Zalgiris Kaunas has found a new addition to its frontcourt. A 29-year-old 203 cm tall Dustin Sleva will wear the green and white jersey in the new season.
Zalgiris has signed a 1+1 contract with the power forward, who will make his EuroLeague debut.
“We were looking for a player who can extend the court and fit in with our other big men. Dustin is appreciated for his combativeness, understanding of basketball and shooting. He has consistently improved his game in Europe year after year. Players in this position are in high demand on the basketball market, so we are happy that we have managed to reach an agreement and Dustin is coming to Kaunas,” said Gediminas Navickas, the GM of Zalgiris Kaunas.
Sleva just finished the Turkish finals series with Istanbul Beşiktaş on Wednesday. In his first message to Kaunas fans, the American radiated good emotions.
“Joining Zalgiris is a huge opportunity for me. I have heard nothing but good things about the club and the fans. I am ready to give my all and fight for the team in the upcoming season. I believe we can do a lot together!”, said the new Zalgiris player.
Sleva, who is regarded for his ability to extend his offense with three-pointers and his defensive prowess, has made his way to the top level in Europe with a steady career progression.
From 2014-2018, he studied at the Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania, where he competed in the NCAA Division 2.
He started his post-graduate career in France with Paris Basketball, where he played for almost 5 years (2018-2022). Sleva played his first professional season with current Zalgiris player Sylvain Francisco in Paris.
With the French capital’s team, Sleva was promoted to the top division before moving to Germany for his fifth season (2022-2023), where he joined Lowen Braunschweig.
In 2023-2024, he made his debut in the Spanish Basketball League with UCAM Murcia, before joining Istanbul Beşiktaş last summer.
In the EuroCup with the Turkish team, Sleva averaged 10.3 points (40% shooting), 3.5 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 10.9 efficiency points. The American led the tournament in steals average.
In the Turkish Basketball Championship, Sleva and his club made it all the way to the final, where Beşiktaş had to concede to Fenerbahçe Istanbul. The American averaged 11 points (45.3% on three-pointers), 5.8 rebounds and 11.9 efficiency points in the domestic championship.
