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sep 16 2026Jonas Valanciunas left Kaunas in 2012 for Toronto and spent fourteen seasons in the NBA. This summer he returned to the club that developed him. It's not just a market signing: in Lithuania, it's an event.
Žalgiris accompanied him with six other signings and suffered an important loss: Sylvain Francisco, who was the team's best player and one of the best in the EuroLeague.
The Starting Point
The 2025-26 season was the club's best recent European campaign. Žalgiris finished fifth out of twenty and advanced directly to the quarterfinals, where they faced Fenerbahçe and lost 3-1 after winning Game 3 in Kaunas, 81-78, with 26 points from Azuolas Tubelis.
They also recorded the biggest blowout—the largest home margin of victory in the entire competition: 109-68 over Partizan.
In Lithuania, their dominance was absolute. The team finished the regular season with 31 wins and just one loss, strung together twenty-seven consecutive victories, and won the final against Juventus 3-0 to claim their twenty-sixth title. Tubelis was Finals MVP and Tomas Masiulis was named Coach of the Year.
What's Leaving
This departure is one that will be felt. Sylvain Francisco finished the season in the EuroLeague All-Star Five, was the competition's second-leading passer with 6.5 per game, October MVP, and twice Matchday MVP. He left for ASVEL and ended up at Panathinaikos.
Joining him out the door were Moses Wright to Olimpia Milano, Ignas Brazdeikis to Unicaja, and Laurynas Birutis, plus young prospects Mantas Rubstavicius and Kajus Mikalauskas, who headed to American college basketball.
What's Arriving
Seven signings, approached in two different ways.
Valanciunas is the marquee acquisition: a 2.11-meter center with fourteen NBA seasons on his resume returning to the city where he started. He brings low-post presence, rebounding, and a hierarchy in the paint this team lacked. He's joined by Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu, a shot-blocking specialist, and Marek Blazevic, who returns from Tofas Bursa four years after his first stint.
The rest represents the perimeter rebuild following Francisco's departure. Carsen Edwards arrives from Virtus Bologna with an All-EuroLeague selection on his resume and a scoring ability few possess in Europe. Saben Lee lands from Anadolu Efes and Sterling Brown from Partizan, where he was Matchday 34 MVP.
And there's a much-celebrated return in Kaunas: Marius Grigonis comes back to the club for the third time, this time from Panathinaikos.
Those Staying
Eight players maintain the core identity. Tubelis re-signed after a season in which he was MVP of the Lithuanian Finals and the team's best performer in Europe's biggest moments.
Also staying are Nigel Williams-Goss, Maodo Lo, Dovydas Giedraitis, and Deividas Sirvydis on the perimeter, while Edgaras Ulanovas, Arnas Butkevicius, and Dustin Sleva complete a very recognizable local contingent.
On the bench, Masiulis, who has already proven he can sustain this team on two fronts.
The Keys
Who runs the show now. Francisco didn't just score: he orchestrated. Edwards is a scorer, Lee a vertical player, and Williams-Goss a floor-running point guard. Between the three of them they must rebuild 6.5 assists per game and, above all, the ability to solve stalled possessions in the final quarter.
Valanciunas and pace. Žalgiris has played fast for years, with the center running the floor and shot-blocking. Valanciunas is a low-post five, more methodical and more dominant near the rim. Masiulis will have to decide whether to adapt the system to the player or vice versa, and that's the most interesting question of the season.
Kaunas's advantage. Žalgiris Arena with 13,500 fans remains one of Europe's toughest places to play. Last year that factor helped them finish fifth; this year it remains their best asset.
The double front. Thirty-eight EuroLeague games plus a domestic league they won last year losing just one game. The roster has fifteen players and good depth, but the toll of competing on all fronts is real, and this club never gives up on anything.
The Forecast
Žalgiris has lost its best player and signed more talent than left, though spread out. It's a deeper roster, taller and with more names, but also with less clarity in direction.
Repeating a fifth-place finish would be an excellent result and fighting for the play-in is the reasonable scenario. If Edwards recovers his best European form and Valanciunas adapts to EuroLeague's physical demands, this team will be in the playoff hunt again.
And if not, they'll still be the opponent nobody wants to visit in March, which in Kaunas is never insignificant.
Full Roster
Point Guards and Shooting Guards: Carsen Edwards (1.80m), Saben Lee (1.88m), Nigel Williams-Goss (1.91m), Maodo Lo (1.92m), Dovydas Giedraitis (1.93m), Sterling Brown (1.96m), Arnas Butkevicius (1.97m)
Small Forwards: Marius Grigonis (1.98m), Edgaras Ulanovas (1.99m), Dustin Sleva (2.03m), Deividas Sirvydis (2.04m)
Power Forwards and Centers: Azuolas Tubelis (2.08m), Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu (2.08m), Jonas Valanciunas (2.11m), Marek Blazevic (2.11m)
