Neptūnas Klaipėda officially announced that it has signed LKL Finals MVP Arnas Butkevicius – a 29‑year‑old returning to EuroLeague action after five seasons with Rytas Vilnius. The contract runs for two years and the player promised to give his all for the team.
What happened?
On 2024‑06‑22, BasketNews reported that Butkevicius inked the deal with Neptūnas. Earlier reports mentioned his gratitude to Zalgiris, but now he chooses to return to the Klaipėda club. Statistically, his EuroLeague debut in 2014‑15 produced 7.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game.
Why does it matter for Neptūnas?
Butkevicius captained Rytas Vilnius since 2020 and maintained a high level over the past five years. In the LKL finals series against Lietkabelis Panevėžys he averaged 11.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists, with an efficiency rating of 15.6. Those numbers suggest he can boost Neptūnas' offense and defense.
How does it connect to coach Maksvytis?
Kazys Maksvytis, Neptūnas' head coach, worked with Butkevicius both at the youth level and in EuroLeague. Their partnership led to gold medals for Lithuania’s youth – the IBA U19 World Cup and the FIBA U20 European Championship. Maksvytis noted that the player's stability and skill left no doubts.
What’s next?
Other clubs, including Dinamo Sassari and BC Wolves, showed strong interest, but Butkevicius opted to return to EuroLeague with Neptūnas. At the start of the LKL season he will aim to replicate the 7.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists he posted in the last FIBA Champions League campaign. His involvement could shift the league dynamics and help Neptūnas chase top spots both domestically and internationally.