NORFOLK, Va. – Former Norfolk State men's basketball standout Joe Bryant Jr. continues to establish himself as one of the top professional players in Europe, earning multiple major honors from Eurobasket.com following a standout 2025-26 season with BK Pardubice in the Czech Republic's National Basketball League (NBL).
Bryant was named the Czech NBL Player of the Year, Import Player of the Year, and Guard of the Year while also earning selections to the All-NBL First Team and All-Imports Team.
Bryant helped lead Pardubice to a runner-up finish in the Czech NBL Finals, guiding the club to within one game of a league championship before falling to ERA Nymburk in a seven-game championship series.
One of the most dynamic scorers in Europe this season, Bryant led the Czech NBL in scoring at 19.5 points per game while adding 4.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.8 steals per contest across 53 appearances. He shot 51.6 percent from the field and 87.9 percent from the free-throw line.
Bryant totaled 1,036 points during the season, the highest total in the league, and ranked among the NBL leaders in assists and steals. He captured Player of the Week honors seven times throughout the campaign while producing 29 games with 20 or more points and seven performances of at least 30 points.
His most memorable outing came against Opava when he erupted for a season-high 43 points, one of the highest single-game scoring performances in the Czech NBL during the 2025-26 season.
"We are so proud of Joe," said Norfolk State head men's basketball coach Robert Jones. "To be named Player of the Year in his league five straight years is a tremendous accomplishment. Joe has always represented Norfolk State and the Spartan Brand of basketball at the highest level, and we're excited to see him continue showcasing that on the global stage."
Bryant's latest accolade comes one year after earning Most Valuable Player honors in Greece's A2 Elite Basketball League during the 2024-25 season with Psychikou Basketball Club. In his lone season in Greece, Bryant captured the league scoring title by averaging 20.1 points per game while adding 4.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and a league-best 2.1 steals per contest. He helped lead Psychikou to an 18-12 record and a fourth-place finish among 16 teams, highlighted by a season-high 39-point performance against Mykonou.
The Norfolk native has established himself as one of the premier American guards playing overseas since concluding his collegiate career at Norfolk State. Prior to his MVP campaign in Greece, Bryant earned Player of the Year honors in Poland's Pekao SA I Men's League after averaging 24.1 points per game for WKS Śląsk II Wrocław during the 2023-24 season.
From Poland to Greece and now the Czech Republic, Bryant has continued to elevate his game while serving as a proud ambassador for Norfolk State Basketball. His continued success on the international stage reflects the championship culture of the Spartan program and highlights the impact Norfolk State alumni are making throughout professional basketball worldwide.
One of the most decorated players in Norfolk State history, Bryant scored 1,747 career points while helping lead the Spartans to back-to-back MEAC Tournament championships in 2021 and 2022. A two-time MEAC Player of the Year, two-time First Team All-MEAC selection, and two-time MEAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player, Bryant remains one of the most accomplished student-athletes in program history.
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