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Ignas Brazdeikis Rumors
Former Magic player Ignas Brazdeikis signed with Lithuanian team Zalgiris Kaunas until the 2025-26 season.
There was nothing at stake at Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday, with both Team USA and Lithuania having already secured two of eight positions in the FIBA World Cup quarterfinals. Steve Kerr’s program had already qualified for the 2024 Olympics. And yet, 12 men with “Lietuva” printed across their chest opened the contest with flames in their eyes and caught fire from distance. Seven players combined to drill the team’s first nine attempts from beyond the arc, not missing until the four-minute mark of the second quarter. Starting center Jonas Valančiūnas bullied American shot-blocker Jaren Jackson Jr. into early foul trouble once again. After closing the first quarter with a 31-12 edge, Lithuania built a lead as large as 21 points in the second frame with a high-flying jam from Ignas Brazdeikis, the former 2019 NBA Draft second-round pick out of Michigan. The Lithuanians dug Team USA into a hole so deep, no matter how valiant the Americans clawed back or how many of Anthony Edwards’ 35 points chipped away at the deficit, they outlasted the tournament favorite 110-104, earning the No. 1 seed out of Group J and a date with Serbia on Tuesday.
Lauri Markkanen’s 32 points (5-10 3-pointers) and 11 rebounds weren’t enough for Finland. He and his teammates tried to come back from down 77 – 67 in the fourth period and approached 82 – 80 with four seconds to play but a pair of free throws by Ignas Brazdeikis secured the hosts’ win.
“We’ll start the training camp with 14 players – (Jonas) Valanciunas will join later, as per NBA rules. We’ll also have three to four players join from the reserve squad. (Ignis) Brazdeikis will be late by a week, and we still don’t know about (Azuolas) Tubelis – and whether he can join as an NBA player on July 28.” After being drawn in Group D with Egypt, Mexico and Montenegro, it could understandably be viewed that the Baltic team has every chance of winning all three First Round games. Should Lithuania progress, they will meet the teams that emerge from a Group C that has USA, Greece, New Zealand and Jordan, in the Second Round. With Valanciunas, one of the top centers in international basketball, Brazdeikis, Rokas Jokubaitis and Mindaugas Kuzminskas core players that are returning, Lithuania has cause for optimism.
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Lithuania have announced a 10-game warmup schedule for the World Cup, so there will be ample opportunity to evaluate players as Maksvytis puts his team together. They will take on Jordan (twice), Ukraine, Georgia, Finland (twice), France (twice), Puerto Rico and Latvia. Lithuania extended roster for FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023: Jonas Valanciunas, Gytis Radzevicius, Rokas Jokubaitis, Tomas Dimsa, Ignas Brazdeikis, Eigirdas Zukauskas, Margiris Normantas, Donatas Motiejunas, Tadas Sedekerskis, Eimantas Bendzius, Donatas Tarolis, Martynas Sajus, Vaidas Kariniauskas, Mindaugas Kuzminskas, Laurynas Birutis.
Ignas Brazdeikis to work out for Raptors
Ignas Brazdeikis will work out for the Toronto Raptors straight after the championship celebration in Lithuania. Fresh off the championship celebration with Zalgiris Kaunas, Ignas Brazdeikis is heading straight to an NBA workout. According to BasketNews sources, Brazdeikis will attend the Toronto Raptors' mini-camp next week.
The four-day mini-camp in Toronto, where players on the Raptors' radar will participate, kicks off on Monday. Brazdeikis' contract with Zalgiris includes a player option and an NBA exit clause. 24-year-old Brazdeikis averaged 11.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in his rookie EuroLeague season, contributing to Zalgiris' sensational playoff run.
The Lithuanian national team defeated Spain in a close-fought battle behind Ignas Brazdeikis and Jonas Valanciunas' effort in a friendly game in Vilnius with a final score of 78-76 (25-17, 14-13, 17-23, 22-23). Lithuania: Jonas Valanciunas 16 (9 REB), Ignas Brazdeikis 16, Rokas Giedraitis 12, Marius Grigonis 11, Domantas Sabonis 7 (6 AST, 5 REB); Spain: Lorenzo Brown 18 (5 AST), Dario Brizuela 12, Juan Hernangomez 8, Sebastian Saiz 7 (5 REB), Jaime Fernandez 7, Xabier Lopez Arostegui 7.
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Lithuania earned the victory, 82-77, visiting Spain in Gran Canaria. Former NBA player and Zalgiris newcomer Ignas Brazdeikis was the top scorer tallying 19 points and also dished out a game-high seven assists. Domantas Sabonis of the Sacramento Kings added 11 points, ten rebounds, and six assists. Fellow NBA star and captain Jonas Valanciunas was clutch down the stretch to end up with ten points and nine rebounds.
Zalgiris Kaunas announced the signing of of Ignas Brazdeikis for next season with an option for a second year Lithuanian powerhouse Zalgiris Kaunas signs Ignas Brazdeikis. 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 to Canada at a young age.
Ignas Brazdeikis to play in Lithuania
Kaunas-born small forward Ignas Brazdeikis is heading to his hometown Zalgiris. Brazdeikis, 23, was an NBA draft pick in 2017, selected 47th overall by the Sacramento Kings. Five years later, his options lead him back across the Atlantic Ocean and to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Attracting the interest of EuroLeague participants, he reached an agreement with the Kaunas outfit, as reported by Rokas Pakenas of Lithuanian outlet 15min.
Ignas Brazdeikis returning to Europe?
A 23-year-old 1.98 m swingman Ignas Brazdeikis might play in Europe next season. According to BasketNews sources, Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz and Zalgiris Kaunas are after the Lithuanian national team newcomer.
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