Player Spotlight: Sarunas Jasikevicius - Main page - Welcome to EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL

May 21, 2013

Player Spotlight: Sarunas Jasikevicius

At 36 years old, Sarunas Jasikevicius already has a resume and a highlight reel to rank among the all-time greats, but the player known across Europe by his nickname, “Saras”, is far from finished. Already the only player ever to take the Euroleague title with three different teams, Jasikevicius is now trying to become just the fifth player ever to win five crowns.

After playing college basketball in the United States, the Lithuanian native worked his way up the ladder in Europe. Strong seasons with Lietuvos Rytas in Lithuania and Union Olimpija in Slovenia resulted in a call from Barcelona, whom he helped to claim its first Euroleague title in 2003. At his next stop, Saras helped Maccabi Tel Aviv seal its first back-to-back Euroleague titles – and the only ones won by any team since 1991 – as he was named Final Four MVP in 2005. Soon, Jasikevicius joined Panathinaikos and proved to be a major factor as the Greens won the 2009 Final Four and he lifted his fourth title. In addition to his Euroleague feats, Saras has earned gold and bronze medals from the European championships, an Olympic bronze medal as a member of the Lithuanian national team, plus domestic league and cup crowns in five different countries. Also, in 2008, Jasikevicius was named one of the 50 legends of the first 50 years of European club basketball. A master of the pick-and-roll, wizardly passer and uncanny three-point marksman, Saras is also fearless with the ball in his hands and the game on the line. His ability to win games should never be doubted, especially at the 2012 Final Four.

Euroleague.net