Last season they were a hit in the Eurocup, this season they are a hit in the Euroleague - Paris basketball players are currently the most beautiful European basketball story, and after 14 rounds played, they are in the leading position of the Euroleague with 11 wins and three losses.
Last season's Eurocup winner suffered their last defeat in the Euroleague in the fourth round against Bayern Munich. And then he celebrated 10 times in a row, defeating Panathinaikos, Olympiakos, Barcelona and Monaco among others this season, and sent a clear message to his rivals that he wants to play a serious role in this competition. Paris' streak without defeat is one of the longest in the Euroleague - the absolute record holder is CSKA, which in the 2006/2007 season. recorded 18 consecutive victories.
In addition to the Euroleague, Tijag Spliter's team is also playing well in the French championship, where they have a 9-2 record. The last triumph in the domestic league was achieved by the team from the capital of France over Monaco (111:104), when they made up for a 19-point deficit.
Paris is currently playing perhaps the most beautiful basketball in Europe, and at the head of the expedition is the incredible TJ Shorts, who averages 18,6 points and 7,9 assists in the Euroleague.
"Unbelievable season, the start is really unbelievable. Obviously we are in good form, we are making a lot of noise in Europe, but we have to stay focused. Despite the great media attention and the noise that has been created around us, we have to stay focused, to let's go match by match," says the North Macedonia representative.
At 175 centimeters, Shorts is one of the shortest players in the Euroleague. However, he admits that it is sometimes difficult for him.
"It's not easy to be a point guard with 175 centimeters. But, over the years, I've learned a lot of things that help me when I play. I like to use my speed, to use the change of direction. The coach and my teammates put me in a good position on the field, so I can to be successful. My height is not my handicap, but it is not easy," explains Shorts.
In the previous round of the Euroleague, Paris defeated Olympiakos in Athens (96:90), and after the game, the coach of the Greek team, Giorgos Barcokas, publicly praised Shorts, saying that he is a special player with enormous talent.
"It's really incredible when a coach who won the Euroleague praises you. It's a great honor for me. I worked a lot to be at this level," says Shorts.
The guy, born in California 27 years ago, arrived in Europe in 2019 when he signed for Ventspils. He then moved to Germany, where he played for Hamburg, Krailsheim, and then Telekom Bonn, before coming to Paris in 2023. In his first season in Germany, he averaged 14,3 points and 5,2 assists in Hamburg, and then became one of the best players in the German championship in Krailsheim. He was the best scorer in the league, recording an average of 21 points and seven assists, with 40 percent three-point shooting, so he changed the center after just one season. The new destination was Telekom Bonn.
Shorts exploded in Telekom. With him, the team reached the final of the German championship in 2023, where they lost to Ulm, and Shorts was named the BBL's most valuable player that season. But, unlike the domestic league, Bonn won the title in the FIBA Champions League, the first and only one in history in a European competition. The season in the FIBA Champions League was marked by the American playmaker, who was the MVP of the regular season and F4, and therefore a member of the ideal five.
Short's coach in Bonn was Tuomas Isalo, who changed the center in the summer of 2023 and went to Paris. And he took Shorts with him. Interestingly, Isalo was also the coach of Krajlsheim, but he left in the summer of 2021, when an American basketball player arrived at the club.
Even in Paris, Shorts continued to play outstandingly, and he was the leader of the team, which dominated the Eurocup last season with 22 wins and one loss. As expected, Shorts was named the most valuable player - both in the regular season and in the final, and he was the best assistant and member of the ideal five.
In the meantime, Isalo went to the NBA this summer, specifically to Memphis, and Shorts stayed and got a new coach. The legendary Tiago Spliter arrived at the club, for whom this is his first coaching job, after improving in the NBA league, where he was in the coaching staff of Brooklyn and Houston.
As with Isal, Pariz plays attractive basketball with Spliter. And Spliter's ideas are successfully implemented on the field by Shorts, who was chosen as the most valuable player (MVP) of the Euroleague in November. FIBA Europe Cup, FIBA Champions League, Eurocup, then Euroleague - Shorts went step by step to the biggest stage.
"When I'm in the right system, with the right coach, then I can show my values. I did it at various levels, which led me to the Euroleague. In the meantime, I was named the best in November. It's a great honor for me to be among the best in Europe," said Shorts.
In the next round of the Euroleague, Paris will play away to Asvel on Friday (21). A new opportunity for the team, but from Shorts, to delight the European basketball public.
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