By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Dustin Sleva has signed a contract extension with Zalgiris through the 2027-2028 season.
The deal with the 30-year-old forward was officially announced by the EuroLeague outfit on Saturday.
Per the press release: “Zalgiris Kaunas will continue to rely on Dustin Sleva, who plays an important role in the team’s rotation.
The 30‑year‑old forward’s contract has been renewed until the end of the 2027-2028 season. The agreement includes a clause allowing the player to leave for a significant buyout in the summer of 2027.
In the EuroLeague, Sleva remains one of Zalgiris’ most reliable players, standing out for his energy, versatility, and competitiveness on both ends of the court. This season, across 35 rounds in Europe’s top competition, the forward is averaging 6.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 6.3 efficiency rating per game.
“At the beginning of the season, I was just trying to survive in the EuroLeague and find my role so I could stay on the court. But once I started feeling the rhythm and enjoying it, I realized that basketball in Kaunas truly is a religion. In basketball terms, Zalgiris means more to me than any other place, so it wasn’t a difficult decision. It’s great to have such a connection with the supporters. It feels like they’re with us even in the locker room, not just during the games. Their support, along with the work of the entire organization, is the highest level I’ve ever seen. I truly feel at home here,” said Sleva after extending his contract.
Zalgiris sports director Gediminas Navickas also shared his thoughts on Sleva staying in Kaunas.
“First of all, we had a contract with Dustin under a ‘1+1’ formula, with a buyout option available this summer, but once he started playing the way he did, we definitely didn’t want to wait or take risks. We saw that he is a player with the right qualities, who has adapted to our club and is fully delivering on the role we envisioned for him before the season. We’re happy to have extended the contract, especially since we were also hearing from the outside that interest in Dustin from other teams was clearly growing,” said Navickas.”