Keenan Evans of Zalgiris Kaunas is expected to miss between six and eight months after undergoing surgery on a knee injury.

Zalgiris star Keenan Evans out long term after knee surgery

Zalgiris Kaunas has confirmed that star guard [Keenan Evans](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/keenan-evans/011218/) will be out long term after undergoing surgery on a knee injury on Monday.

The 27-year-old, who has spent three years in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, suffered the injury during Game 3 of Zalgiris’s Lithuanian League semifinal series against 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys. Evans required assistance from his teammates as he left the court.

On Monday, Zalgiris revealed that “Evans was diagnosed with a tear of the patella ligament and underwent surgery, which was performed by orthopedic traumatologist Prof. Rimtautas Gudas,” the club confirmed in a statement.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Keenan Evans had a knee surgery, and will be out for at least 6-8 months. Zalgiris organization and all green-and-whites fans are with you. Stay strong, <a href="https://twitter.com/K3vans12?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@K3vans12</a>! 💚 <a href="https://t.co/hhBEpoolDf">pic.twitter.com/hhBEpoolDf</a></p>&mdash; BC Zalgiris Kaunas (@bczalgiris) <a href="https://twitter.com/bczalgiris/status/1795174570577580490?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The same statement reveals that Evans is expected to be out for at least six to eight months.

### Evans has become vital for Zalgiris

Evans had his best season to date in the EuroLeague in 2023-24, averaging 17.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.2 steals and an 18.3 PIR in 34 games, all of which were as a starter. The American also had a very impressive debut campaign with Zalgiris in 2022-23, posting 15.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.0 steal and a 17.4 PIR across 17 games before an Achilles injury brought his season to a premature end.

The best plays of Zalgiris Kaunas guard Keenan Evans in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

Keenan Evans' top plays in 2023-24

His EuroLeague career got underway in the 2021-22 campaign as he suited up for Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, making 33 appearances and averaging 8.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.2 steals and a 10.2 PIR.

More Zalgiris News

Keenan Evans in action for Zalgiris Kaunas in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

The American guard is expected to be away from the court for between six and eight months

Kendrick Nunn overcame foul trouble to shine when it mattered

Things looked far from good for Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens after 10 minutes of the championship game against Real Madrid. Down 11, and just having allowed a new Final Four record 36 points in the first quarter, the Greens also found themselves without Kendrick Nunn, who committed 3 personal fouls in the opening quarter, in which he scored 8 points.

Nunn played just 24 seconds in the second quarter and was supporting on the bench as his teammates cut the deficit and were down just 54-49 at the break.

Going into the third quarter, Nunn knew he was soon coming back into the game, but also knew his team needed him. His mindset going into the second half?

"To stay composed", Nunn said among all the confetti on the floor of Uber Arena after the championship game win.

"I've been here before. I'm a rookie in the EuroLeague, but I am not a rookie player. I've been in this type of environment, I've been in this type of pressure before. I mean, it's not pressure. Staying composed and letting my teammates know. Staying aggressive. And that's exactly what I did", the 29-year-old explained.

Nunn overcame foul trouble to shine for the Greens

He re-entered the game after 2 and a half minutes of play in the third and 68 seconds later nailed a three-pointer that gave Panathinaikos a 56-58 lead.

"That is definitely what I needed", Nunn admitted. "I did not have a typical hot night that I usually have, so seeing that one go in definitely gave me some spark."

He proceeded to score 13 second-half points, including 8 in the fourth quarter.

Nunn finished with 21 points on 8-of-18 shooting from the field and also had 3 rebounds and 3 assists. His contribution was crucial in an 80-95 win that got the Greens their first EuroLeague title in 13 years, and Nunn's first in his first EuroLeague season.

"This is unbelievable. It is my first year in Europe, this is the first year about 10 of us played together, new coach. Top to bottom it's been new. So we were stacking days, encouraging each other, giving each other confidence. And this is what happens when you buy in and believe", Nunn said.

Panathinaikos guard Kendrick Nunn talks on the court after winning the EuroLeague

Kendrick Nunn: ‘My teammates stepped up big time’

Game News

Real Madrid v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2024-05-26T18:00:00.000Z)

[Kostas Sloukas ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/)added another achievement in what is quickly becoming a legendary career when he was chosen as the 2024 Final Four MVP. Sloukas led Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens to an 80-95 come-from-behind victory over previous champion Real Madrid in the championship game at Uber Arena in Berlin on Sunday night.

Sloukas did not miss from the field in setting a Final Four career-high with 24 points. He was 4 for 4 from behind the arc and made 8 of 9 free throws. Sloukas added 2 rebounds and 3 assists in racking up a PIR of 31, which was the highest of any player in any Final Four game this season.

Kostas Sloukas | FINAL FOUR MVP | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

This marks the fourth EuroLeague crown for Sloukas. He is only the second player to ever do so with three different teams. He previously lifted the trophy with Olympiacos Piraeus (2012, 2013) and Fenerbahce Istanbul (2017). Sarunas Jasikevicius is the only other player to win the EuroLeague with three different teams: FC Barcelona (2003), Maccabi Tel Aviv (2004, 2005) and Panathinaikos (2009). Sloukas is the 17th player ever to win at least four EuroLeague titles.

With his monster game on Sunday, Sloukas moved into fourth place on the all-time Final Four scoring charts with 191 points and into second place in PIR with 203.

He was chosen by the accredited media at the Final Four in Berlin

Kostas Sloukas is the Final Four MVP

### Ergin Ataman, Panathinaikos head coach

"It’s amazing. We have about 15,000 people here. We deserved it. All season we had a great season. Tonight we go down 15 points, but we came back. It’s amazing. I am very happy, I am very proud. I lost my father one month ago. I am sure that his heart … he was with me for all the championships with Anadolu Efes. Now one more time, thank you all Greek supporters. Thank you all Turkish people who give support to me."

### Kostas Sloukas, Panathinaikos player

"Amazing feeling, amazing feeling. I cannot describe my feelings. I am so happy, I am so proud for my team for our whole organization of Panathinaikos. We had an incredible game. Real Madrid has incredible talent. But we stayed there, we were solid. I am so happy, I am so happy for everybody, I am happy for coach, for Mr. Giannakopoulos and for my teammates.

"I always said I have to be aggressive offensively and defensively In the semi-final I wasn’t good because I was out for 10 days and I was trying to find my rhythm. But today I was feeling good. Listen to the crowd. I am so happy."

### Kendrick Nunn, Panathinaikos player

"This is unbelievable. It is my first year in the Europe, this is the first year about 10 of us played together, new coach. Top to bottom it's been new. So we were stacking days, encouraging each other, giving each other confidence. And this is what happens when you buy in and believe.

"I am in awe. But the past two nights I've been taking my game-day naps, and I've been feeling myself tear up a little bit, feeling this feeling, I promise you. So from my naps, I was expecting this."

### Marius Grigonis, Panathinaikos player

"The key is defense. Both in semis and tonight we played great defense and physicial. We won in an incredible way. Being here, as a champion, is incredible. I am sure we will not sleep and we will drink a lot."

### Juancho Hernangomez, Panathinaikos player

"Great games this weekend. Defensive effort and playing like a team. Berlin is amazing, I will buy a big home here. I will live here for the rest of my life, I love Berlin! Winning here is amazing, two titles, two big titles, European championship and a EuroLeague. I always trust myself and my team. Our defense was better in the second half. They started really well but we knew we had to stick to our defense. Coach said we were doing just fine in the break. That we had to stick to the plan."

### Luca Vildoza, Panathinaikos player

"We changed our minds after the first half. At the break we talked about the defense we wanted to play, which was not the one we showed in the first half. At the end we controlled the game and they missed some shots they normally make. We have really good players. Our main man was Jerian, he played great defense and scored when necessary. I am really proud of the team we have. Being able to help the team in the Final Four is amazing and I am proud to belong to this Panathinaikos team."

Panathinaikos reactions after winning the title

The Olympiacos BC fans who remained in Berlin, Germany, for the third-place game were able to see their team come away with a win on Sunday, as Georgios Bartzokas’s men beat Fenerbahçe Beko Istanbul 87-84.

Olympiacos left the Final Four on a high

The Olympiacos Piraeus fans who remained in Berlin, Germany, for the third-place game were able to see their team come away with a win on Sunday, as [Georgios Bartzokas’s men beat Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul 87-84](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/third-place-game-olympiacos-vs-fenerbahce/).

Both Olympiacos and Fenerbahce were left disappointed after losing in Friday’s semifinals to Real Madrid and Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, respectively, but the two teams still put on a show for the fans inside Uber Arena.

Curiously, it felt more like a road game for Olympiacos as there was a green-heavy presence in the stands, with Panathinaikos’s supporters more than happy to whistle the Reds’ players at every opportunity.

Game Videos

### Playing for pride

Nevertheless, the Olympiacos players knew that they had to put on a show for the club’s supporters who had remained in Berlin.

“It’s a blessing to be here in the Final Four,” Olympiacos guard [Nigel Williams-Goss](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nigel-williams-goss/007982/) said in the mixed zone after the game. “We just needed to use the opportunity and the stage and not take it for granted. The fans have been with us all season long, so it’s only right to put up a fight. Win or lose, we were here to fight. I’m glad we were able to leave here with a win.”

All-action forward [Shaq McKissic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/shaquielle-mckissic/007853/) thought it was an enjoyable spectacle for those in attendance inside Uber Arena, too: “That was a fun third-place game.”

Olympiacos did not achieve what it wanted in the EuroLeague this year, but there’s no doubt that the Reds will be there or thereabouts once again next season.

Giannoulis Larentzakis of Olympiacos Piraeus looks to get away from Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul's Dyshawn Pierre in the 2024 third-place game.

The Reds managed to defeat Fenerbahce in the third-place game

Olympiacos Piraeus v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2024-05-26T15:00:00.000Z)

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Olympiacos defeats Fenerbahce 87-84 in the third-place game

The Greens dominated the second half against Real Madrid for a 80-95 victory in Berlin

Panathinaikos is the 2024 EuroLeague champion!

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Panathinaikos is the 2023-24 EuroLeague champion!

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Live Blog: Bill Murray is back for more!

It's do-or-die time! The Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Championship Game between Real Madrid and Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens starts at 20:00 CEST, and the best way to get ready for the big showdown is to tune into the YouTube Pregame Show Live.

The YouTube Pregame Show Live returns – twice! 

It's do-or-die time! The Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Championship Game between Real Madrid and Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens starts at 20:00 CEST, and the best way to get ready for the big showdown is to tune into the [YouTube Pregame Show Live](https://www.youtube.com/live/IfTB1DKYMmc).

The [YouTube Pregame Show Live](https://www.youtube.com/live/IfTB1DKYMmc) starts at 18:45 CET. It is hosted by Deniz Aksoy and features guest stars Dimitris Itoudis, the two-time former champion head coach, Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz forward Chima Moneke, and global basketball influencer Leigh Ellis. Sideline reporter Dane Arlauckas will be interviewing the most famous basketball celebrities from the VIP room. 

Once the championship game is over, the show resumes with a quick analysis of the final. Dane Arlauckas will be on the floor to talk to the winners seconds after the buzzer, sharing the joy of winning the EuroLeague with thousands of viewers. More surprises are expected after the game! 

There will be basketball analysis and numbers, but also a lot of jokes, fan interaction and unexpected surprises. On Friday, six-time NBA champion Scottie Pippen showed up at the set. Will he come back for the Championship Game?

Don't miss the [YouTube Pregame Show Live](https://www.youtube.com/live/IfTB1DKYMmc), starting at 18:45 CET! 