Saben Lee signs with Zalgiris until 2028

Saben Lee has completed his move to Lithuanian basketball after several months of tracking by Zalgiris. On Tuesday, the Kaunas team officially confirmed the arrival of the shooting guard, who comes from Anadolu Efes in Istanbul, where he played the second half of the previous season.

A European journey in signings

Over the past two seasons, Lee has gained significant experience in the EuroLeague, alternating his presence in three different teams. His journey began with Maccabi Tel Aviv, where he had a spectacular debut scoring 23 points and distributing 5 assists in the opening match against Anadolu Efes. He then joined Olympiacos Piraeus before moving to the Turkish capital, where he averaged 11.2 points, 3.1 assists, and a performance index rating of 12.2.

This European itinerary contrasts with his previous path in the NBA, where the player amassed over 130 appearances from his entry in 2020 until 2024. Selected as the 38th pick in the draft, Lee made his debut with the Detroit Pistons and later played for the Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns, averaging 5.2 points and 2.8 assists during his time in the top league in the world.

Seeking stability

In statements following the official announcement of his signing, Lee expressed his desire to find a sporting home where he can establish himself. "Lately, I've been changing teams a lot, so I'd like to find a place and an organization where I can grow. That's what I really want, and I look forward to seizing this opportunity to showcase my skills and help Zalgiris win as many games as possible. I hope to call Zalgiris my home for the upcoming years," the shooting guard stated.

The American's words reflect a clear intention: to put an end to a journey marked by frequent changes and settle in an organization that allows him to fully develop. In Kaunas, he will find a project that, according to its management, provides the ideal conditions for such growth.

Zalgiris' confidence

Paulius Jankunas, president of the Lithuanian club, justified the decision to invest in Lee by highlighting the prior monitoring they had conducted. "We've always had him on our radar and have been following him. Although he has played for different teams, we see his potential, his physical qualities, and athleticism. People also talk about his impressive wingspan," Jankunas pointed out.

The executive emphasized the youth of the player as a determining factor, considering him a footballer in development with the ideal age to take a step forward in his career. "He's still a player in development, with an ideal age to take the next step, and we believe that with our tactical system and the club's culture, which helps players grow, Lee can further develop within our organization if he works hard," Jankunas concluded.

A long-term project

The contract duration until 2028 reveals Zalgiris' intention to build a medium-term project with Lee as a key piece. The choice of a player who has shown offensive capability and distribution in the EuroLeague represents an investment in a profile that could bring versatility to the Lithuanian team's offensive game.

With this addition, Zalgiris kicks off its transfer market to strengthen its squad for the upcoming EuroLeague season. Lee's arrival marks the beginning of a summer where the Kaunas organization will aim to solidify a competitive team that can pursue ambitious goals in the top continental competition.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Saben Lee firma con Zalgiris hasta 2028