By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Ignas Brazdeikis is making good use of his Lithuanian passport by signing with Zalgiris Kaunas, as the club has officially announced.
Per the press release: “Zalgiris Kaunas bolsters its roster with the signing of Ignas Brazdeikis. The most titled club in Lithuania struck a deal on a 1+1 contract with the Kaunas-born player, who left the country for Canada at a young age.
The 23-year-old 198 cm tall swingman regained his Lithuanian citizenship last year and put on the Lithuanian men’s national team jersey for the first time.
Brazdeikis made his debut in the Lithuanian national team under Zalgiris Kaunas head coach Kazys Maksvytis and averaged 14.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1 assist in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers games against Bulgaria and the Czech Republic.
“We have been following Ignas for a few years now and wanted to see him in a Zalgiris jersey. Ignas is from Kaunas, he has regained his Lithuanian citizenship and now we will see him wearing the Zalgiris jersey. Coach Maksvytis has already worked with him, so there are no doubts about his abilities anymore,” noted Zalgiris CEO Paulius Motiejunas.
In the 2019 NBA Draft, the future Zalgiris player was selected by the Sacramento Kings as the 47th pick and was immediately traded to the New York Knicks. Last season, Brazdeikis spent time between the Orlando Magic and its G-League affiliate, the Lakeland Magic. He averaged 5 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 13 minutes of action in the NBA, and 20.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game in the G-League”.