#1. This week’s number one is former international center Donatas Motiejunas (213-90, currently plays in France). He led Monaco to a victory over the 13th-ranked Entente Orleans 45 (6-10) 74-61 in the French Betclic ELITE ProA in Saturday night’s game.
Motiejunas was MVP of the game. He had a double-double by scoring 20 points and getting 10 rebounds in a mere 17 minutes on the court.
AS Monaco Basket (2-0) is placed first in the Betclic ELITE ProA.
Motiejunas has relatively good stats this year: 11.6ppg, 5.3rpg, 1.3apg, 2FGP: 63.1%(53-84), 3FGP: 31.3% and FT: 52.9% in 12 games he played so far.
He played for the Lithuanian senior national team two years ago.
#2. Second place goes to an international swingman Marius Grigonis (198-94, currently plays in VTB United League). Grigonis was the major contributor in CSKA‘s victory against the ninth-ranked Kalev/Cramo (3-7) crushing them 104-62 in the VTB United League last Monday.
He scored 14 points.
CSKA Moscow (9-3) is placed third in group A.
It’s Grigonis’ first season with the team.
This year Grigonis has relatively solid stats: 11.4ppg, 1.4apg, 2FGP: 61.5%, 3FGP: 57.7%(15-26) and FT: 86.4%.
He is in the roster of the Lithuanian senior national team.
#3. The Lithuanian player who performed third best last week abroad was an international center Laurynas Birutis (213-97, currently plays in Spain). Birutis was the main contributor in Obradoiro‘s victory against the eighth-ranked Breogan (9-8) 100-83 in the Spanish Liga Endesa on Sunday night.
He was the best player in that game. Birutis recorded 26 points (!!!), 8 rebounds and 2 blocks in 35 minutes.
Monbus Obradoiro CAB Santiago de Compostela (3-0) is placed first in the Liga Endesa.
So far Obradoiro won all three games in the Regular Season.
Birutis has reliable stats this year: 12.9ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.1bpg, 2FGP: 58.6%(78-133) and FT: 68.9% in 16 games.
He is also a member of the Lithuanian senior national team.
#4. An experienced forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas (205-89, currently plays in Euroleague) could not help Zenit (13-7) in their last game on Thursday. Despite Kuzminskas’ good performance Zenit was defeated 86-77 at home by the lower-ranked Monaco (#9).
He recorded 12 points.
This season Kuzminskas averages: 4.7ppg and 1.9rpg.
He is also Lithuanian national team player.
#5. Former international small forward Tadas Sedekerskis (206-98, currently plays in Euroleague) was not able to help Baskonia (7-13) in their last game. Despite Sedekerskis’ good performance Baskonia lost 77-84 on their home court in Vitoria to the higher-ranked (#10) Bayern Muenchen.
He recorded 11 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists in 26 minutes.
This year Sedekerskis’ overall stats are: 5.1ppg, 5.1rpg and 1.4apg in 19 games.
He used to play for the Lithuanian national team
five years ago.
#6. Center Jonas Valanciunas (213-92, currently plays in NBA) contributed to a New Orleans Pelicans‘ victory against the Indiana Pacers (17-32) 117-113 in the NBA on Monday night.
Valanciunas recorded a double-double by scoring 16 points and getting 12 rebounds. He also added 6 assists.
The New Orleans Pelicans have 18-29 record this season.
Valanciunas has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 18.3ppg, 12.0rpg and 2.5apg.
Valanciunas is an international player who is currently on the senior Lithuanian National Team roster.
#7. International forward Eimantas Bendzius (207-90, currently plays in Italy) was not able to secure a victory for Sassari (4-0) in their last game. Despite his very good performance the league leader Sassari lost 86-97 on the road to the lower-ranked (#3) Brescia.
Bendzius had a double-double by scoring 16 points and getting 10 rebounds in 29 minutes.
Bendzius’ stats this year are: 13.5ppg, 5.1rpg and 2.0apg in 16 games.
He is also Lithuanian national team player.
#8. Guard Rokas Jokubaitis (193-0, currently plays in Spain) helped Barca win their game against the league leader Real Madrid (15-2) 85-75 in the Spanish Liga Endesa last Sunday.
Jokubaitis recorded 6 points.
It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. FC Barcelona Lassa (12-3) is placed second in the Liga Endesa.
Jokubaitis’ total stats this season are: 8.3ppg, 1.5rpg and 2.0apg.
He plays currently for the Lithuanian national team.
#9. Former international center Martynas Sajus (208-96, currently plays in FIBA Europe Cup) couldn’t help Bayreuth (0-4) in their last game. Despite Sajus’ very good performance the fourth-placed Bayreuth (0-4) lost 93-98 on the opponent’s court to the leading Leiden in the group I of FIBA Europe Cup.
He recorded 17 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 34 minutes.
So far Bayreuth lost all four games in the Second Stage.
There are only two games left until the end of the FIBA Europe Cup Second Stage. So now every game will be critical.
Sajus averaged so far 13.3ppg, 7.2rpg, 2.1apg and 1.1bpg in 12 games.
He used to play for the Lithuanian national team
two years ago.
#10. Center Martinas Geben (208-94, college: Notre Dame, currently plays in Germany) helped Brose Bamberg win their game against the league outsider s Oliver Baskets 97-78 in the German BBL in Wednesday night’s game.
Geben recorded 18 points.
Brose Bambergis placed second in the BBL.
Geben’s total stats this season are: 6.1ppg and 4.3rpg.
He is an international player who is currently on the senior Lithuanian National Team roster.
#11. Former University international center Matas Jucikas (205-94, agency: BIG, currently plays in LAT-EST BL) helped his Latvian team BK Ogre win their game against the third-ranked TalTech 77-65 in the Lat-Est BL last Saturday.
Jucikas was the top player that evening. He recorded 20 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks in 25 minutes.
Jucikas has very impressive stats this year: 17.5ppg, 6.5rpg, 2.0bpg and 1.5spg in two games.
He used to play for the Lithuanian university national team
five years ago.
#12. Former U20 international forward Arunas Mikalauskas (204-97, currently plays in FIBA Europe Cup) faced previously mentioned Martynas Sajus in the FIBA Europe Cup last game.
Mikalauskas helped his Dutch team Leiden win their game against the fourth-ranked Bayreuth 98-93.
He recorded 14 points and added 6 passes.
Mikalauskas averaged so far 10.3ppg, 6.2rpg and 2.7apg.
He used to play for the Lithuanian U20 national team
back in 2017.
#13. Former U20 international power forward Einaras Tubutis (207-98, currently plays in BNXT-League) is a teammate of previously mentioned Arunas Mikalauskas. But that was another game of his team in BNXT League which we would like to mention.
Tubutis couldn’t help Leiden (14-3) in their last game on Saturday. Despite his good performance Leiden was edged 71-69 on their home court in Leiden by the lower-ranked Groningen (#4).
Tubutis recorded a double-double by scoring 10 points and getting the same number of rebounds.
Tubutis averaged so far 12.3ppg, 7.0rpg, 1.4apg, 1.3bpg and 1.2spg.
He used to play for the Lithuanian U20 national team
four years ago.
#14. Former U20 international forward Denis Krestinin (201-94, currently plays in LAT-EST BL) helped his Latvian team Ventspils win their game against the closely-ranked Viimsi crushing them 100-70 in the Lat-Est BL on Thursday night.
Krestinin recorded 10 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 21 minutes.
This year Krestinin’s total stats are: 9.4ppg, 6.2rpg and 1.6bpg in 12 games.
He used to play for the Lithuanian U20 national team
back in 2014.
#15. Former U22 international forward Tauras Jogela (202-93, agency: 011 Sports, currently plays in Austria) helped BC Vienna win their game against one of league’s weakest teams Raiffeisen Flyers Wels crushing them 96-74 in the Austrian BSL last Saturday.
Jogela had a double-double by scoring 14 points and getting 10 rebounds in 26 minutes.
Jogela averaged so far 11.3ppg, 5.1rpg and 1.3apg in 12 games.
He used to play for the Lithuanian U22 national team
seven years ago.
The list of other players, who all have Lithuanian passport but never been selected to any of Lithuanian national teams:
#1. Antanas Udras (203-F/C-92, agency: BIG, currently plays in Ukraine) was the major contributor in Zaporizhye‘s victory against the tenth-ranked Odessa (8-17) 83-76 in the Ukrainian Superleague in Friday night’s game.
Udras scored 17 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 26 minutes.
BC Zaporizhye-ZOG (7-4) is placed second in the Superleague.
It was his team’s fifth consecutive victory in a row.
Udras averaged so far 10.1ppg, 6.3rpg and 1.5apg in 23 games he played so far.
#2. Ignas Brazdeikis (201-SF-99, college: Michigan, currently plays in NBA) led Orlando Magic to an easy victory against the Chicago Bulls (30-17) 114-95 in the NBA in Sunday night’s game.
Brazdeikis scored 11 points.
The Orlando Magic has not so impressive 9-40 record this season.
Brazdeikis has averaged so far 2.7ppg and 1.4rpg.
He has a dual citizenship: Lithuanian and Canadian.
Despite Brazdeikis’ Lithuanian passport, he previously played for the Canadian U17 national team and is probably not eligible to play for the Lithuanian team.
#3. Dominykas Milka (203-C-92, college: St.Rose, NY, currently plays in Iceland) could not help Keflavik (10-4) in their last game on Friday. Despite Milka’s good performance the league leader Keflavik was edged in an overtime 98-95 on the road by the lower-ranked Stjarnan (#7).
He recorded a double-double by scoring 13 points and getting 15 rebounds. Milka also added 3 assists.
Milka averaged so far 14.9ppg, 9.4rpg and 2.0apg.
#4. Experienced Simonas Lukosius (196-G-2, currently plays college basketball in the States) led Butler to an easy victory against the Creighton University (4-3) 72-55 in the NCAA on Wednesday night.
He scored 14 points and grabbed 4 rebounds (went 6 for 6 at the free throw line) in 27 minutes.
The Butler University has not so impressive 3-6 conference record this season.
The Regular Season already ended in the NCAA.
Lukosius has averaged so far 5.8ppg, 3.1rpg and 1.2apg in 19 games.
#5. Gedi Juozapaitis (193-G/F-98, currently studies in the States), who plays in the NCAA was not able to help the Georgia South (1-5) in their last game. Despite his good performance the Georgia South lost 62-70 in Boone to the Appalachian State University.
Juozapaitis scored 11 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 27 minutes.
Juozapaitis has averaged so far 8.1ppg, 2.7rpg and 1.5apg in 15 games.
He is another player who holds two passports: British and Lithuanian.
#6. Jonas Zakas (190-SG-97, agency: Players Group, currently plays in Portugal) managed to help CAB Madeira to win against one of league’s weakest teams Illiabum 89-82 in the Portuguese LPB last Friday.
Zakas scored 5 points and added 3 assists.
Zakas has averaged so far 6.6ppg, 1.9rpg and 2.2apg.
#7. David Stachovskij (206-C-96, currently plays in Spain) was not able to secure a victory for Andujar in their game against Unicaja-Andalucia in the Spanish EBA (fourth division). Despite his good performance in Saturday night’s game He was the second best scorer with 10 points. Stachovskij also added 7 rebounds.
Stachovskij averaged so far 10.8ppg, 6.0rpg and 1.5bpg.
#8. Domantas Sakickas (201-F-97, currently plays in NCAA2) couldn’t help the Hawaii Pacific University in their game against the Biola University in the NCAA2.
He scored 9 points in 18 minutes.
His team lost 62-74 in the NCAA2.
Sakickas has averaged so far 4.9ppg, 3.8rpg and 1.1apg in 13 games.
#9. Antanas Tamulis (203-F, currently plays in NAIA) contributed to a 2-point Oklahoma Panhandle State University‘s victory against the Southwestern Christian University 92-90 in the NAIA in Thursday night’s game.
He recorded 6 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in only 11 minutes.
Tamulis has averaged so far 4.3ppg and 3.1rpg in 12 games.
#10. Gediminas Mokseckas (193-G-0, is currently at the American university) contributed to an easy victory against the Hampton University 75-60 in the NCAA on Wednesday night.
He scored only 3 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 16 minutes.
Mokseckas has averaged so far 2.1ppg and 2.1rpg in 14 games.
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