Paulius Jankunas
Encyclopedia
Paulius Jankūnas is a Lithuania
n professional basketball player in the Euroleague
, the Lithuanian basketball league and VTB United League
with Žalgiris Kaunas. He is also a member of the Lithuanian national team
. He plays either forward position.
and led them to a LKAL (Lithuanian League 2nd Division) title in 2003 and was named the MVP after averaging 20.0 points, 12.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.
He competed at the Reebok Eurocamp in Treviso
in 2003.
in the 2003-04 season. When asked about playing with European basketball legend Arvydas Sabonis
in his rookie season, Jankūnas responded: "No doubt it was the most remarkable season. It was fantastic to play with Arvydas Sabonis. I was very young and it was very exciting. In the beginning, I was little bit afraid and uncomfortable, but later things got easy and I learned a lot from him. When I was a kid, I used to watch him playing on TV and never dared to dream that I would be playing with Arvydas Sabonis. One day I woke up and Sabonis was my teammate. It was great. He had huge experience and gave a lot of advice to me. It was big honor to play with him and I hope I learned something from Sabonis."
He was originally an early entry candidate for the 2005 NBA Draft
before withdrawing his name from consideration.
Jankūnas helped Žalgiris
win two Baltic League titles in 2005 and 2008, four Lithuanian League titles in 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008 and two Lithuanian Cups in 2007 and 2008.
He averaged 13.8 points and 8.0 rebounds in the 2008-09 Euroleague
season and scored a season-high 23 points in a win against the Asseco Prokom Sopot on December 18, 2008. However, the Žalgiris
finished with a 2-8 record and did not qualify to the Top 16.
Jankūnas was named the 2009 Baltic League MVP after averaging 15.4 points and 7.7 rebounds.
On August 14th, 2009 he signed 2 year contract with BC Khimki.
On July 24th, 2010 it was announced that Jankūnas is coming back to Žalgiris Kaunas.
where the Lithuanians won silver medals.
Jankūnas led the 2004 European U-20 Championship in rebounding (12.3 rpg) in addition to posting 12.5 points per game. He led Lithuania to a 2005 World U-21 Championship title. He averaged 12.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
Jankūnas was a member of the Lithuania national team
that won fifth place in the 2005 European Championship
. He averaged 8.2 points and 4.0 rebounds.
He also helped the Lithuanians win a bronze medal at the 2007 European Championship
and another Bronze
medal at the 2010 FIBA World Championship
.
, Jankūnas is a master in rebounding and scoring. He prefers inside scoring and often provokes fouls from opposing team's players.
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...
n professional basketball player in the 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...
, the Lithuanian basketball league and VTB United League
VTB United League
VTB United League is an international professional basketball league that was founded in 2008. Its goal is to unite the leading basketball clubs of Eastern Europe and Northern Europe together into one league. The league is sponsored by VTB Bank. In its inaugural 2009–10 season, it featured clubs...
with Žalgiris Kaunas. He is also a member of the Lithuanian national team
Lithuania national basketball team
The Lithuanian national basketball team is the representative for Lithuania in international men's basketball. Lithuania won bronze medals in three out of five Olympic tournaments it participated in....
. He plays either forward position.
Early years
Jankūnas played two seasons with the LKKA-ŽalgirisŽalgiris-Arvydas Sabonis school
Žalgiris-Arvydas Sabonis school is the second team of the basketball club Žalgiris Kaunas. The team plays in the NKL. School president and owner is legendary Lithuania basketball player Arvydas Sabonis.-Titles:*Junior Euroleague Champion: 2003, 2007...
and led them to a LKAL (Lithuanian League 2nd Division) title in 2003 and was named the MVP after averaging 20.0 points, 12.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.
He competed at the Reebok Eurocamp in Treviso
Treviso
Treviso is a city and comune in Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Treviso and the municipality has 82,854 inhabitants : some 3,000 live within the Venetian walls or in the historical and monumental center, some 80,000 live in the urban center proper, while the city...
in 2003.
Pro career
Jankūnas made his pro debut with the ŽalgirisŽalgiris
Žalgiris is a translation of the German word Grunwald and can refer to:* Battle of Žalgiris, Lithuanian name for the Battle of Grunwald, a decisive battle in 1410* BC Žalgiris, a basketball team from Kaunas, Lithuania...
in the 2003-04 season. When asked about playing with European basketball legend Arvydas Sabonis
Arvydas Sabonis
Arvydas Romas Sabonis is a retired Lithuanian professional basketball player and a businessman. He was an eight-time European Player of the Year, winning the Euroscar Award six times, and the Mr...
in his rookie season, Jankūnas responded: "No doubt it was the most remarkable season. It was fantastic to play with Arvydas Sabonis. I was very young and it was very exciting. In the beginning, I was little bit afraid and uncomfortable, but later things got easy and I learned a lot from him. When I was a kid, I used to watch him playing on TV and never dared to dream that I would be playing with Arvydas Sabonis. One day I woke up and Sabonis was my teammate. It was great. He had huge experience and gave a lot of advice to me. It was big honor to play with him and I hope I learned something from Sabonis."
He was originally an early entry candidate for the 2005 NBA Draft
2005 NBA Draft
The 2005 NBA Draft took place on June 28, 2005 in the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City. In this draft, NBA teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players from high schools and non-North American leagues...
before withdrawing his name from consideration.
Jankūnas helped Žalgiris
Žalgiris
Žalgiris is a translation of the German word Grunwald and can refer to:* Battle of Žalgiris, Lithuanian name for the Battle of Grunwald, a decisive battle in 1410* BC Žalgiris, a basketball team from Kaunas, Lithuania...
win two Baltic League titles in 2005 and 2008, four Lithuanian League titles in 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008 and two Lithuanian Cups in 2007 and 2008.
He averaged 13.8 points and 8.0 rebounds in the 2008-09 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...
season and scored a season-high 23 points in a win against the Asseco Prokom Sopot on December 18, 2008. However, the Žalgiris
Žalgiris
Žalgiris is a translation of the German word Grunwald and can refer to:* Battle of Žalgiris, Lithuanian name for the Battle of Grunwald, a decisive battle in 1410* BC Žalgiris, a basketball team from Kaunas, Lithuania...
finished with a 2-8 record and did not qualify to the Top 16.
Jankūnas was named the 2009 Baltic League MVP after averaging 15.4 points and 7.7 rebounds.
On August 14th, 2009 he signed 2 year contract with BC Khimki.
On July 24th, 2010 it was announced that Jankūnas is coming back to Žalgiris Kaunas.
Lithuanian national team
Jankūnas played at the 2003 World U-19 ChampionshipFIBA Under-19 World Championship
The FIBA Under-19 World Championship is a men's under-19 only basketball competition organized by FIBA. From its inauguration in 1979 until 2007 it was held every four years...
where the Lithuanians won silver medals.
Jankūnas led the 2004 European U-20 Championship in rebounding (12.3 rpg) in addition to posting 12.5 points per game. He led Lithuania to a 2005 World U-21 Championship title. He averaged 12.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
Jankūnas was a member of the Lithuania national team
Lithuania national basketball team
The Lithuanian national basketball team is the representative for Lithuania in international men's basketball. Lithuania won bronze medals in three out of five Olympic tournaments it participated in....
that won fifth place in the 2005 European Championship
Eurobasket 2005
The EuroBasket 2005 was held in Serbia and Montenegro between 16 September and 25 September 2005. Greece won the gold medal by defeating Germany, while France won the bronze medal over Spain...
. He averaged 8.2 points and 4.0 rebounds.
He also helped the Lithuanians win a bronze medal at the 2007 European Championship
Eurobasket 2007
-Group B:-Group C:-Group D:-Second round:- Group E :- Group F :-Championship bracket:- Quarterfinals :-Classification rounds:- Semifinals :- Third place game:- Final :...
and another Bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
medal at the 2010 FIBA World Championship
2010 FIBA World Championship
The 2010 FIBA World Championship, hosted by Turkey, was the international basketball competition contested by the men's national teams. The tournament ran from August 28 to September 12, 2010. It was co-organized by the International Basketball Federation , Turkish Basketball Federation and the...
.
Player profile
A young and athletic 6 ft. 9 in. power forwardPower 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...
, Jankūnas is a master in rebounding and scoring. He prefers inside scoring and often provokes fouls from opposing team's players.