Donatas Zavackas
Encyclopedia
Donatas Zavackas is a professional basketball player from Klaipėda
, Lithuania
. According to ESPN Zavackas is 6' 8", and weighs 238 pounds. Zavackas had played at the University of Pittsburgh
for 4 years on scholarship before moving on to EuroLeague
. Zavackas played under the number 5 while playing for the Pitt Panthers.
During his successful career at Pitt, Zavackas was known as one of the most intelligent, hardworking team players in the Big East
. Zavackas was a key component in Head Coach Ben Howland
's transformation of the Panthers into a level of league elite status. The season before Zavackas arrived, Pitt finished the Big East season in 11th place with a 5-13 record (14-16 overall). During Zavackas' four years the Panthers captured two regular season Big East Titles, played in three Big East Tournament
(BET) Championship games and captured one BET Championship. Pitt also played in one NIT
and two NCAA Tournaments (advancing to the Sweet 16 round both times) with Zavackas at Power Forward
.
Zavackas scored 1,099 points for the Panthers which currently places him 31st on Pitt's All Time scoring list. His .807 FT percentage is good enough for 5th place in Panther history.
Unfortunately, many Pittsburgh fans only remember Zavackas for removing his shoes and refusing to play in the waning minutes of an NCAA Tournament game. That game, versus Marquette
, would be his last career college game.
After winning third place in the LKL
he moved to the Lietuvos Rytas
basketball club, with which he became LKL champion in 2009. In this club he became known as an extremely emotional player.
On 5 of August, 2010 he signed a one year contract with German
club EnBW Ludwigsburg
.
Titles
Klaipeda
Klaipėda is a city in Lithuania situated at the mouth of the Nemunas River where it flows into the Baltic Sea. It is the third largest city in Lithuania and the capital of Klaipėda County....
, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. According to ESPN Zavackas is 6' 8", and weighs 238 pounds. Zavackas had played at the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
for 4 years on scholarship before moving on to EuroLeague
Euroleague
Euroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
. Zavackas played under the number 5 while playing for the Pitt Panthers.
During his successful career at Pitt, Zavackas was known as one of the most intelligent, hardworking team players in the Big East
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
. Zavackas was a key component in Head Coach Ben Howland
Ben Howland
Ben Howland is an American college head coach of men's basketball.He has been the head coach of the University of California, Los Angeles since 2003, and in 2008 signed an extension of his contract to run through 2015. Aggressive man-to-man defense is the trademark of Ben Howland-coached...
's transformation of the Panthers into a level of league elite status. The season before Zavackas arrived, Pitt finished the Big East season in 11th place with a 5-13 record (14-16 overall). During Zavackas' four years the Panthers captured two regular season Big East Titles, played in three Big East Tournament
Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
The Big East Men's Basketball Tournament is the conference championship tournament in men's basketball for the Big East Conference. The winner receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship. Since 1983, the tournament has been held in Madison Square...
(BET) Championship games and captured one BET Championship. Pitt also played in one NIT
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
and two NCAA Tournaments (advancing to the Sweet 16 round both times) with Zavackas at Power Forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
.
Zavackas scored 1,099 points for the Panthers which currently places him 31st on Pitt's All Time scoring list. His .807 FT percentage is good enough for 5th place in Panther history.
Unfortunately, many Pittsburgh fans only remember Zavackas for removing his shoes and refusing to play in the waning minutes of an NCAA Tournament game. That game, versus Marquette
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
, would be his last career college game.
After winning third place in the LKL
Lietuvos Krepšinio Lyga
The Lietuvos krepšinio lyga is Lithuania's premier professional men's basketball league, composed of 12 teams.- History :...
he moved to the Lietuvos Rytas
BC Lietuvos Rytas
BC Lietuvos rytas is a professional basketball club based in Vilnius, Lithuania playing in the Lithuanian Basketball League , the VTB United League, and the Eurocup...
basketball club, with which he became LKL champion in 2009. In this club he became known as an extremely emotional player.
On 5 of August, 2010 he signed a one year contract with German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
club EnBW Ludwigsburg
EnBW Ludwigsburg
EnBW Ludwigsburg is a basketball club based in Ludwigsburg, Germany that plays in the Basketball Bundesliga. Their home arena is Arena Ludwigsburg starting in 2009, after moving from Rundsporthalle Ludwigsburg.- Season by season :-Roster 2010–2011:...
.
Awards and achievements
Awards- LKLLietuvos Krepšinio LygaThe Lietuvos krepšinio lyga is Lithuania's premier professional men's basketball league, composed of 12 teams.- History :...
MVP: 2007-08
Titles
- LKLLietuvos Krepšinio LygaThe Lietuvos krepšinio lyga is Lithuania's premier professional men's basketball league, composed of 12 teams.- History :...
third place: 2008 - Baltic Basketball LeagueBaltic Basketball LeagueBaltic Basketball League is a Baltic states basketball league founded in 2004.Currently, the league is divided into two: the Elite division and the Challenge Cup division. The 10 strongest Baltic basketball clubs participate in the Elite division. The rest of the teams compete in the Challenge Cup...
Presidents Cup winner: 2008 - LKF cup winner: 2009
- ULEB Eurocup winner 2009