The summer of 2022 resulted in plenty of changes with many players and coaches in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague either leaving the stage or signing in new places. Heading into the 2022-23 regular season, several teams are embarking upon new beginnings without some familiar faces.
Zalgiris without Jankunas
Paulius Jankunas, Zalgiris Kaunas's most identifiable player during his 19-year pro career and the Euroleague record-holder in games played, retired last spring. And even though he started in just four of 17 EuroLeague appearances last season, filling the huge leadership void left by the 2018 All-EuroLeague Second Team selection was never going to be easy. Zalgiris snapped up experienced Rolands Smits and Kevarrius Hayes in the summer to shore up the frontline. And there are long-time local stars like Mantas Kalnietis, Lukas Lekavicius and Edgaras Ulanovas, who was chosen as team captain, to provide leadership. Plus, with Jankunas working for the team management still, there will always be great advice at hand for the team in green.