Zalgiris Kaunas officially announced the signing of the LKL finals MVP Arnas Butkevicius.
A 29-year-old forward joins Zalgiris on a two-year deal.
BasketNews first reported the agreement on June 22.
"First of all, I would like to thank the Zalgiris organization for believing in me and the chance to compete at the highest level," Butkevicius said in the club's statement. "I can promise I will give my all to the team. The decision to join Zalgiris wasn't difficult, as the club and coach Maksvytis have shown big interest. I know how ambitious this team is, so I'm looking forward to joining forces."
Butkevicius spent the past five years in Rytas Vilnius. He has been the captain of the main Zalgiris rival since 2020.
Rytas tried to retain Butkevicius after winning the first Lithuanian league title in 12 years. Dinamo Sassari and the newly founded Lithuanian club BC Wolves also showed interest, but Butkevicius decided to return to the EuroLeague.
1.96 m forward knows Zalgiris head coach Kazys Maksvytis very well.
Under the guidance of Maksvytis, Butkevicius won gold with Lithuania's youthLithuania'sIBA U19 World Cup and FIBA U20 European Championship.
Also, Butkevicius played for Maksvytis in Neptunas Klaipeda. He had a breakout season there and transferred to Rytas in 2017.
In his debut EuroLeague season 2014-15, Butkevicius averaged 7.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assists for Neptunas.
“Arnas’ stability and abilities in recent years have not left any doubts, so we wanted to see him in Kaunas. We know each other well, we worked together in the EuroLeague, which I think is very important for a basketball player returning to the top level,” coach Maksvytis said.
Arnas Butkevičius
| Team: |
Rytas Vilnius |
| Position: | SF |
| Age: | 29 |
| Height: | 196 cm |
| Weight: | 95 kg |
| Birth place: | Klaipėda, Lithuania |
Last season, Butkevicius posted 7.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in the FIBA Champions League competition.
In the LKL final series against Lietkabelis Panevezys, Butkevicius scored 11.0 points, grabbed 5.6 rebounds, dished 3.0 assists, and had 15.6 EFF per game.
In the BasketNews survey, the LKL players named him the best defensive player of the year.
Butkevicius is also a member of the Lithuanian national team.
 | Zalgiris Kaunas | |
| Position | Player | Status |
| PG | Mantas Kalnietis | Signed until 2023 |
| PG | Lukas Lekavicius | Signed until 2025 |
| SG | Karolis Lukosiunas | Signed until 2023 |
| SG | Tomas Dimsa | Signed until 2022 +1 |
| SF/PF | Edgaras Ulanovas | Signed until 2024 |
| SF | Arnas Butkevicius (story) | Signed until 2024 |
| PF | Tyler Cavanaugh | Signed until 2023 +1 |
| C | Joffrey Lauvergne | Signed until 2022 +1 |
| C | Josh Nebo | Signed until 2022 +1 |
| C | Laurynas Birutis (story) | Signed until 2024 |
| Coach | Kazys Maksvytis (story) | |
| Expired contract | Tai Webster (will not return), Janis Strelnieks (will not return), Niels Giffey (will not return), Arturas Milaknis, Paulius Jankunas (retiring), Marek Blazevic (will not return), Regimantas Miniotas | |
| Rumored to leave | Joffrey Lauvergne, Josh Nebo (story), Arturas Milaknis, Regimantas Miniotas, Marek Blazevic (will not return) | |
| Interested | Rolands Smits (story), Kevarrius Hayes (story), Caleb Homesley, Darius Thompson (story) | |
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