Lukas Lekavičius
{{short description|Lithuanian basketball player}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Lukas Lekavičius
| image = Lukas Lekavičius 4 BC Žalgiris EuroLeague 20250117 (2).jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Lekavičius with Žalgiris Kaunas in 2025
| position = Point guard
| height_cm = 181
| weight_kg = 78
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|3|30}}
| birth_place = Šilalė, Lithuania
| league = LKL
EuroLeague
| team = Žalgiris Kaunas
| number = 4
| draft_year = 2016
| career_start = 2012
| career_end =
| years1 = 2012–2017
| team1 = Žalgiris Kaunas
| years2 = 2012–2014
| team2 = →Žalgiris-2 Kaunas
| years3 = 2017–2019
| team3 = Panathinaikos
| years4 = 2019–present
| team4 = Žalgiris Kaunas
| highlights =
- 2× Greek Basket League champion (2018, 2019)
- Greek Basketball Cup winner (2019)
- 5× LKL champion (2015–2017, 2020, 2021, 2023)
- 2× All-LKL Team (2017, 2022)
- 7× King Mindaugas Cup winner (2017, 2020–2025)
- LKL Best Young Player (2015)
- LKF Cup winner (2015)
- LKL All-Star (2015)
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's basketball}}
{{MedalCountry|{{bk|LTU}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|EuroBasket}}
{{MedalSilver|2015 France|}}
{{MedalCompetition|FIBA World U-19 Cup}}
{{MedalBronze|2013 Czech Republic|Under-19}}
{{MedalCompetition|FIBA European U-18 Championship}}
{{MedalSilver|2012 Vilnius/Liepaja|Under-18}}
{{MedalCompetition|FIBA European U-16 Championship}}
{{MedalSilver|2010 Montenegro|Under-16}}
}}
Lukas Lekavičius (born March 30, 1994) is a Lithuanian professional basketball player for Žalgiris Kaunas of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL) and the EuroLeague. Standing at {{height|m=1.80}}, he plays the point guard position. He was named to the LKL All-Tournament Team in 2017.{{cite web|title=Paskelbtas simbolinis geriausių LKL žaidėjų penketas|url=https://www.basketnews.lt/news-110545-paskelbtas-simbolinis-geriausiu-lkl-zaideju-penketas.html|website=BasketNews.lt|accessdate=13 June 2017|language=lt}}
Professional career
After spending his whole career in the Žalgiris Kaunas system, helping Žalgiris dominate the LKL scene, Lekavičius joined Panathinaikos, on a two-year contract, in 2017.{{cite web|title=Netikėta žinia: Lukas Lekavičius keliasi į "Panathinaikos"|url=https://www.basketnews.lt/news-110968-netiketa-zinia-lukas-lekavicius-keliasi-i-panathinaikos.html|website=BasketNews.lt|accessdate=28 June 2017|language=lt}} He was personally chosen by the Panathinaikos head coach, Xavi Pascual, who had previously observed Lekavičius playing for a couple of years.{{cite web|title="Panathinaikos" kabliukas Lekavičiui – šešiskart didesnis atlyginimas ir trenerio vilionės|url=https://www.basketnews.lt/news-110979-panathinaikos-kabliukas-lekaviciui-sesiskart-didesnis-atlyginimas-ir-trenerio-viliones.html|website=BasketNews.lt|accessdate=29 June 2017|language=lt}} Lekavičius chose the number 19 for his Panathinaikos jersey, which was previously used in the same club by Lithuanian players Robertas Javtokas, Ramūnas Šiškauskas, Jonas Mačiulis and Lekavičius' former coach Šarūnas Jasikevičius.{{cite web|title=Lietuviškos tradicijos: Lekavičius Atėnuose pasirinko Šaro numerį|url=https://www.basketnews.lt/news-113277-lietuviskos-tradicijos-lekavicius-atenuose-pasirinko-saro-numeri.html|website=BasketNews.lt|accessdate=16 September 2017|language=lt}}
After spending two years in Greece, Lekavičius returned to Lithuania and signed with Žalgiris on a two-year (1+1) deal on 17 June 2019.{{Cite news|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/lukas-lekavicius-returns-to-zalgiris-kaunas/|title=Lukas Lekavicius returns to Zalgiris Kaunas|last=|first=|date=June 17, 2019|website=|newspaper=Sportando|access-date=25 June 2019}} He averaged 10.5 points and 2.8 assists per game. He re-signed with the club on 8 July 2020.{{cite news |title=Marius Grigonis and Lukas Lekavicius to stay at Zalgiris Kaunas |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/marius-grigonis-and-lukas-lekavicius-to-stay-at-zalgiris-kaunas/ |website=Sportando |accessdate=July 8, 2020 |date=July 8, 2020}}
National team career
Lekavičius had notable performances with the Lithuania youth national teams, winning two European silver medals, and the world bronze medal in 2013. In 2015, Lekavičius was included into the senior Lithuania men's national basketball team candidates list, by the team's head coach, Jonas Kazlauskas.{{cite web|title=Paviešintas Lietuvos rinktinės kandidatų sąrašas|url=http://www.delfi.lt/sportas/krepsinis/paviesintas-lietuvos-rinktines-kandidatu-sarasas.d?id=67883256|website=Delfi.lt|language=LT|accessdate=5 May 2015}} He was also invited to the team's training camp, and he then made it onto the main national team that competed at the EuroBasket 2015, where he won a silver medal.{{cite web|title=Dvejonės baigėsi – Jonas Kazlauskas paskelbė galutinį rinktinės dvyliktuką|url=http://www.15min.lt/24sek/naujiena/lietuva/dvejones-baigesi-jonas-kazlauskas-paskelbe-galutini-rinktines-dvyliktuka-875-524785|website=24sek.lt|language=LT|accessdate=1 September 2015}} In 2017, just before the start of the EuroBasket 2017 championship, Lekavičius suffered a foot injury that ultimately sidelined him for two months, and was replaced in the final 12-man squad by Adas Juškevičius.{{cite web|url=http://www.fiba.basketball/eurobasket/2017/news/lithuania-s-blowout-against-iceland-turns-sour-adas-juskevicius-to-step-in-for-injured-lekavicius|title=Lithuania's blowout against Iceland turns sour; Juskevicius to step in for injured Lekavicius - FIBA EuroBasket 2017 - FIBA.basketball|website=FIBA.basketball|date=24 August 2017|accessdate=15 September 2019}}
In 2019, Lekavičius represented Lithuania in the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Despite the team falling short of its goals, he was a crucial asset, providing scoring off the bench as the backup point guard. In five games played, he averaged 13.0 points, with 65% overall shooting, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steals and 13.4 point efficiency rating in just 17.7 minutes of playing time.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fiba.basketball/basketballworldcup/2019/player/Lukas-Lekavicius|title=Lukas LEKAVICIUS (LTU)'s profile - FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 - FIBA.basketball|website=FIBA.basketball|accessdate=15 September 2019}}
Personal life
Lekavičius' has a couple of nicknames. His first nickname, Lightning McQueen (Žaibas Makvynas), was given to him by the Lithuanian TV broadcast commentator, and Lithuania national team staff representative, Linas Kunigėlis.{{cite web|title=Kas greitesnis: Lukas Lekavičius ar Žaibas Makvynas? Reikėtų padaryti lenktynes!|url=http://www.tv3.lt/naujiena/843647/kas-greitesnis-lukas-lekavicius-ar-zaibas-makvynas-reiketu-padaryti-lenktynes|website=TV3.lt|language=LT|accessdate=1 September 2015}} His second nickname, Lithuanian Isaiah Thomas, was given to him by the Lithuanian sports media, because of his similarities to Isaiah Thomas' (Thomas' height is 5'9", and Lekavičius' height is 5'10". They are both left-handed, and at one time, both of their club team's main colors were green and white).
Career statistics
{{Euroleague player statistics legend}}
=EuroLeague=
{{Euroleague player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2014–15
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="3"| Žalgiris
| 24 || 7 || 19.0 || .417 || .333 || .778 || 1.8 || 2.7 || .4 || .0 || 5.5 || 5.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2015–16
| 21 || 3 || 14.3 || .418 || .516 || .737 || 1.1 || 1.3 || .9 || {{sort|-|—}} || 4.6 || 3.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2016–17
| 30 || 0 || 18.1 || .448 || .338 || .759 || 1.9 || 3.5 || .6 || .0 || 8.5 || 8.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| Panathinaikos
| 31 || 3 || 12.7 || .473 || .486 || .895 || 1.0 || 1.5 || .2 || {{sort|-|—}} || 3.9 || 4.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19
| 33 || 0 || 10.8 || .423 || .405 || .786 || .8 || 1.3 || .3 || .0 || 4.0 || 3.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20
| style="text-align:left;"rowspan="5"| Žalgiris
| 27 || 3 || 19.9 || .535 || .392 || .862 || 1.3 || 2.8 || .5 || .0 || 10.5 || 10.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21
| 33 || 0 || 18.3 || .550 || .500 || .864 || 1.2 || 2.4 || .5 || {{sort|-|—}} || 8.2 || 8.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22
| 32 || 5 || 23.7 || .439 || .431 || .878 || 1.3 || 4.2 || .7 || {{sort|-|—}} || 10.2 || 10.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23
| 32 || 4 || 15.9 || .469 || .388 || .918 || 1.1 || 1.5 || .3 || .1 || 6.9 || 6.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24
| 30 || 1 || 12.1 || .372 || .396 || .857 || .8 || 1.6 || .3 || {{sort|-|—}} || 4.9 || 3.7
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center"; colspan="2"| Career
| 293 || 26 || 16.5 || .461 || .396 || .843 || 1.2 || 2.3 || .5 || .0 || 6.8 || 6.6
{{S-end}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://basketball.eurobasket.com/player/Lukas_Lekavicius/202044 Lukas Lekavičius] at eurobasket.com
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20200710055926/https://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?pcode=003210#!careerstats Lukas Lekavičius] at euroleague.net (archive)
- [https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/lukas-lekavicius/003210/ Lukas Lekavičius] at euroleaguebasketball.net
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20181227084714/https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/p/q/Lukas%20LEKAVICIUS/pid/85773/_//players.html Lukas Lekavicius] at fiba.com
- [https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Lukas-Lekavicius/Summary/26546 Lukas Lekavičius] at realgm.com
{{BC Žalgiris current roster}}
{{Lithuania Squad EuroBasket 2015}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lekavicius, Lukas}}
Category:21st-century Lithuanian sportsmen
Category:2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup players
Category:BC Žalgiris-2 players
Category:Lithuanian expatriate basketball people in Greece
Category:Lithuanian men's basketball players