05 October, 2021
15 May, 2022
Brandon Brown (CLUJ)
22/02/2022
Igor Curkovic's Champions League Help-Side
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Basketball Champions League MVP Race: Season Six, Third checkpoint

ZAGREB (Croatia) - We have dubbed Season Six as the strongest so far, and the MVP Race is in line with that statement. So many candidates for the award, meaning we will have to update the starting grid more often than ever before.

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 last season it was Bonzie Colson.

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 superbestfriends in the piece because I don't want to sound biased. But you should know that Miro Bilan is my actual pick for the MVP. See? Not biased at all.

 

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) Is his team on the path to Quarter-Finals?
(2) Is he the reason they are on the path to Quarter-Finals?
(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) Was he born on the day of WrestleMania V, when Hulk Hogan defeated Macho Man Randy Savage in Atlantic City, New Jersey to claim the WWF World Heavyweight Championship title?

(See? Number five is just random so we get to the leader.)

(Also, over the years of writing the MVP Race... I don't think there was ever a more random number five question than this one.)


10 John Roberson (SIG Strasbourg)

(1) Is his team on the path to Quarter-Finals?
Yep, 2-1 with a win on the road over Rytas Vilnius.
(2) Is he the reason they are on the path to Quarter-Finals?
Yep, 17.4 points per game, seventh in the BCL in scoring; 4.4 assists per game, four games with four or more three-pointers, unreal 34-of-36 from the free throw line.
(3) If his team needs a game-winning shot to make the Final Four, is he the one taking it?
Nope, he's injured and out for a long time, unfortunately.
(4) So... He's not leading the MVP Race?
Nope, but deserve a Top 10 place for sure. 

9 Joe Ragland (Hapoel U-NET Holon)

(1) Is his team on the path to Quarter-Finals?
Sure, 1-1 while holding Ludwigsburg to just 51 points in Israel.
(2) Is he the reason they are on the path to Quarter-Finals?
Yep, had 14 assists, a new BCL season-high in that one to guide them to victory.
(3) If his team needs a game-winning shot to make the Final Four, is he the one taking it?
Nope, but he probably creates it for somebody with his passing, so we're good here.
(4) Does he have the numbers to be the MVP?
11.0 points, 7.9 assists per game, leading the League in assists.
(5) Was he born on the day of WrestleMania V, when Hulk Hogan defeated Macho Man Randy Savage in Atlantic City, New Jersey to claim the WWF World Heavyweight Championship title?
Nope. He was born half a year later, when Milli Vanilli dropped their hit single Blame It On The Rain. Not our MVP Race leader, then.

8 Joe Thomasson (BAXI Manresa)

(1) Is his team on the path to Quarter-Finals?
Yep, 1-1 with a +15 over Darussafaka in case it comes down to a tiebreaker.
(2) Is he the reason they are on the path to Quarter-Finals?
Yep, 11 points, 9 assists, 3 steals in that big win over Dacka.
(3) If his team needs a game-winning shot to make the Final Four, is he the one taking it?
Up for debate. Because they could go to Sylvain Francisco, too. Or even Elias Valtonen, he's hit some clutch shots in the Regular Season.
(4) We're not asking about his numbers then?
No need. He gets a Top 10 spot here because he's a leader on a leading team. Keep an eye on him.

7 Justin Simon (MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg)

(1) Is his team on the path to Quarter-Finals?
Could be. 1-1, +22 over Dijon in case of a tie.
(2) Is he the reason they are on the path to Quarter-Finals?
Dude. Of course.
(3) If his team needs a game-winning shot to make the Final Four, is he the one taking it?
Dunking it, just like we agreed at the Second Checkpoint of the BCL MVP Race.
(4) Does he have the numbers to be the MVP?
Oh yes. 16.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.8 steals, 1.5 blocks, he ranks 8th, 5th, 7th and 5th in the League in those respective categories. He'd be Top 5 if Ludwigsburg went 2-0.
(5) Was he born on the day of WrestleMania V, when Hulk Hogan defeated Macho Man Randy Savage in Atlantic City, New Jersey to claim the WWF World Heavyweight Championship title?
Nope. He was born on May 6, 1996. May 6 is also the holiday of Saint Justus, which could explain how he got the name Justin, right? Right? Right.

6 Tomislav Zubcic (Tofas Bursa)

(1) Is his team on the path to Quarter-Finals?
Oh yes, 3-0.
(2) Is he the reason they are on the path to Quarter-Finals?
Oh yes, dagger threes all over the place.
(3) If his team needs a game-winning shot to make the Final Four, is he the one taking it?
Oh yes, one of the best in the world of basketball in catching and shooting.
(4) Does he have the numbers to be the MVP?
13.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 39 percent from three on six attempts per game. Is that a yes? Debatable.
(5) Was he born on the day of WrestleMania V, when Hulk Hogan defeated Macho Man Randy Savage in Atlantic City, New Jersey to claim the WWF World Heavyweight Championship title?
Nope. He was born on January 17, 1990, the day when The Who and Simon and Garfunkel got inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. So no, T-Zub is not our MVP.

5 DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell (Galatasaray Nef)

(1) Is his team on the path to Quarter-Finals?
Ahh... I don't know?
(1.5) What do you mean you don't know?
They only played one game so far. They'll play five games in March.
(1.75) Okay, maybe we put him in the Top 5, but not really at the top spot, because even though he's the leading MVP candidate, Galata aren't really safe and sound right now.
Yep. Sounds like a plan.
(2) Is he the reason they are on the path to Quarter-Finals?
Sure. Probably the leading MVP candidate if Galatasaray make it to the QF and beyond.
(3) If his team needs a game-winning shot to make the Final Four, is he the one taking it?
It would be a good call to give him the ball and let him go to work, yes.
(4) Does he have the numbers to be the MVP?
Get this. He's the only remaining 20.0ppg scorer (Jerrick Harding was the other one), plus he gets 5.1 rebounds per game, 1.9 steals per game, and he's almost a part of the 50-40-90 club with his 56-42-87 season splits. Also, 42.5 percent from deep on six attempts per game is impressive.
(5) Was he born on the day of WrestleMania V, when Hulk Hogan defeated Macho Man Randy Savage in Atlantic City, New Jersey to claim the WWF World Heavyweight Championship title?
Nope, he was born on June 5, 1993, which is when Mariah Carey married Tommy Mottola in New York City. They divorced in 1998. So yeah, good celebrity-ism for events on his DOB, but DAP is not the MVP right now.

4 David Holston (JDA Dijon)

(1) Is his team on the path to Quarter-Finals?
Yep. 2-1 including a win on the road against Akoon-Purcell and Galatasaray.
(2) Is he the reason they are on the path to Quarter-Finals?
Yep, double-double in a win on the road against Akoon-Purcell and Galatasaray.
(3) If his team needs a game-winning shot to make the Final Four, is he the one taking it?
Come on.
(4) Does he have the numbers to be the MVP?
12.7 points, 6.3 assists, 1.9 steals per game, but 15 points, 8 assists since Play-In series started, so consider him a major threat if/when Dijon stay in the competition.
(5) Was he born on the day of WrestleMania V, when Hulk Hogan defeated Macho Man Randy Savage in Atlantic City, New Jersey to claim the WWF World Heavyweight Championship title?
No, he was born on January 26, 1986. Sharing a birthday with Taylor Wilde, a former Canadian wrestler. See? Not the MVP, but close enough for now.

3 DJ Kennedy (Prometey)

(1) Is his team on the path to Quarter-Finals?
YES! 2-0.
(2) Is he the reason they are on the path to Quarter-Finals?
Yes, he was huge in two wins over Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem in the Play-In series, without his big games, Prometey (probably) would've been out.
(3) If his team needs a game-winning shot to make the Final Four, is he the one taking it?
No. He's getting the offensive rebound, muscling his way up and getting the game-winning and-one layup.
(4) Does he have the numbers to be the MVP?
13.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, four games with 10 or more points, 7 or more rebounds, 5 or more assists. So consider him a threat for the third triple-double in BCL history, too.
(5) Was he born on the day of WrestleMania V, when Hulk Hogan defeated Macho Man Randy Savage in Atlantic City, New Jersey to claim the WWF World Heavyweight Championship title?
No. He was born on the day Alain Prost won his third F1 World Championship. Maybe that's why he's a good pick for this (MVP) race.

2 Brandon Brown (U-BT Cluj Napoca)

(1) Is his team on the path to Quarter-Finals?
YES! 2-0 in the same group as Prometey.
(2) Is he the reason they are on the path to Quarter-Finals?
Yes, without his heroics they wouldn't have won in Istanbul against Darussafaka to claim the Regular Season group, and yes, because he's been on fire in the Round of 16, getting 40 points on 15-of-19 shooting in those two games.
(3) If his team needs a game-winning shot to make the Final Four, is he the one taking it?
Yes. Patrick Richard won't mind passing it to him when BB is shooting 55 percent from beyond the arc this season.
(4) Does he have the numbers to be the MVP?
17.5 points, 6.3 assists, 55 percent from deep on seven attempts per game, 2.0 steals per game, yeah those are MVP numbers right there.
(5) Was he born on the day of WrestleMania V, when Hulk Hogan defeated Macho Man Randy Savage in Atlantic City, New Jersey to claim the WWF World Heavyweight Championship title? No. He was born on August 14, 1989, and not a lot happened that day. Certainly nothing Hulk Hogan related.

1 Giorgi Shermadini (Lenovo Tenerife)

(1) Is his team on the path to Quarter-Finals?
3-0 in the Round of 16 after eliminating Pinar Karsiyaka in the Play-In series. Yeah, on the path to QF seems like a fair assessment.
(2) Is he the reason they are on the path to Quarter-Finals?
He's only the most dominant big guy in the League and the reigning MVP of the Liga Endesa, so yeah, this one is a yes. Especially because of the 19-point, 13-rebound double-double in Hungary when it seemed Tenerife were in trouble over there.
(3) If his team needs a game-winning shot to make the Final Four, is he the one taking it?
If they go with their one-four fake pick and pop at the top, while Shermadini gets a back screen under the rim, then yes, Marcelinho is passing it to him for the layup, sure. Or he could have the game-winning screen if they go for the Spain pick-and-roll fake into a flare for Sasu Salin's three-pointer. He'll be involved in the play, for sure.
(4) Does he have the numbers to be the MVP?
14.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.1 blocks per game, 64.2 percent shooting from the floor, Tenerife are +67 in his 221 BCL minutes this season.
(5) Was he born on the day of WrestleMania V, when Hulk Hogan defeated Macho Man Randy Savage in Atlantic City, New Jersey to claim the WWF World Heavyweight Championship title?
YES! It happened on April 2, 1989, Giorgi was born in Georgia, just as Hulk Hogan had the leg drop against Macho Man Randy Savage in the United States. They billed the fight "The Mega Powers Explode" back then, and the Mega Powers called Shermadini and Tenerife are exploding right now in the BCL, so don't be surprised if he wins the MVP award shortly after his 33rd birthday.

There you go. Giorgi Shermadini leads the MVP Race!
 

The Basketball Champions League's columnists write on a wide range of topics relating to basketball that are of interest to them. The opinions they express are their own and in no way reflect those of FIBA or the Basketball Champions League.

The Basketball Champions League's takes no responsibility and gives no guarantees, warranties or representations, implied or otherwise, for the content or accuracy of the content and opinion expressed in the above article.

Igor Curkovic

Igor Curkovic

Igor Curkovic is a Basketball Champions League writer and editor since day one of the competition, specializing in Power Rankings and his Takeaways on Gamedays. When he's not covering basketball, he's probably watching a Hajduk Split game somewhere.