Former Michigan basketball standout leaves NBA for Lithuania

Ignas Brazdeikis goes dwelling. The previous Michigan basketball standout signed with a professional group in Lithuania, his beginning nation, after three seasons within the NBA.

The group, Zalgiris Kaunas, introduced the signing on Sunday (July 24). Brazdeikis performed his freshman season at Michigan in 2018-19 earlier than going professional. He was drafted within the second spherical and performed for 3 NBA groups, spending final season with the Orlando Magic.

Brazdeikis, 23, was born in Kaunas. Most all of his prolonged household is Lithuanian. His mother and father, searching for higher job alternatives, moved the household to Chicago when he was 3 and to Ontario, Canada, a few years later.

Brazdeikis speaks Lithuanian along with English. The press launch from Zalgiris famous that he “regained his Lithuanian citizenship final 12 months.” He made his Lithuanian nationwide group debut earlier this month, averaging 14.5 factors and three.5 rebounds over two World Cup qualifier video games. That group’s coach, Kazys Maksvytis, additionally coaches Zalgiris.

“Now we have been following Ignas for a number of years now and needed to see him in a Zalgiris jersey,” Zalgiris CEO Paulius Motiejunas stated in an announcement. “Coach Maksvytis has already labored with him, so there aren’t any doubts about his talents anymore.”

Brazdeikis, then-Michigan coach John Beilein’s first one-and-done participant, was the Huge Ten Freshman of the Yr after main Michigan in scoring (14.8 factors per sport). The Wolverines began 17-0 that season, earned a 2 seed within the NCAA Match, and misplaced to Texas Tech within the Candy 16.

Brazdeikis was drafted within the second spherical in 2019, forty seventh total, by the New York Knicks, who traded up for the decide. Over the following two seasons, the 6-foot-7 guard/ahead appeared in 13 video games for the Knicks, splitting time with the franchise’s G League group. He was traded to Philadelphia in March of 2021 however appeared in only one sport earlier than getting minimize.

He completed that season with Orlando and performed in 42 video games for the group final season, averaging 5 factors over 12.8 minutes per sport, along with G League appearances.

His contract was not renewed, main Brazdeikis to return to Lithuania for the 2022-23 season, which begins in October.

It’s a well-liked time for signings within the NBA and abroad. DeVante’ Jones, Michigan’s place to begin guard final season, signed with a French group on Monday, whereas former four-year standout Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman moved from Poland to Italy final week.