Wade Baldwin wins team's first EuroLeague MVP of the Month since 2019 / News - Basketnews.com

Wade Baldwin IV averaged 18.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5 assists for 20.3 PIR to become the MVP of March. The last time a Maccabi player became the player of the month was in January of 2019 when Alex Tyus was named for the trophy.

Credit: Seffi Magriso/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Credit Seffi Magriso/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

With crucial EuroLeague games being played an average of every four days last month, one player stood out as the biggest difference-maker in the uniquely intense race to reach the playoffs.

2-pointers this season

55%21,9Points made:21,9Accuracy:55,3%Place in standings:2Record max:28Record min:15Most made 2FGs:Lorenzo BrownTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

For his steady brilliance as Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv finished the month with a six-game winning streak, Wade Baldwin IV is Euroleague Basketball's choice as MVP for March. Baldwin ranked second among all EuroLeague players with 18.7 points per game for the month, fourth in performance index rating with 20.3 on average, and sixth in assists, at 5.0 per night.

His outsized influence on Maccabi's fortune was illustrated by the fact that he led the team in PIR, scoring, assists, or all three in five of the seven games in March. Most importantly, when the most consequential month on the schedule had finished, Maccabi was sitting alone in fifth place with one foot in the playoffs.

The March award was based on the seven or eight games that all teams played last month. Baldwin has won the first such award of his four-year EuroLeague career, encompassing 120 games total. He is Maccabi's first monthly honoree since Alex Tyus won it in January of 2019.

On March 3, Maccabi was sitting in a three-way tie for ninth place with a 13-13 record. Just 28 days later, having reeled off six straight victories by an average score of 17.8 points, it had a 19-13 record and had leap-frogged three of its March victims in the standings.

During the streak, which is ongoing, Baldwin has averaged 19 points, 5.3 assists, and a PIR of 21.7 while shooting 60.1% on two-pointers (28 of 46) and 91.7% on free throws (22 of 24). Maccabi fans will have the chance to thank Baldwin for his exploits when he receives the MVP trophy at an upcoming home game.

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