SINGAPORE (Singapore) - In 2024, he was one of their crucial players as they claimed the FIBA Intercontinental Cup for the first time. In 2025, he was the crucial player, leading Unicaja to back-to-back titles.
Tyler Kalinoski was named the Most Valuable Player of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2025, succeeding former teammate Dylan Osetkowski, who won this award last year.
"First off, winning the championship is always my first priority. I'm a player who always had pride in doing the little things to help the team win, whether that's me scoring 20 points in a game, or me scoring zero and getting rebounds and playing defense. That's always on my mind first," Tyler explained, but then added:
"I can't lie. It does feel really good to finally get one. I've been up there a few times, but at the end of the day, we've had some amazing players, every time somebody's got it - they deserved it. As much as this means, the big trophy means more for me."
Last season, he shot 10-of-18 from three-point range. This time around, he was even better, hitting 12-of-18 shots from beyond the arc.
"We had different guys that won (MVP awards), but he's one of the guys that is always there. He never got it, and I'm super happy he got it now because he deserved it many times," coach Ibon Navarro praised his shooter.
Coach Navarro is on point.
In 2023, Unicaja won the Spanish Cup, and the MVP went to Tyson Carter. Kendrick Perry was the MVP of the BCL Final Four in 2024, while Osetkowski won the award at the FIBA Intercontinental Cup later that year.
In the Spanish Supercup in 2024, Kameron Taylor was named the MVP, before Kendrick Perry got another MVP award in the Spanish Cup in 2025.
Finally, Tyson Carter was the BCL Final Four MVP last May, leading up to Kalinoski in Singapore in 2025.
Five different MVPs over the past two and a half years.
"One of the things that pushed us for the win was the fact that we have a group of guys that have been together for three or four years. Super happy to see our team win this tournament," he said, putting emphasis on the team effort, not on his turn.
Kalinoski will turn 33 in December and has been a part of Unicaja's program since 2022. He averaged 14.3 points and 16.3 efficiency rating per game in Singapore in 2025.
Before coming to Malaga, he had played professionally in Italy, Türkiye, Belgium, Greece and France, all after establishing himself as an elite shooter with the Davidson Wildcats in the NCAA.