Ζalgiris: Aiming high...

Zalgiris, that is consistently among the top eight European teams during the past three years (having also qualified for the Belgrade Final Four in the 2017/18 season), is aiming high this season as well…

Τhe brightest star:  The Lithuanian team could be an 'anti-star' one, since its roster lacks big names and players that have won significant trophies. However, one of its strongest assets sits in its bench! Sarunas Jasikevius has been one of the top guards in Europe and his player CV includes - among others - four European Championships (2003, 2004, 2005, 2009), one golden medal with the National team of Lithuania in the 2003 Eurobasket of Sweden, one bronze medal in the 2007 Eurobasket (Spain) and a bronze medal in the Sydney Olympic Games of 2000. In his short time as a coach (he began as an assistant coach with Zalgiris in 2014 and got promoted to head coach in January 2016, following the removal of Gintaras Krapikas) he has succeeded in leaving his mark! All the more, he led the team of Kaunas up to the Belgrade Final Four in the 2017/18 season. 

I know you from some place: Zack LeDay! The American forward/center played for Olympiacos last year. Lukas Lekavicius is also a familiar face from his time with Panathinaikos (2017-2019).

Did you know that?

*Will Cherry wore the Zalgiris jersey in 2014 and got to celebrate winning the Championship and the Lithuanian Cup of the 2014/15 season.

*Giorgos Printezis is tied to Felipe Reyes of Real Madrid at the 3rd place among the top scorers of all time in the Euroleague. They have scored 2,998 points each.

*Nikola Milutitnov needs one block to reach 100 in the Euroleague and two points to reach 1000.

*The first time Olympiacos and Zalgiris faced off were for the Munich Final Four in 1999. The Lithuanian team had succeeded the absolute surprise at the time, since not only it knocked the 'reds' out in the semis (87-71), but also won the trophy.

Zalgiris results up to now:

Ζαγκίρις - Baskonia                              58-70

Αrmani Milano - Zalgiris                      85-81

Zalgiris - Real Madrid                          86-73

Zalgiris - Villeurbanne                          70-56

Zalgiris - Ζenit                           70-82

Fenerbahce - Zalgiris                76-79

Zalgiris - Barcelona                   86-93

Head coach: SARUNAS JASIKEVICIUS

A slight advantage for Olympiacos

The two teams have played a total of 22 games, with the 'reds' having won 12 of them.

THE STATISTICAL COMPARISON OF THE TWO TEAMS

OFFENSE

DEFENSE