiting the offense of King Szczecin to 11 points in the fourth quarter was the requirement for the game-high 22 points to be placed in the win column on Tuesday. Ludwigsburg came back from a halftime deficit in the Champions League for the first time since 2019, after losing 11 games in a row when trailing at the break.
“Defense is the main thing we focus on. I noticed that before I came here,” commented Graves, “We gave up too many points in the first quarter and wanted to ensure we finished the game off strong and locked in. Things weren’t easy but we wanted to make sure we got that win.”
Playing a second straight BCL game in MHP Arena, his side will welcome Italy’s Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari in Gameday 3 on October 7.
The 24-point hint to Ludwigsburg
The 2022-23 campaign in FIBA Europe’s top-tier club continental competition saw Graves end up with 10.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per contest. Overcoming a rocky start, he produced multiple solid showings for Limoges, including 24 points to win Game 3 of the best-of-three Play-In series versus his future team, Ludwigsburg.
Behind his best scoring showing in Europe, the French club reached the Round of 16. However, a 1-5 run in Group K signaled the end of the continental campaign. Making it further in the competition with Ludwigsburg would be brilliant, rewarding daily work at both team and individual levels.
“My personal goals always start with the team which is winning as many games as we can and getting better each week,” Graves stressed to Eurohoops, “Hopefully, we can win the BBL and make it to the top 16 in BCL and continue to advance.”
Besides sitting at 1-1 in the Champions League, the team coached by Josh King carries a 1-2 W-L tally in Germany’s easyCredit BBL. Suffering elimination in the domestic cup competition BBL-Pokal adds to early struggles. But it is still October. Plenty more to play for over the next months.
Jayvon Graves keeps working
From four years in the NCAA to the Austin Spurs during the 2021-22 season, Graves used his overseas options to continue improving his game. From Limoges to Ludwigsburg, the goal remains to further develop his skills.
“My individual goals are to showcase that I am one of the best up-and-coming players in Europe and that I can compete with anyone and hold my own,” he described his determination for more work on the court, “I also want to up my free throw percentage, play multiple positions on both sides of the ball and contribute in all aspects of the game.”
Ludwigsburg is a two-time participant in the BCL Final Four, in 2018 and 2022. Looking to bounce back after the conclusion of the 2022-23 run at the hands of Graves and Limoges, the former Buffalo standout is on the German side of the table and determined to retain cracking form, looking to reach the later stages of continental and domestic competitions.
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League