EuroLeague Round 1 MVP: Pierre Jackson, Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv

Many stars shined brightly as the long-awaited start of the 2017-18 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season unfolded this week, but none did so more than Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv guard Pierre Jackson, who delivered a memorable opening night performance and earned his first MVP of the Round honor. In only his seventh EuroLeague appearance, and first since 2014, Jackson was nothing short of spectacular, flirting with a rare triple-double and setting several club and EuroLeague marks in Maccabi’s 71-88 road win at Brose Bamberg. Jackson posted 27 points, shooting 4-of-8 from two-point range, 5-for-5 from three-point land, and missed only one of his 5 free throw attempts. He also dished 9 assists, pulled down 7 rebounds, which along with 2 steals and 6 fouls drawn added up to a performance index rating of 41. That was not only the highest index rating of Round 1, but also the best PIR by a EuroLeague player in any opening game this decade and best in any non-overtime opening game this century! No Maccabi player had such a high PIR 2008, either. Jackson’s 27 points tied for third-most points on an opening night this decade and for the third-most points by a Maccabi player this decade. By going 5 of 5 from three-point land, he also matched the club-record for most three-pointers without a miss, too. Teenage sensation Luka Doncic of Real Madrid had the second highest performance index rating of the week, 32, in his team's road win at Anadolu Efes Istanbul. Doncic scored a career-high 27 points on 6 of 8 two-pointers and 3 of 6 threes. He also made 6 of 7 free throws and collected 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 6 fouls drawn. Kevin Seraphin of FC Barcelona Lassa registered an index rating of 31, third best in Round 1, after posting 24 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 assists and 6 fouls drawn. Madrid big man Gustavo Ayon and Efes guard Errick McCollum, each had index ratings of 30, rounding out the best five performances of the week. Ayon scored 16 points on 7 of 11 two-pointers, pulled down 10 rebounds, and had 4 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks. In the same game but on the losing side, McCollum made his EuroLeague debut with 26 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 9 fouls drawn.

Individual leaders: Will Clyburn of CSKA Moscow, 12 rebounds

Two players shared the honor of Round 1 top scorer, and coincidentally they were the top two performers of the week, Jackson and Doncic, both with career highs of 27 points. Will Clyburn of CSKA Moscow led all the rebounders, matching his career best with 12 rebounds. It was Jackson again, together with Thomas Heurtel of Barcelona, as co-leader in another category, with 9 assists apiece. Baskonia Vitoria Gasteiz forward Janis Timma had 4 steals in his EuroLeague debut, the most of any players in Round 1. Chris Singleton of Panathinaikos Superfoods Athens was the top shot-blockers this past week with a career-high 4 blocks. Three players recorded double-doubles in Round 1, all in points and rebounds: Barcelona's Adrien Moerman had 16 and 11, respectively, Ayon 16 and 10, and Clyburn 15 and 12.