By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Zalgiris Kaunas faces a major defensive and tactical setback as forward Arnas Butkevicius is expected to miss at least six weeks due to injury.
The 33-year-old forward suffered a significant foot injury during Friday’s hard-fought victory over Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv at Zalgirio Arena. Following Round 28 of the 2025-26 EuroLeague Regular Season, the Lithuanian powerhouse confirmed the severity of the setback on Sunday. Detailed medical examinations conducted over the weekend revealed a small bone fragment separation in the affected area. This specific type of fracture requires a mandatory healing period of approximately six weeks before Butkevicius can begin a formal rehabilitation program.
The timing of the injury is particularly devastating for the team coached by Tomas Masiulis. Zalgiris is currently locked in a fierce postseason hunt, sitting as one of four teams tied for seventh place with a 16-12 record. Butkevicius has been a cornerstone of the team’s rotation this season, providing elite defensive versatility and remarkable offensive efficiency. Through 24 EuroLeague contests, he has averaged 5.6 points and 2.3 rebounds while posting elite shooting splits, 65% from two-point range, a blistering 52.1% from beyond the arc, and a perfect record from the free-throw line.
Now in his fifth EuroLeague campaign, and his fourth with the Kaunas-based club, the Klaipeda native’s leadership will be missed on the hardwood. As Zalgiris pushes for playoff positioning in an increasingly crowded standings ladder, the team must now find a way to replicate his perimeter accuracy and disciplined defensive presence. Without his contributions, the rotation will be stretched thin during the most critical juncture of the continental campaign.