The EuroLeague is the premier men’s professional basketball competition in Europe. It features the best clubs from major domestic leagues on the continent, who must be invited for a chance to win the trophy. Speed is a major factor in such a competitive environment, and only a handful of names are renowned for their athleticism.

Fans may identify different people to hold the title of the ‘fastest in the EuroLeague’ for every season. As of writing, the following players are considered the best in terms of speed and how it can affect their performance in the EuroLeague 2025:

Timothy Neocartes ’T.J.’ Shorts II (Paris Basketball)
T.J. Shorts is the Paris Basketball leftie guard who stands 1.75 meters tall. Despite being relatively short compared to other players, he dominated the 2024 BKT EuroCup, leading his team to the title and earning an MVP award. The secret to his amazing performance is his phenomenal speed which lets him move circles around the court.

On top of being fast, T.J. Shorts is also known for his jumpers and floaters. They made him a difficult mid-range adversary, and he can easily find the right position if left unguarded. On top of his speed, he’s also great at reading situations, adapting accordingly and finding his way towards the basket.

Carlik Jones (Partizan Belgrade)
The Partizan Belgrade is already a formidable team, being considered a powerhouse club in Serbia. However, they are undergoing a major reformation in 2024, and the biggest addition to their arsenal is Carlik Jones’ explosive sprints. The 27-year-old was known for his dynamic game, and it’s the energy fans expect to see from him in any matchup.

Jones’ explosive acceleration speed blew competitions away. He is also notable for giving the South Sudan national team a strong performance in the 2023 FIBA World Cup and the 2024 Olympic Games. Now, in the Partizan Brigade for 2025, he’s bringing that performance to the EuroLeague.

Rayjon Tucker (Virtus Bologna)
Rayjon Tucker is always in demand, having changed teams almost every season. This 2024/25, he found himself playing for Virtus Bologna. The American shooting guard has a dazzling style of cutting through tough defences, a perfect fit for Virtus Bologna’s fast-paced offensive lineup.

Fans expect Tucker to turn heads at the EuroLeague 2025 and appear in most of the competition’s highlights. He’s a camera favourite, for sure, and it’ll be fun to see a former National Basketball Association (NBA) guard in action against Europe’s best squads.

Tucker was a key contributor to Virtus Bologna’s strong 2024/25 campaign, but his departure from the team was announced recently, on 25th March 2025. It is still unclear where he’ll decide to join as of writing, but AEK Athens is the most interested in his contract. That would move the American guard to Greece and thus, is still in the EuroLeague.

Evan Fournier (Olympiacos Piraeus)
Although officially considered a ‘rookie’ in the EuroLeague since he just started playing in the league in 2024, Fournier is an NBA veteran with a Greek Super Cup victory (2024) and several Olympic medals under his belt. Even at 32 years old, the French shooting guard is still one of the fastest in the league. What makes him even more formidable is his wits being just as fast as his feet and hands.

Fournier can read the field in a snap and make quick decisions that can make or break the match. He makes up the majority of the Olympiacos Piraeus’ scoring potential with a lineup primarily leaning on defense. Hence, his squad relies on him to take 1v1s or navigate enemy defence for his team.

Aleksandar ‘Sasha’ Vezenkov (Olympiacos Piraeus)
Working in tandem with Fournier is 29-year-old power forward Sasha Vezenkov, who started his service in Olympiacos Piraeus around the same time in 2024. His most notable skill is his ability to move into position and change in reaction to opponents’ strategies. Vezenkov can move around the court without the ball to find the perfect spot to receive or provide a pass.

Vezenkov has shown remarkable quickness in his shooting release. He can catch, shoot, and follow-up on anyone else’s plays without giving defenders time to react. It’s a vital ability to Olympiacos Piraeus’ lineup this EuroLeague season, and there are plenty of opportunities to test his skills.

What does ‘speed’ mean in basketball?
These players are celebrated for their speed, but what does that mean as a skill in basketball? It’s a simple concept on paper where it specifically refers to how fast they can go from point A to point B compared to other players. From a more complex angle, you can break it down into the following attributes:

Sprint speed
The basketball court is smaller compared to most sports like football or baseball. Hence, there’s not much room to build up speed or the need to break into a sprint. However, a handful of players can make do with the space they have and run to the best of their ability. In doing so, they can outmanoeuvre most defenders and score with ease.

Lateral quickness
Lateral quickness refers to a player’s ability to move swiftly in any direction. Even if they have to break their momentum, they can side-step or spin to shift their direction. This ability allows them to adapt to their opponent’s surprises without losing balance or rhythm. Players with high lateral quickness leave no room for defenders to react.

First-step explosiveness
The first-step explosiveness refers to a player’s ability to reach their top speed from a standing position or whenever they change direction. Most players can do it after a few steps, but someone renowned for their speed can do it in a single step. This is how they can surprise guards in their shift in direction and never let the opponents know their next move.

Why is speed important in the EuroLeague?
Given the basketball court’s small space, speed could lend teams just several or maybe a split-second advantage. That half-second can make all the difference between winning or losing in exciting basketball competitions like the EuroLeague. Team managers invest in players who can bring that explosiveness to the team so they can reap these advantages:

Adaptability in fast-paced transition play
Most EuroLeague teams rely on quick transitions between defense and offense rather than keeping a balanced lineup. Thus, they always need players who can capitalise on fast breaks. They are the perfect players to catch defenders off guard and create easy scoring opportunities for their team.

Effective penetration and playmaking
Basketball is a fast-paced game, and lingering too long can be detrimental to the team. They need players who can rush in and reach the basket no matter what. There are many ways to do this, but speed is crucial in all of them. With speed, players can reach their positions and outmanoeuvre defenders. The fastest players are the most reliable playmakers in the sport.

Defensive agility and pressing
Speed isn’t just about offense. If the opponent has an explosive forward, then they need a defender who can keep up. A 1v1 boils down to a duel in lateral quickness where the two players adapt to each other’s fast-shifting directions. If a forward successfully breaks the defense, then a fast defender can recover quickly and disrupt passing lanes again.

Off-ball movement and spacing
Proper positioning is how basketball teams capitalise on their strength in numbers. Thus, they have to move into position as quickly as possible, even when they don’t have the ball. If they can’t, then the team can’t make a play and will be vulnerable for a moment. That moment could be all the opponents need to take over control of the court.

Adaptability to high-intensity games
The EuroLeague only has a total of 40 minutes, 8 minutes less than the NBA. Thus, it’s a faster-paced environment, even for veterans of other leagues. Every possession is more valuable, and faster teams can dictate the pace of the game. Slower players cannot adapt to such high intensity as they are prone to being worn down.

Keep up with the hottest events with Sportsbet.io
Sportsbet.io is the top crypto betting website for all major domestic and international sporting events. The EuroLeague is one of its top featured categories, and you can find plenty of exciting markets and promotions for it right here.

All bookmaker features are available on desktop and mobile on supported browsers. You can also check out the Sportsbet.io mobile app for iOS and Android for a more compact but complete experience. Take Sportsbet.io with you anytime and anywhere for easy crypto sports betting.