Jean Montero was named the 2026 EuroLeague Playoffs MVP after main Valencia Basket via a comeback collection that will likely be remembered for years, the league announced on Saturday. Valencia erased a 0-2 deficit against Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens to reach the club’s first-ever Final Four, and Montero’s manufacturing matched the size of the second.
The 22-year-old guard led all gamers in common PIR at 26.8, ranked second in scoring at 18.6 factors per sport, tied for second in steals at 1.4, and completed third in assists at 5.8. He additionally shot 73.1% on two-pointers, 42.3% from three and 81.5% from the free-throw line, accounting for 21.5% of Valencia’s factors within the collection.
Montero mentioned the larger image mattered greater than the person award. “We now have to maintain that very same mentality: we ain’t received nothing to lose. Making a Last 4 – not lots of people get to do this,” he instructed Dane Arlauckas on the EuroLeague & Pals: MVP Discuss podcast. “We’ve simply received to go there, benefit from the surroundings, take pleasure in every thing, and particularly compete. If we compete and have enjoyable, and take into account that we’ve received nothing to lose, I believe we will win each sport.”
Even earlier than the collection turned, Montero was carrying Valencia’s offense and shot creation. He opened with 15 factors, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and one steal in a 67-68 Recreation 1 loss, then adopted with 21 factors, six assists and one steal in an time beyond regulation defeat in Recreation 2. Down 0-2 and heading to Athens, he answered in Recreation 3 with 16 factors, 9 assists, three rebounds and two steals to maintain Valencia alive.
“After that Recreation 2 loss, actually, everyone was nonetheless so constructive,” Montero mentioned. “As a result of whenever you’re down 0-2 going to Athens, with Panathinaikos followers going loopy, it’s not straightforward to win there. However within the locker room, individuals saved saying, ‘Yeah, we will do that.’”
That perception fueled the most effective video games of the EuroLeague Playoffs period in Recreation 4. Montero posted 29 factors, seven assists, seven rebounds and three steals for a PIR of 45, the very best index ranking ever recorded within the EuroLeague Playoffs for the reason that 2004-05 format change. Valencia received 86-89 to drive a decisive Recreation 5.
“We received Recreation 3 and I bear in mind saying to the fellows, ‘They’re scared now,’” he mentioned. “We ain’t received nothing to lose. Let’s simply play, benefit from the sport, and have enjoyable with it. I’m hitting threes, layups, free throws – every thing. My rhythm was good, my really feel for the sport felt good. I used to be simply having enjoyable. Each time I’m having enjoyable enjoying basketball, it’s a wrap.”
In Recreation 5, Montero confirmed he might form the sport with out dominating the ball each possession. He completed with 12 factors, 5 rebounds, three assists and a career-high three blocks as Valencia pulled away 81-64 to finish the comeback.
Montero’s award provides to a particular season that already included the Rising Star trophy and a spot on the All-EuroLeague First Group. For Valencia, it’s the reward for a breakthrough run; for Montero, it’s the newest signal that his rise just isn’t slowing down.
