Sportradar dives into the most-productive players on offense in the EuroLeague so far this season.
Stats review: Who are this season's top offensive engines?
Statistika
3 Min čitanja
There is still very little relief for teams across the EuroLeague landscape as two wins separate the top and bottom spots in the playoff picture after five teams weathered the two-round week without a loss. The league’s parity is especially unforgiving for the players carrying the heaviest offensive burdens for their respective teams.
The table above lists the top players in points created, which combines point scored, points assisted, and points generated by passes out of on-ball actions that are not direct assists. At age 35, Mike James is not only playing the largest offensive role in the EuroLeague early on, but he’s having a standout year even by his lofty standards, looking more assertive using the threat of his jumper to attack the rim, where he’s been rock solid with his decision-making. His efficiency has been in line with his 2023-24 MVP campaign despite how much more frequently he’s looked to play downhill.
Nadir Hifi has carried a similar burden for Paris while doing far more scoring than passing. His 11.7 points per game looking for his own offense in pick-and-rolls is not only more than double the 5.1 per game he averaged a year ago, but sits ahead of TJ Shorts’s EuroLeague record from last season. Stepping into an extreme role even for a player at the apex of usage after creating only 19.4 points per game last season, the way Hifi has handled his transition on the ball has been key to Paris’s early wins.
Sylvain Francisco and Codi Miller-McIntyre are both interesting entries on this list as they may not do an overwhelming amount of scoring relative to the other players included, but that duo ranks among the top three players in points created with passes out of pick-and-rolls. Even when they do not generate direct assists with those passes, the pressure they put on opposing defenses often leads to points for teammates, even if weakside defenders manage to extend back out to contest the first pass in time. Francisco’s ability to get downhill one-on-one and Miller-McIntyre’s knack for orchestrating fast breaks are notable as well.
Wade Baldwin and reigning MVP Kendrick Nunn round out the players doing the most for their teams offensively, thus far. Baldwin is the lone non-starter on this list and while his athleticism makes him very productive off the bench, he can still change the complexion of a game entirely when he finds his range. Nunn, on the other hand, has been selective, looking to let his teammates shine when Panathinaikos has a big lead, but also taking over on several occasions as well.
Shane Larkin and Jordan Nwora have been dynamic for Efes and Zvezda, respectively, and their return to action figure to be key storylines for their respective clubs.
It is one thing to play a big role at a high level, but the burden the players above are carrying should not be understated. Serving as the focal point of what a team is doing offensively in this version of the EuroLeague comes with massive expectations as the parity demands both efficiency and a unique level of consistency.