What happened?
BC Žalgiris Kaunas regained a 55% stake when former EuroLeague CEO Paulius Motiejunas exercised a clause to buy back his shares and re‑entered the club’s ownership. The announcement came on June 12, 2024, and the club stressed that daily operations will stay the same.
Why does it matter for BC Žalgiris Kaunas?
Motiejunas left his EuroLeague post in 2022 to avoid a conflict of interest, temporarily transferring his 55% share to club president Paulius Jankunas. Now, after exiting EuroLeague, he used the buy‑back clause and became the majority owner again. In the LKL context this provides stable capital and the ability to fund player deals.
How will management change?
Even though the share structure shifted, sport operations remain under Paulius Jankunas and sports director Gediminas Navickas. Jankunas stays club president, Navickas handles roster moves and tactical decisions. Motiejunas will stay as director of Zalgiris Group, influencing the broader organization but not the day‑to‑day basketball side.
What’s next?
With 55% control, Motiejunas can more easily coordinate investments in new talent and facilities, potentially strengthening the roster ahead of upcoming LKL games and EuroCup qualifiers. Tesonet retains a 45% stake, keeping the partnership important financially and technologically.
All these changes occur without affecting the team’s lineup – BC Žalgiris Kaunas continues to rely on proven players like Marius Grigonis and emerging academy prospects. Market analysts note that a stable ownership structure often translates into better performance both domestically and in Europe.