Sylvain Francisco named EuroLeague MVP for October

The Zalgiris Kaunas guard led his team to the top of the standings with elite playmaking and scoring

Sylvain Francisco’s steady rise in the EuroLeague hit a new milestone in October. The Zalgiris Kaunas guard has been chosen as the EuroLeague Basketball MVP for the Month of October presented by Motorola in recognition of his consistent excellence as he guided the Lithuanian club to a share of first place in the standings. Already known for his dynamic play, Francisco elevated his impact with a blend of scoring, distribution, and leadership that helped Zalgiris emerge as one of the early contenders in the 2025–26 season.

Francisco was the engine behind Zalgiris’s 6–2 record in October, orchestrating the offense with precision and flair. He closed out the opening month of the season sharing the league lead in assists with 6.8 per game, while also leading his team in scoring at 14.9 points per game. His Performance Index Rating (PIR) of 18.9 was the second highest among all guards during the month, underscoring his all-around impact.

"Being MVP of the Month is amazing, I didn't expect it, and I am really happy. I'm dancing inside," Francisco told Olivia Harlan Dekker on the EuroLeague & Friends: MVP Talk podcast. "It means a lot because there are so many talented players. I didn't expect to be a EuroLeague MVP, all I wanted is to make sure that we are winning with the team that we have, and to be happy about the wins. I just want to go to the playoffs; that's the best part of it, that's what we want, our goal."

Francisco’s standout performance in October came in Round 7, when he posted 23 points and a career-high 10 assists in an 86–65 win over Virtus Bologna for his first EuroLeague double-double. That performance earned Francisco co-MVP honors for the round.

His numbers reflect not just volume, but efficiency. Francisco shot 54.1% on two-pointers and 40.4% from three-point range, consistently stretching defenses and creating space for teammates. He has hit at least one three-pointer in every game, scored in double figures six times, and recorded at least 7 assists in five games.

Zalgiris’s October wins came against top-tier opponents including AS Monaco, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, FC Bayern Munich, FC Barcelona, Virtus, and LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, with Francisco playing a central role in each.

This marks Francisco’s first MVP of the Month award, and he becomes just the fifth Zalgiris player to earn the honor, joining Marcus Brown (December 2007), Paulius Jankunas (December 2017), Brandon Davies (April 2018), and Marius Grigonis (October 2020). He also becomes the fifth French player to win the award, alongside Thomas Heurtel (February 2017), Nando De Colo (January 2015, February 2016, January 2018), Guerschon Yabusele (January 2022, and Theo Maledon (December 2024).

Francisco joined Zalgiris in the summer of 2024 and has quickly become one of the most impactful guards in the league. His leadership and consistency have helped Zalgiris emerge as a serious playoff contender, and with the season still young, expectations are only growing.

Zalgiris will look to build on its early momentum as the EuroLeague season continues, with Francisco expected to remain a driving force in the team’s pursuit of postseason success.