Top 10 best current Euroleague players

As we enter a new EuroLeague season that promises to be more exciting than ever, we present our Top 10 players of the season. This ranking is based on specific criteria, in order of importance: impact on the game, presence in big moments, scoring, defence, leadership and mentality. And hold on tight, because there may be some surprises.

10. Nikola Mirotic (Monaco) : The power forward is a paradox. Capable of stringing together six EuroLeague seasons with an average of more than 15 points and a similar rating. Capable of reigning supreme on the Old Continent, as evidenced by his MVP title in 2022. Capable of keeping his team in many games thanks to his scoring talent… But he is incapable of leading an entire team to victory in the EuroLeague. From Madrid to Milan via Barcelona, this Spanish diamond has never managed to rise to the occasion in the decisive moments. The term ‘choke’ sticks to him like glue, and is the reason for his 10th place ranking. It’s now up to him to prove us wrong on the Rock!

9. Carsen Edwards (Virtus Bologna) : This is the bombshell of the summer. Virtus’ simple ‘WE DID IT’ on social media set the entire FIBA world alight in no time. Because yes, Carsen Edwards is probably the greatest offensive talent on the Old Continent. The EuroLeague’s top scorer last season (20.4 points), the American point guard sets the court alight wherever he goes. Offensively, he has it all: the ability to score from anywhere, anytime and, above all, against anyone. However, his clutch attitude has yet to be proven at the highest level. His lack of experience in play-offs and EuroLeague Final Four games is currently preventing him from climbing the rankings.

8. Shane Larkin (Anadolu Efes) : In this Anadolu Efes team with renewed ambitions – after one of, if not the best off-season in EuroLeague history – the boss is Shane Larkin. He fully embraced his leadership role this summer during EuroBasket, playing for Turkey. Behind star player Alterne Sengun, the point guard stood out as the second-best player on the European runner-up team. His experience gives him a formidable ability to read the game, which he uses to his advantage with clinical shooting and elite passing skills. He knows the path to victory, having won two consecutive titles (2021 and 2022). Only his age (32) and, above all, his physical problems raise a few questions about his reliability throughout the season.

7. Evan Fournier (Olympiacos) : Cocorico! The first and only French player in this top 10, Evan Fournier more than proved himself last season after 13 years in the NBA. With a shot as pure as it is effective, the swingman answered all the questions surrounding him. Europe now knows for sure: the Frenchman is still capable of carrying an entire team on his shoulders. A key player in Olympiacos’s impressive 24/25 season, his statistics do not reflect his aura on the court and his ability to change the course of a game. It’s hard to knock him down when a final, or even a European title, could elevate him high… very high!

6. Wade Baldwin (Fenerbahçe) : It would be impossible to compile this ranking without including a fixture in the reigning champions’ starting five. Although last year’s Final Four MVP Nigel Hayes has moved on to the Suns, Fenerbahçe can rely on shooting guard Wade Baldwin. His statistics (11.1 points and 3.7 assists) – while respectable – prevent him from breaking into the top five. But to focus solely on these figures would be to overlook his impact on the title. He is a key player in the Turks’ victory as their main offensive option. Many players can score in the regular season, but few are able to reproduce that in the EuroLeague final. That alone justifies his 6th place ranking.

5. Edy Tavares (Real Madrid) : One position had been missing from this ranking until now: centre. That has been rectified with the inclusion of Edy Tavares in the top five. A regular contributor of more than two blocks and seven rebounds per game in Europe, the Cape Verdean can single-handedly change the defensive face of his team while posing a threat in the opposition’s paint. His presence in the top 5 rebounders and shot blockers during a lacklustre 2024-2025 season for Real Madrid highlights his strength on both sides of the court. Surrounded by a reinvigorated squad, the 2023 Final Four MVP is the main weapon of the world’s greatest club.

4. Mike James (Monaco) : Although he was not in contention for MVP last season, Mike James seems to have reached a new level. Backed up by his usual impressive statistics, the point guard proved he was capable of leading his team to the final. Now just a step away from the prize he has been chasing for so long, the Roca Team boss has experience on his side. Still considered the star of the EuroLeague today, the talent of the 2024 MVP is well established. However, his suspension at the end of the season casts a shadow over the Rock. In this case, his off-court behaviour had a significant impact on his team, which will surely cost him a place on the podium.

3. T.J. Shorts II (Panathinaikos) 🥉: In their EuroLeague debut, Paris shut down the competition and their former point guard TJ Shorts… broke everything! And this is not chauvinism talking, but objectivity. Ranked third in MVP, Pana’s new player stands out for his multiple high-level performances mixed with completely crazy double-doubles against the best teams in Europe. But beyond scoring, TJ Shorts is the archetype of the perfect point guard. As last year’s top passer in the competition (7.8), the American makes his teammates shine. And when the court pushes him to carry his team on his back, he knows how to do it. His team-oriented play is reflected in his already impressive track record. In Greece, TJ Shorts has everything he needs to quickly rise to the top.

2. Sasha Vezenkov (Olympiacos)🥈: Ranked among the greatest forwards in EuroLeague history, Sasha Vezenkov has it all. MVP in 2023 and runner-up the previous season, a scoring prodigy, always bold at the right moment… It is no coincidence that, from his top spot in the regular season, the Cypriot finished the 2024-2025 season with the best rating (21.9) on the FIBA’s biggest stage. The leader of an Olympiacos team that is more ambitious than ever has a duty to bring the EuroLeague back to Athens once and for all. A similar burden to Mike James prevented him from reaching the top of this ranking. A dose of leadership mixed with a pinch of defence during this campaign, and he is almost assured of a place in the top 10.

1. Kendrick Nunn (Panathinaikos) 🏆: Who else? Who else but the reigning MVP could claim the top spot in this top 10? Perhaps Nigel Hayes-Davis before he flew off to the NBA. But today, no one in Europe can hold a candle to Kendrick Nunn. Yes, the combo guard didn’t particularly shine in the last Final Four. However, few players in history have reached such heights in both the regular season and the play-offs. Kendrick Nunn doesn’t just impress, he dominates. His explosive drives, lethal mid-range and three-point shooting, basketball IQ, calmness in critical moments and ability to adapt to European defences make him a world-class player. He is a magician capable of turning every possession into a threat. A perfect fit for European runner-up Ergin Ataman’s system, this partnership with TJ Shorts is sure to reveal a new side to Kendrick Nunn.