Klay Thompson Joins Basketball World in Celebrating Ex-Lakers Star’s Record-Breaking EuroLeague Achievement: “Shooootttaaa”

Euro League star Nigel Hayes-Davis of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul became a scoring machine on Tuesday night, leading his team to a blowout 103-68 victory over ALBA Berlin. In a performance for the ages, Hayes-Davis became the first player ever to score 50 points in a EuroLeague game, a feat that not only secured the dub but also earned him the Round 32 MVP award!

The impressive balling even drew props from Warriors superstar Klay Thompson, who took to Instagram to congratulate Hayes-Davis with the caption, “Congrats to my bro @nigel_hayes on setting the new @euroleague game scoring record, SHOOOOTTTAAA.” In the matchup, the ex-Laker exploded for the first 10 points of the game and racked up a staggering 18 points by the end of the first quarter. The scoring machine didn’t cool down in the second half, pouring in another 29 points, including 14 points in the final quarter to secure the dub for Fenerbahce.

Hayes-Davis’ historic night wasn’t limited to just breaking the single-game scoring record, previously held by Shane Larkin at 49 points since November 2019. He also secured his second EuroLeague MVP of the Round honor. Interestingly, his first MVP award came in February 2023, also in a home victory against ALBA Berlin.

In the post-game presser, Hayes-Davis revealed, “I told someone that I had it written down in my notes that I wanted to break the record for the most points in a game by the end of the season. I sent a message to my guys Jonathan and Nate, and I told them that I felt like having a Dejounte Murray type of game. All credit goes to my teammates who found me. The fans knew that the record was 49 points, and they were shouting to coach Saras to put me back in. This is all credit to the club and the team, and I am very proud of myself. It’s a great honor.”

Nat Hand, the friend Nigel was referring to, and fans couldn’t help but shower words of encouragement for Hayes-Davis, after this incredible feat.

From Pre-Game Text To Post-Game Praises For Nigel Hayes-Davis

Nat Hand took to X to corroborate that Nigel had indeed texted them before the game about wanting a Dejounte Murray-like performance, and it seems he delivered!

The EuroLeague fraternity took notice of Hayes-Davis’ monster performance, showering him with praise for his incredible scoring display. “Nigel Hayes-Davis. Wow,” posted Mike James, the current leader of the 2023-24 EuroLeague MVP race.

Hayes’ shooting was nothing short of lights-out. Hayes-Davis splashed an impressive 9 of 11 two-pointers, drained a career-best 9 of 16 three-pointers, and knocked down 5 of 7 free throws. FC Barcelona’s sharpshooting captain Alex Abrines tweeted “Sick” with multiple mind-blown emojis and tagged Nigel Hayes-Davis.

Beyond scoring, he chipped in with 2 rebounds, 1 steal, and even drew 6 fouls, amassing a career-high performance index rating (PIR) of 46. This not only shattered a Fenerbahce club record but also tied the EuroLeague’s highest PIR since 2020. Former EuroLeague star guard Tyrese Rice tweeted, “50 in EuroLeague so tough!”

This insane performance comes on the heels of Atlanta Hawks superstar Dejounte Murray channeling his inner Kobe Bryant on Thursday night, leading the Atlanta Hawks to a thrilling 123-122 overtime victory over the Boston Celtics. Murray hoisted shots on nearly half (42.3%) of his team’s attempts. His aggressive approach paid off in the clutch, as he drilled a game-winning jumper with just 1 second remaining in overtime to secure the dub!

Looks like there might be a case of basketball “energy inception” happening right now. Hayes-Davis was trying to harness that Murray energy, while Murray himself was channeling the spirit of the GOAT Kobe Bryant!

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