TJ Shorts, a leading candidate for the 2024-25 EuroLeague MVP, is finalizing a deal to join Panathinaikos Athens, with sources confirming the 27-year-old point guard is already preparing to move to Athens, BasketNews reported on May 25, 2025, following an initial report by Sotiris Vetakis (per Eurohoops.net). The 1.75-meter star, who shone with Paris Basketball in his debut EuroLeague season, brings an offensive firepower that Panathinaikos hopes will bolster their backcourt after a semifinal loss to Fenerbahce (82-76, per prior recap). Shorts’ arrival signals the club’s ambition to reclaim the EuroLeague title in 2025-26.
Shorts led the EuroLeague in points created this season, generating 36.8 points per game through scoring and assists (per BBallytics), well ahead of Kendrick Nunn’s 29.9, averaging 19.0 points, 7.3 assists, and 2.6 rebounds with a 22.8 PIR (per euroleaguebasketball.net). Named to the All-EuroLeague First Team and earning November MVP honors, Shorts shot 52% on two-pointers and 36.1% from three, showcasing his efficiency as a dynamic playmaker (per prior web results). His standout performances, including Round 5 and Play-in MVP awards, highlight his ability to dominate games, making him a perfect fit for Panathinaikos’ fast-paced style.
Shorts’ addition to Panathinaikos, where he’ll join Nunn—the league’s highest-paid player at €4.5M annually (per hoopsrumors.com)—creates a formidable backcourt duo, potentially one of the most explosive in EuroLeague history. His playmaking and scoring prowess, honed during his EuroCup MVP season with Telekom Baskets Bonn in 2023-24 (per Eurohoops.net), will complement Nunn’s scoring, giving coach Ergin Ataman versatile options. As Panathinaikos watches the EuroLeague final between Fenerbahce and Monaco, fans are buzzing about Shorts’ impact on their 2025-26 title chase.
Posted on May 25, 2025
