TJ Shorts, a dynamic American point guard, has added another European championship to his impressive resume, securing his fourth continental title with Panathinaikos in Greece this summer. Previously lauded as one of the top American guards in the French league, Shorts is navigating a more challenging start to his season in Athens, where his role, particularly in European competitions, has been somewhat diminished.
Having played professionally since 2019, Shorts has extensive experience across various European leagues. He recently shared his insights on the competitive landscape, drawing comparisons between the leagues he’s competed in. Speaking with Euro Insiders, the American-Macedonian guard echoed sentiments previously expressed by his former teammate Maodo Lô regarding the quality of the French Betclic ÉLITE. shorts believes the Spanish liga ACB stands as the premier league in Europe, with the French league a strong contender for the second spot, highlighting it’s exceptional athletic caliber.
“I agree with what he said that the French league (Betclic ÉLITE) is truly an amazing league. For me, liga ACB (liga Endesa, Spanish first division) is the best. And afterward, France is clearly competing to be the second best league in Europe. The athletic aspect is really on another level.”
shorts attributes his past success in France, where he was named Betclic ÉLITE MVP for two consecutive seasons and earned a spot on the All-EuroLeague First Team last year, to the league’s fast-paced, transition-heavy style of play, a system that Paris Basketball excelled at.This style played directly into his strengths.
“When players are this athletic, it almost works in my favor in the end. Becuase my speed is on another level. My speed can thwart thier athleticism. They put on a show, and behind them they come back on defense, but they don’t come back any faster than I rush to the other side. So obviously,it worked well for me.”
The transition to Athens has presented a different challenge for Shorts.Early in November,he faced criticism from his coach,Ergin Ataman,who expressed significant dissatisfaction with his performances. However, the talented guard appears to be finding his rhythm, delivering his two best games of the season against Paris and Real Madrid. Notably, Shorts did not participate in recent international matches for North macedonia, a common occurrence for EuroLeague players during qualification tournaments.
