Jonas Valanciunas Makes His Return to Euroleague After 15 Years: The Zalgiris Kaunas Rebuild
Welcome Back, Jonas!
It’s been a wild ride for the Zalgiris Kaunas basketball team as they gear up for the 2026-27 season. Buzzing like a kid in a candy store, they’re working hard to bounce back from some key player departures. This isn’t just any old season; after tussling with Fenerbahçe last playoffs and coming oh-so-close to that coveted Final Four spot, it’s time to prove that their success wasn’t just a fluke.
Last Year’s Magic
Last season, under the new guidance of Tomas Masiulis, Zalgiris transformed into the surprise package of the Euroleague. They played an electrifying style of basketball that was all about teamwork, speed, and an unyielding competitive spirit. And let’s be real, they weren’t about to let teams with bank accounts bigger than their dreams bully them around!
The Talent Hunt
Sure, losing some star players over the summer might sound like a horror movie premise, but Zalgiris isn’t sweating it. They’ve beefed up their roster with a renowned talent – none other than Jonas Valanciunas! The legendary Lithuanian big man is back in Kaunas, ready to lead the squad and sprinkle some extra star power, just like he did in his last Euroleague appearance back in the 2010-11 season with Rytas Vilnius, who, let’s not forget, are the reigning champions of the Basketball Champions League. Big shoes to fill? Absolutely!
Retaining the Stars
Before they dived headfirst into the transfer market, Zalgiris secured a major victory: they locked down Azuolas Tubelis. This 24-year-old forward has been turning heads all season long, emerging as one of the hottest young prospects in the Euroleague. Scoring a 2+1 deal while the national season was still swirling in chaos? Talk about a power move!
Mixed News
But wait, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Zalgiris has bid farewell to some key players who made a significant impact last season. Sylvain Francisco, one of the most impactful point guards around, has joined the ambitious ASVEL project, while Moses Wright leaves Kaunas to pursue new adventures. They are not flying solo, though — Laurynas Birutis and Ignas Brazdeikis are also packing their bags for new challenges!
Revamping the Roster
In response to all these changes, the club wasted no time reinvigorating their roster. They signed Carsen Edwards, who brings that much-needed offensive spark back to the team. Plus, with the addition of Sterling Brown for some outside shooting and the speedy Saben Lee, they are looking to fill the gaps left by Francisco and keep that competitive edge alive. Oh, and let’s not forget the returns of Marius Grigonis and Marek Blazevic after spending a few years wandering the basketball universe!
The Core Still Stands
Beneath all these new faces, Masiulis holds onto a significant foundation of Lithuanian players seasoned in his strategies. Alongside Tubelis and Valanciunas, we have Edgaras Ulanovas and Arnas Butkevicius continuing their leadership roles, along with Deividas Sirvydis and Dovydas Giedraitis representing the fabulous class of 2000. It’s a treasure trove of local talent!
What’s Next?
The Zalgiris squad, boasting eight local players, is preparing to create something magical. Instead of feeling diminished, they’re gearing up to show that their core has the strength to let their international stars shine. And who knows? Maybe they’ll snag a few more surprises before the season rolls around!
Departures
- Sylvain Francisco
- Moses Wright
- Mantas Rubstavicius
- Ignas Brazdeikis
- Laurynas Birutis
1,570 | July 2026
