Valanciunas returns to Kaunas after 14 years in the NBA

Jonas Valanciunas is much more than a signing. His return to Kaunas after fourteen seasons in the NBA represents an event in Lithuania, the closing of a circle that started when he left the club in 2012 en route to Toronto. The 2.11-meter center arrives with elite credentials: experience in the best league in the world, dominant low post play, rebounding ability, and the leadership that the Žalgiris paint needed after a season of European splendor.

The 2025-26 season set the bar very high. The Lithuanian team finished the regular league with 31 wins and just one loss, strung together twenty-seven consecutive victories, and won their twenty-sixth national title after defeating Juventus 3-0 in the final. In Europe, Žalgiris finished fifth out of twenty teams and directly advanced to the quarter-finals, where they faced Fenerbahçe. They were eliminated 3-1, although the Kaunas team won the third game at home 81-78, with Azuolas Tubelis scoring 26 points. They also showcased their local potential with the largest margin of victory in the EuroLeague: 109-68 over Partizan. Tubelis was named MVP of the Lithuanian finals, and Tomas Masiulis received the Coach of the Year award.

The Painful Departure: Francisco and Others

But every change has a price. Sylvain Francisco, the best player on the team and one of the best in the EuroLeague, is leaving. His achievements last season speak for themselves: he was part of the best lineup of the continental competition, was the second-highest assists leader with 6.5 per game, MVP of the month of October, and twice the MVP of the round. Initially, he headed to ASVEL, but ultimately ended up at Panathinaikos. Along with him, other names are also leaving: Moses Wright to Olimpia Milan, Ignas Brazdeikis to Unicaja, and Laurynas Birutis. Young players Mantas Rubstavicius and Kajus Mikalauskas opted for American college basketball.

Francisco's departure is not just any loss. He didn't just score: he organized the play. Those 6.5 assists per game and his ability to resolve stuck possessions in decisive moments are assets that are not easily replaced. Žalgiris must rebuild that leadership with different pieces, each with their specific profile.

Seven Signings for a New Structure

The response comes on two fronts. Valanciunas is the club's marquee signing, but he is joined by six more additions. Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu brings specialized shot-blocking, while Marek Blazevic returns from Tofas Bursa after a four-year absence. The rest of the signings are responses to the reconstruction of the perimeter.

Carsen Edwards is the most prominent offensive signing. He comes from Virtus Bologna with an All-EuroLeague on his resume and a scoring ability that few Europeans possess. Saben Lee, from Anadolu Efes, adds verticality. Sterling Brown, who was the MVP of round 34 at Partizan, brings defensive consistency. And there is a much-celebrated return in Kaunas: Marius Grigonis is back at the club for the third time, this time from Panathinaikos, which constitutes a symbolic act of continuity.

The Core That Remains

Eight players maintain the identity of the project. Azuolas Tubelis re-signed after an extraordinary season in which he was the MVP of the Lithuanian finals and the best of the team in the big moments in Europe. Nigel Williams-Goss, Maodo Lo, Dovydas Giedraitis, and Deividas Sirvydis continue on the perimeter. In the paint, Edgaras Ulanovas, Arnas Butkevicius, and Dustin Sleva complete a very recognizable local block. On the bench, Tomas Masiulis has already shown he knows how to sustain this team on two fronts.

The roster includes fifteen players with good depth, allowing Žalgiris to compete in thirty-eight more European games in a domestic league they won last year while losing just one game. The toll of competing in everything is real, but this club never gives up.

The Big Questions of the Season

Who will run the team now? Edwards is a pure scorer, Lee is a vertical player, and Williams-Goss is a controlling point guard. Together, they must rebuild the six and a half assists per game that Francisco contributed, and above all, the ability to resolve stuck possessions in the fourth quarter when the game becomes more tactical.

Valanciunas and the pace is the second big question. Žalgiris has been playing fast for years, with the center running the floor and blocking. Valanciunas is a low-post five, slower and more dominant near the rim. Masiulis will have to decide whether to adapt the system to the player or the other way around, and that is the most interesting question of the season. If he manages to synthesize, the team will gain versatility. If not, the pace could be compromised.

The advantage in Kaunas remains the Žalgiris Arena with 13,500 seats, one of the most challenging places in Europe. Last year that factor contributed to finishing fifth; this year it is again their best argument. No one wants to visit Lithuania in March, and that is not insignificant.

The Forecast: More Talent, Less Clarity

Žalgiris has lost its best player but has signed more talent than left, although distributed among different profiles. It's a deeper, taller squad with more names, but also with less clarity in offensive direction. Repeating the fifth position would be an excellent result. Competing for the play-in is the reasonable scenario.

If Edwards regains his best European version and Valanciunas adapts to the physical demands of the EuroLeague, this team will be in contention for the playoffs again. And if not, they will remain the team that no one wants to visit in March. In Kaunas, that is never insignificant.

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