Failed debut for T.J. Shorts with Panathinaikos
Beginning its quest for a home Final Four next May, Panathinaikos succeeded in its EuroLeague opener by defeating Bayern Munich (87-79). But T.J. Shorts (5’9″, 27 years old)‘s performance was closely watched, and it didn’t meet expectations: voted best summer signing by the competition’s GMs, the two-time Betclic ELITE MVP failed to make an impact on the game.
Silence before the storm ⛨
The Debut of @TjShorts5 is pending 👀 pic.twitter.com/1jTa0yxfzy
— EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) September 30, 2025
A nightmarish season start
In his first official game with Panathinaikos in EuroLeague, T.J. Shorts finished with meager statistics: 11 minutes played, 0/4 shooting, 1 turnover, no assists, and a negative rating (-2). The American-Macedonian point guard even sparked irony on social media, where some observers spoke of « one of the worst debuts for a star » they had seen.
Some also point out Shorts’ difficulty integrating into a roster already well-stocked in perimeter positions. The former Paris player will need to find his place alongside Kendrick Nunn, Jerian Grant, and Kostas Sloukas, all capable of creating plays.
El debut de TJ Shorts con Panathinaikos está siendo de los peores debuts de una estrella que recuerdo.
0 puntos, un airball en un triple totalmente solo.
Está claro que tiene que adaptarse, pero su juego es balón para él y a jugar, en Panathinaikos el balón es para Nunn.
— Pickasso (@ApuestaVerde99) September 30, 2025
Nunn shines, Shorts learns
Fortunately for Panathinaikos, Kendrick Nunn stepped up with a masterful performance: 21 points and 10 assists, ensuring a solid victory for the Greens. Alongside him, Nikos Ragkavopoulos (15 points) and Omer Yurtseven (14 points) helped contain a resilient Bayern, led by Xavier Rathan-Mayes (18 points).
The challenge is now set for T.J. Shorts: adapting his ball-dominant playing style to a team where the ball circulates among several established guards.
TJ SHORTS WAS ON FIRE ON HIS DEBUT 🔥
11 MINUTES
0/4 FG
1 TURNOVER
-2 PIRISAIAH THOMAS’S REGEN???#OlympiacosBC #paobc pic.twitter.com/U0XfQazbLe
— Μπρόνσον (@michp_34) September 30, 2025
A necessary adjustment
While it’s obviously too early to draw conclusions, the contrast between T.J. Shorts’ brilliance with Paris and his first outing with his new team is striking. The pocket guard will need to adjust quickly, with an upcoming game this Friday against Barcelona, again at home.
Panathinaikos, for its part, remains undefeated at home against Bayern Munich in EuroLeague (now 9-0). But to aim for the Athens Final Four, the team will need its star recruit to gain confidence quickly.
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