MIAMI (United States) – Connor Zinaich, of Nacional (URU) was the highest-rated player during Stage 1 of the Group Phase of the Basketball Champions League Americas 2025–26, which was played from December 10 to 15. Zinaich led his team to two victories, topping Group B with a strong all-around performance and an efficiency rating of 26.0. The American forward averaged 21.5 points (56 percent shooting from the field), 10.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.0 block.
Stephen Maxwell of UdeC (CHI) also stood out on an individual level, despite his team going winless in Group D. The center averaged 24.0 points on 51 percent shooting, along with 8.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals for an efficiency rating of 21.0.
Defending runner-up Boca Juniors (ARG) finished the opening stage with a 1–1 record in Group C, and Michael Smith was one of the players who carried the load for the team. The shooting guard posted an efficiency of 20.5 after averaging 18.5 points, 6.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.0 steals.
Point-foward Georginho De Paula and shooting guard David Jackson, both from SESI Franca (BRA), round out the list of top performers. Although their club went 1–1 in Group D, without the presence of these two veterans, the team could be in a more difficult position.
De Paula, as usual, orchestrated the offense and finished with averages of 17.5 points (43 percent from three-point range), 7.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 steal, for an efficiency rating of 20.5. Jackson, meanwhile, averaged 18.0 points on 47 percent shooting from beyond the arc, in addition to 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals, earning an efficiency of 20.0.
FIBA