Basketball Champions League MVP Race: Season Seven, second checkpoint

MIES (Switzerland) - Done with the Regular Season, we are seeing the first real contenders emerge, not just in terms of teams aiming towards the Final Four, but also in terms of players deserving to be in the MVP Race.

Now, if you've ever read the Help-Side Column, you probably know that this is complete madness. It was never meant to be serious, it was always here to rotate once all the results and stats start beating you off the dribble, that's where you've got this kind of article to provide you help defense and guide you towards clarity.

In this case, with so many games going on, you probably have a hard time figuring out who are the main candidates to win the MVP award at the end of the season. Jordan Theodore won it in Season One, Manny Harris picked up the trophy a year later, Tyrese Rice claimed it in 2019, Keith Langford in 2020 and Bonzie Colson in 2021. Last season, it was Chima Moneke.

Here are some important reminders about the MVP Race process:

It's not an official race. It is an actual update to see who's doing fine and who could end up winning the award at the end of the season. First four questions are for real. Fifth one is just random to lead you towards the leader of the MVP Race. It usually has nothing to do with basketball. It's just a hint on who's number one that week. I avoid using my compatriots in the piece because I don't want to sound biased. But both you and I know that Miro Bilan is the real MVP. [/unordered]

Okay. Time to talk MVP stuff. All of our previous MVPs had some stuff in common. They were on teams that got far in the competition, they were the reasons why their teams got that far, they were the ones hitting the dagger shots and game winners, and their numbers were impressive all season long.

That's why the four serious questions are formed the way they are:

(1) Does his team have a winning record?
(2) Is he the reason they have a winning record?
(3) If his team needs a game-winning shot to make the Final Four, is he the one taking it?
(4) Does he have the numbers to be the MVP?
(5) Does his game have a striking resemblance to a previous MVP, while playing for a team from the same country?

(See? Number five is just random. A clue for you, something to think about while scrolling down. Okay? Okay. Let's go.)

#10 Maurice Kemp (Bnei Ofek Dist Herzliya)

(1) Does his team have a winning record?
Ehm... No? His squad got eliminated by finishing fourth in Group H.
(1.5) ...and he's still mentioned in the MVP Race, because?
Because he scored 33 against Rytas Vilnius and 32 against Peristeri bwin, becoming the first player to get back-to-back 30-point games in BCL history!
(1.75) ...but he's not the MVP Race leader?
...but he's not the MVP Race leader.

#9 Breein Tyree (Filou Oostende)

(1) Does his team have a winning record?
Nope. Stuck at 3-3, but through to the Play-In Series with back-to-back wins over Galatasaray Nef and Hapoel Atsmon Holon.
(2) Is he the reason they have a winning record?
They don't have a winning record (yet).
(3) If his team needs a game-winning shot to make the Final Four, is he the one taking it?
Yep. From the logo.
(4) Does he have the numbers to be the MVP?
17.8 points, 40 percent from deep on seven tries per game, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, but also 3.0 turnovers per game. That's a lot.
(4.5) Meaning, he's not the MVP Race leader?
Meaning, he's not the MVP Race leader.

#8 Jerry Boutsiele (Bahcesehir College)

(1) Does his team have a winning record?
Nope, 3-3.
(1.5) Why are we doing this?
Because he's third in the League in rebounds at 9.5 per game, and fifth in efficiency, cranking up 20.7 EFF per game. So if Bahcesehir College get through the Play-In Series and go crazy later on, I have this pick to point the finger and go, "SEE, TOLD YOU ABOUT JERRY!"
(1.75) ...what?
Yeah, probably a stretch. Not the MVP Race leader.

#7 Errick McCollum (Pinar Karsiyaka)

(1) Does his team have a winning record?
Nope, 2-4.
(1.5) Is this the Guys With Best Stats Race or the MVP Race?
Hear me out: 20.3 points, 6.7 assists, 3.7 rebounds per game. Those are MVP numbers, now he needs his team to get to the Round of 16 and get a fresh start. They played the Final just two years ago, remember? They get that far again, he's the MVP (probably).

#6 Marcus Foster (Rytas Vilnius)

(1) Does his team have a winning record?
Nope, 3-3.
(2) Is he the reason they have a winning record?
They don't, but he's the reason they swept Peristeri bwin and defeated the title holders Lenovo Tenerife to advance to the Play-In Series, so yeah, he's up there.
(3) If his team needs a game-winning shot to make the Final Four, is he the one taking it?
Yes.
(4) Does he have the numbers to be the MVP?
Third in scoring at 21.2 points per game. Also gets 4.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds.
(5) Does his game have a striking resemblance to a previous MVP, while playing for a team from the same country?
Glad we got to this one, finally. He's got a bit of Keith Langford in him in terms of isolation plays and just scoring at will, but we never had an MVP of the Season from a Lithuanian club.

#5 Marcelinho Huertas (Lenovo Tenerife)



(1) Does his team have a winning record?
4-2. Also, feels like the answer to this question will always be a "yes" for Marce. In fact, the only two times since 2004 that the answer was "no" for Marcelinho Huertas was in 2015-16 and 2016-17. When he played for the Los Angeles Lakers...
(2) Is he the reason they have a winning record?
Yes, Lenovo Tenerife are a +91 team in 126 minutes he spent on the floor this season. Crazy.
(3) If his team needs a game-winning shot to make the Final Four, is he the one taking it?
Yep. Or drawing a foul. Or finding an open man. Or hitting his trademark one-legged shots. We're talking about the Final Four MVP, so yeah, that settles that.
(4) Does he have the numbers to be the MVP?
13.3 points, 7.5 assists, 53.3 percent from beyond the arc, 100 percent from the free throw line, 45 assists to just 9 turnovers. Yep.
(5) Does his game have a striking resemblance to a previous MVP, while playing for a team from the same country?
Okay, this one is easy because the only MVP of the Season from a Spanish squad was Chima Moneke. Striking resemblance? Nope. So not the leader of the MVP Race this time around, but hey, definitely MVP of the Season contender.

#4 Ivan Almeida (SL Benfica)



(1) Does his team have a winning record?
Yes, 4-2.
(2) Is he the reason they have a winning record?
Yep, does a bit of everything, both sides of the floor. Also, feels like he's the leader of SL Benfica this season.
(3) If his team needs a game-winning shot to make the Final Four, is he the one taking it?
Not really. Toney Douglas and Aaron Broussard take care of that part.
(3.5) Do we still proceed with the questions?
Yep.
(4) Does he have the numbers to be the MVP?
11.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.0 steals per game. Arguably the best defender of the BCL.
(5) Does his game have a striking resemblance to a previous MVP, while playing for a team from the same country?
Although he's got a bit of Manny Harris in him, we never had an MVP from the Portuguese League.

#3 Zach Hankins (Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem)



(1) Does his team have a winning record?
Yes, 5-1!
(2) Is he the reason they have a winning record?
Yes, at 20.7 efficiency per game, he's one of the five most efficient players in the entire BCL.
(3) If his team needs a game-winning shot to make the Final Four, is he the one taking it?
You know what? This would've been a "no" for someone not familiar with Aleksandar Dzikic's tricks. But since Diccon Lloyd-Smeath had that Post to Post column, this is now a "yes."
(4) Does he have the numbers to be the MVP?
16.8 points, done on 76.3 dunking shooting from the field, 7.2 rebounds, 1.5 blocks. 
(5) Does his game have a striking resemblance to a previous MVP, while playing for a team from the same country?
Bonzie Colson and Chima Moneke are the only MVPs who could be considered as "bigs" here, but no, the answer is no.

#2 Joe Ragland (Hapoel Atsmon Holon)



(1) Does his team have a winning record?
Yep, 4-2.
(2) Is he the reason they have a winning record?
Yep, set the record for most assists in a single BCL game with 18 dimes against Legia Warszawa, was big late in the game v Filou Oostende the first time around.
(3) If his team needs a game-winning shot to make the Final Four, is he the one taking it?
Yep. Just ask SIG Strasbourg about it, they found out in QF last season. Or, he'll drop a perfect alley-oop pass. Either way, the ball is probably in his hands when in need of a big play to reach the Final Four.
(4) Does he have the numbers to be the MVP?
14.3 points, League leading 11.2 assists, 4.5 rebounds, 42.5 percent from three-point range, 19-of-19 from the free throw line. Efficiency per game 21.3, third in the BCL.
(5) Does his game have a striking resemblance to a previous MVP, while playing for a team from the same country?
This is tricky. Some might say he's a mixture of Tyrese Rice and Keith Langford, but these two did not play for an Israeli team when they won the award.

#1 TJ Shorts (Telekom Baskets Bonn)



(1) Does his team have a winning record?
Jawohl! 5-1.
(2) Is he the reason they have a winning record?
Oh yes. Had one of the craziest quarters of the season when he poured in 16 in the fourth on the road at Pinar Karsiyaka, preventing a comeback by the hosts.
(3) If his team needs a game-winning shot to make the Final Four, is he the one taking it?
Oh yes.
(4) Does he have the numbers to be the MVP?
24.2 points, 6.7 assists, 4.2 rebounds, 1.0 steals per game. Shooting 56.7 percent from the field, 52.4 percent from beyond the arc, 77.4 percent from the free throw line.
(4.5) You had us at "24.2 points," but go on...
First player with five consecutive games of 25+ points in the BCL, no other player has more than three in that department.
(5) Does his game have a striking resemblance to a previous MVP, while playing for a team from the same country?
Yes! This TJ Shorts run has a lot of Tyrese Rice vibes to it. Because they both played for a German club; it was Brose Bamberg for Rice, Telekom Baskets Bonn for Shorts; both represented an ex-Yugoslavia country at national team level, Rice with Montenegro, Shorts with North Macedonia; both are lefty point guards; both have changes of speed and hesitations move that freeze not only the defense, but the TV cameramen in the arenas, too; both can shoot from deep; both are clutch; both are elite passers.

It's like we've seen this movie before, but it's like Die Hard so you can watch it over and over again. And it's about that time of the year, too, so you get it.

Yippee-Ki-Yay, TJ! You're the MVP Race leader after the Regular Season!

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