After a three-season break, Mantas Rubstavicius is returning to the main roster of Zalgiris and this time he is ready to fight for minutes and become a player who contributes to the team’s victories.
“It has always been my dream to make it to the main Zalgiris team. I spent three years on the reserve team, so I wanted to open the door to the main team. That dream came true, and now all that’s left is to establish myself in the lineup and help the team achieve its highest goals,” said Rubstavicius.
Rubstavicius joined the Zalgiris organization in 2019, when he moved from Panevezys Lietkabelis to the Zalgiris youth team.
After his third season with Zalgiris’ juniors (2021-2022), Rubstavicius returned to Panevezys Lietkabelis, and after another season in his hometown, he went to the New Zealand Breakers club, which plays in the Australian Basketball League, in 2023-2024.
In the summer of 2024, Rubstavicius signed a long-term contract with Zalgiris and was loaned to Lietkabelis last season.
“My first thought was to join another team where I would get more playing time and be able to improve individually - as a player and as a person,” said the basketball player about how he felt when he left Zalgiris in 2022. “Everything turned out in such a way that I was unable to establish myself in the United States, where I participated in the NBA Draft Combine training sessions. Zalgiris saw me and my improvement in those other teams. Noticing this, they offered me a contract.”
The 198 cm tall shooting guard insists that he is returning to Zalgiris with valuable experience and maturity gained from working with specialists who saw his potential.
“I think I’ve matured the most as a basketball player. After all, I’m 23 now, not 19 or 20. I've had many good coaches, such as Nenad Canak and Modi Maori. They were very good coaches who helped me improve individually, and the physical training coaches helped me prepare my body for a higher level. Those years strengthened me, made me a better basketball player, and I think I'm ready to move up to a higher level,” said the Zalgiris player.
Last season, Rubstavicius averaged 11.9 points in the EuroCup and 13.8 points in the LKL championship. After a difficult start to the season with Nenad Canak’s team, Rubstavicius blossomed during the most important games for Panevezys: he scored 19 points in the semifinal series against Rytas Vilnius and 17.3 points in the bronze medal game against Jonava.
“The start of last season was difficult. Perhaps I put too much pressure on myself. Later, I calmed down, got my head straight, and gained confidence. My coach also had confidence in me, and I felt better and better throughout the season. Now it’s easier to come to the Lithuanian national team camp. Here, you train with the best Lithuanian basketball players. I think that helps me improve. I think I'll be ready for the Zalgiris team,” explained the Panevezys native.
Having found his way back into the main lineup of Zalgiris, Rubstavicius understands that he faces the most serious battle for minutes in his still young professional career.
“I know it will be difficult. I spoke briefly about this with the coach - I will have to prove myself in training if I want to get minutes on the court. That's what I’ll do. I will work really hard, and I think everything will be fine,” shared the player.
