By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Bradley Wanamaker of Brose Baskets Bamberg picked the perfect occasion to deliver the best performance of his rookie season in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague.
Facing a must-win situation and with his team down by 8 points in the fourth quarter against Khimki Moscow Region on Thursday, Wanamaker stepped up to give one of the most remarkable individual finishes this season, single-handedly rallying Bamberg to victory and earning the Top 16 Round 11 MVP honor. Wanamaker scored 18 of his career-high 25 points in the game’s final 5 minutes. His first 5 points in that span sparked Bamberg’s comeback from 63-71 down to tie the game. But that was only the beginning, because he then netted all of Bamberg’s last 13 points, leading to an 84-79 win that keeps the team’s playoff dreams well and truly alive. By the end, Wanamaker had made 8 of 11 two-pointers, adding one triple and perfect 6-for-6 free throws. He also pulled down 7 rebounds, dished 5 assists, and drew 8 fouls for a performance index rating of 34, the most of any player this week. It was first weekly MVP award for Wanamaker.