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sep 22 2026Nigel Williams-Goss will remain with Zalgiris through 2029. The Lithuanian club confirmed at its season presentation that it had already modified the point guard's contract, revealing in the process that Panathinaikos had attempted to sign him this summer.
An announcement without fanfare
Director of basketball operations Gediminas Navickas explained why the club hadn't communicated the news earlier: the changes were not significant and therefore the club did not consider it necessary to make a special announcement. Conversations took place and the agreement was formalized quietly.
The player had arrived in Kaunas before the 2025-26 season on a two-year contract with one optional year. The extension adds one more season to that deal, through 2028-29.
His 2025-26 numbers
He delivered from day one. He averaged 11.5 points, 3.9 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 0.9 steals, and was one of the pieces that led Zalgiris to the EuroLeague playoffs.
For Spanish fans, moreover, he is no ordinary name: he was a EuroLeague champion with Real Madrid. At 32 years old, he has 183 EuroLeague games under his belt and had a brief stint in the NBA, eleven games with the Utah Jazz.
The budget that sustains it
The extension fits within a specific economic context. Zalgiris presented this week a budget of €28.8 million before taxes, of which €19.7 million is allocated to player and coaching staff salaries. It represents a significant jump compared to previous seasons.
The club expects to generate €26.8 million before the playoffs to finance the campaign.
It is an increase consistent with what has been seen this summer in Kaunas, where Jonas Valanciunas has also returned, on a contract worth €5.5 million net over two seasons that is modest for his stature.
