Stats review: TJ Shorts and this season's pick-and-roll masters

The Paris Basketball playmaker is on a record pace so far this season.

Paris Basketball notched its first-ever road victory in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague – over AS Monaco in the Rivalry Series, no less – by following a familiar formula.

Last season, Paris emerged as a powerhouse in the BKT EuroCup to earn a spot in the EuroLeague as it lost only a single game before lifting the trophy. While it did some truly innovative things with full-court pressure, substitution patterns, and play calling, the cornerstone of its high-powered offense, its biggest differentiator in key moments, and the thing that gives the team real upside in its maiden voyage in the EuroLeague was the ability to score at a high-level playing out of pick-and-rolls.

Even after a coaching change as they ascended to the gauntlet that is the EuroLeague, Paris has been able to hang its hat on pick-and-roll play. Generating 44 points over only 39 possessions created out of pick-and-rolls against AS Monaco in Round 5, Paris enters the week ranked fourth in efficiency and second in points scored per game in pick-and-roll situations. While new head coach Tiago Splitter certainly deserves some credit for fostering some continuity from last season, the return of playmaking ball handler TJ Shorts has ensured that this offense has the same pathway to success.

The table above lists the EuroLeague leaders in points created out of pick-and-rolls combining those the players scored themselves and created with passes. As the table suggests, Shorts has been the league’s most prolific ball screen weapon by a wide margin so far this season as Paris has leaned into his ability to make things happen off the dribble. The 38 points he created against Monaco in Round 5 were a reflection of that. He is currently on pace to exceed the EuroLeague record of 24.2 points created out of pick-and-rolls per game set during the 2020-21 season by Alexey Shved – the only player to ever eclipse the 20-point threshold for a full season.

Scoring in bunches even as he is not particularly aggressive from beyond the arc, Shorts has a combination of quickness, craftiness, and creativity that is unforgiving to opposing defenses and positions Paris to exceed expectations. Currently scoring more points per game in the midrange than any player in modern EuroLeague history as well, Shorts puts huge pressure on opposing help defenders and scores and passes off that at an exceptional level. As prolific as he is, his 1.05 points per possession created out of the pick-and-roll sits well above average as well.

Facundo Campazzo has flirted with that level of production but fits a different mold owning the lowest score-to-pass ratio among the most productive guards this season and throughout his prime. While he may not look for his own shot aggressively, he’s a big reason Real Madrid ranks second in overall pick and roll efficiency.

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv has been bitten by the injury bug and that is one reason it has two players featured here. However, the performance of those players in oversized roles has been a boon for the club as their efficiency has not suffered through their reshuffling.

Paris Lee and Theo Maledon are arguably this list’s most intriguing duo as they bring a contrast of styles to the floor—sometimes in the same lineup. Maledon’s aggressiveness in looking for his own shot and Lee’s more conventional approach allow LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne to give opposing defenses different looks.

Pick-and-roll play is at an all-time high in the EuroLeague this season thanks in some part to the addition of Shorts and Paris. While he has a chance to rewrite the history books, there are plenty of new faces on this list relative to previous seasons as there are rising stars taking the reins for their teams throughout the league.