Cedi Osman Dominates Round 31 to Claim EuroLeague MVP Award

Athens, Greece – Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens forward Cedi Osman has been named the Most Valuable Player for Round 31 of the 2025-26 EuroLeague Regular Season, the league announced Saturday. Osman’s stellar performance led Panathinaikos to a hard-fought 92-88 victory over Zalgiris Kaunas at home.

The 30-year-old Turkish international delivered a career-high performance, earning a Performance Index Rating (PIR) of 36. This marks the second time Osman has received the Round MVP honor throughout his EuroLeague career. He is too the third Panathinaikos player to claim the award this season, joining Kendrick Nunn (twice) and Kostas Sloukas.

A Career Night for Osman

Osman’s dominant showing against Zalgiris included 24 points, shooting a perfect 5-for-5 from two-point range and 2-for-2 from beyond the arc. He also converted 8 of 10 free throw attempts. Beyond scoring, Osman contributed five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and drew six fouls, showcasing his all-around impact on the game. Eurohoops.net has the full details.

For context, the PIR is a statistical formula used by EuroLeague Basketball to assess a player’s overall contribution to a game. A PIR of 36 represents an exceptionally high level of performance, and Osman’s mark is his highest in 163 EuroLeague career games.

Beyond Osman: Other Standout Performances

While Osman took home the MVP honors, Round 31 featured several other impressive performances. Mamadi Diakite of Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz registered a PIR of 37, despite his team’s 100-94 loss to Dubai Basketball. Diakite finished with 27 points and 12 rebounds. Isaac Bonga of Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade also shone, amassing a PIR of 34 in his team’s 82-88 road win over Virtus Bologna, contributing 16 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists.

Osman’s Journey to Panathinaikos

Cedi Osman’s basketball journey began in Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia (now North Macedonia), where he was born to a Turkish father and a Bosniak mother. He began playing basketball in 2001, developing his skills with KK RIN Family Sarajevo and KK Bosna’s youth teams. According to his Wikipedia page, Osman was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 31st overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft.

He spent several seasons in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the San Antonio Spurs before returning to Europe in 2024 to join Panathinaikos. His arrival in Athens has been a significant boost for the Greek club, and this MVP award is a testament to his impact.

Panathinaikos’ Strong Season

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens is enjoying a strong season in the EuroLeague, and Osman’s contributions have been crucial to their success. The team’s ability to secure wins against tough opponents like Zalgiris Kaunas demonstrates their potential to contend for the EuroLeague championship. The win moved Panathinaikos further up the standings, solidifying their playoff position.

This award also highlights the depth of talent within Panathinaikos, with Osman joining Nunn and Sloukas as Round MVPs this season. It speaks to the team’s overall strength and the coaching staff’s ability to maximize the potential of their players.

What’s Next for Cedi Osman and Panathinaikos?

Panathinaikos will continue its EuroLeague campaign with a challenging schedule ahead. Their next confirmed game is against Olympiacos on March 21st. Osman and his teammates will look to build on this momentum and maintain their position among the league’s elite teams. Fans can follow updates and results on the official EuroLeague Basketball website.

Cedi Osman’s MVP performance is a significant achievement, not only for him personally but also for Panathinaikos and Turkish basketball. It will be interesting to see how he continues to perform as the EuroLeague season progresses.