2025–26 LKL season

Betsson-LKL
Season2025–26
Duration20 September 2025 – 17 May 2026
(Regular season)
Games played92
Teams9
Statistical leaders
Points Jerrick Harding 19.1
Rebounds Artūras Gudaitis 8.2
Assists Arnas Velička 7.1
Index Rating Arnas Velička 21.7
Records
Biggest home winŽalgiris 108–71 Gargždai
(7 December 2025)
Biggest away winJonava Hipocredit 71–105 Rytas
(22 November 2025)
Highest scoringJonava Hipocredit 117–124 Neptūnas
(7 December 2025)
Winning streak17 games
Žalgiris
Losing streak6 games
Jonava Hipocredit
Highest attendance13,538
Žalgiris 79–75 Rytas
(2 November 2025)
Lowest attendance560
Jonava Hipocredit 79–85 Šiauliai
(26 January 2026)

The 2025–26 Lietuvos krepšinio lyga season, also called Betsson–LKL for sponsorship reasons, is the 33rd season of the top-tier level professional basketball league of Lithuania, the Lietuvos krepšinio lyga (LKL). Žalgiris are defending champions.

Teams

9 teams will participate in the 2025–26 season. Two teams dropped out from the league during the summer period - M Basket-Delamode due to financial struggles decided to compete in NKL,[1] while Wolves Twinsbet due to failing to meet club's set ambitions and changes in gambling laws in Lithuania decided to suspend basketball activities altogether.[2] Because of dropouts, the league decided to invite Gargždai, a phoenix club of team which last time competed in the 2023–24 season.[3][4] Despite the changed number of teams, the format remained mostly the same as the last season, with 9 teams facing-off each other 4 times with top 8 teams advancing into Playoffs.[5]

Location of teams in 2025–26 LKL
Team Location Arena Capacity Last season
Gargždai Gargždai Gargždų Arena 1,400 —
Jonava Hipocredit Jonava Jonava Arena 2,200 4th
Juventus Utena Utena Arena 2,000 6th
Lietkabelis Panevėžys Kalnapilio Arena 5,950
Neptūnas Klaipėda Švyturys Arena 6,200 8th
Nevėžis-Paskolų klubas Kėdainiai Kėdainiai Arena 2,200 9th
Rytas Vilnius Twinsbet Arena 10,000
Active Vilnius Arena 2,500
Šiauliai Šiauliai Šiauliai Arena 5,700 7th
Žalgiris Kaunas Žalgiris Arena 15,415

Personnel and kits

Team Head coach Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor (chest)
Gargždai Tomas Rinkevičius Deividas Gailius Hustle Point 7bet
Jonava Hipocredit Steponas Babrauskas Lukas Kreišmontas AGO Dafta, Jonava, Hipocredit, Litas
Juventus Kęstutis Kemzūra Šarūnas Beniušis Hustle Point Umaras, Uniclub Casino, Utenos mėsa
Lietkabelis Nenad Čanak Vytenis Lipkevičius AGO 7bet, Lietkabelis, Norfa
Neptūnas Gediminas Petrauskas Martynas Pacevičius Puma 7bet, Klaipėdos konteinerių terminalas (KKT), Amberton Hotel Group
Nevėžis–Paskolų klubas Laimonas Eglinskas Ignas Vaitkus AGO Autotoja, Optibet, Paskolų klubas
Rytas Giedrius Žibėnas Artūras Gudaitis AGO Olybet, Utenos nealkoholinis
Šiauliai Darius Songaila Vaidas Kariniauskas Valorus Casino admiral
Žalgiris Tomas Masiulis Edgaras Ulanovas Puma Go3, payabl.

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Replaced with Date of appointment
Neptūnas Vidas Ginevičius (interim) End of caretaker spell 26 May 2025 Pre-season Gediminas Petrauskas 3 June 2025[6]
Žalgiris Andrea Trinchieri Parted ways 23 June 2025[7] Tomas Masiulis 28 June 2025[8]
Nevėžis-Paskolų klubas Gediminas Petrauskas End of contract 3 June 2025[9] Laimonas Eglinskas 29 June 2025[10]
Šiauliai Darius Pakamanis (interim) End of caretaker spell 27 May 2025 Darius Songaila 3 July 2025[11]
Gargždai Povilas Šakinis End of contract 25 Apr 2025 Tomas Rinkevičius 18 July 2025[12]
Jonava Hipocredit Mantas Šernius Signed by Žalgiris 28 June 2025[13] Paulius Juodis 29 July 2025[14]
Paulius Juodis Mutual agreement 7 October 2025[15] 9th (0–4) Steponas Babrauskas[note 1] 7 October 2025[15]
21 October 2025[16]

Regular season

League table

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Qualification or relegation
1 Žalgiris (A) 22 21 1 1994 1650 +344 Advance to playoffs
2 Rytas 21 13 8 1921 1769 +152
3 Neptūnas 21 12 9 1944 1893 +51
4 Šiauliai 21 11 10 1810 1867 −57
5 Lietkabelis 21 10 11 1765 1739 +26
6 Gargždai 22 10 12 1809 1894 −85
7 Juventus 21 8 13 1818 1859 −41
8 Nevėžis-Paskolų klubas 21 7 14 1717 1877 −160
9 Jonava Hipocredit 22 4 18 1869 2099 −230
Updated to match(es) played on 22 March 2026. Source: LKL.lt
(A) Advance to a further round


Results

Home \ Away GAR JON JUV LIE NEP NEV RYT SIA ZAL
Gargždai — 103–73 91–74 80–89 87–104 86–79 82–78 85–93 73–89
— 2 May 89–82 12 Apr 81–70 88–81 16 May 22 Apr 63–69
Jonava Hipocredit 75–82 — 82–98 85–96 117–124 86–82 71–105 79–85 78–87
95–90 — 13 May 29 Apr 81–64 18 Apr 84–101 9 May 22 Apr
Juventus 104–78 104–95 — 82–73 90–97 84–90 85–92 86–73 75–91
18 Apr 11 Apr — 80–83 2 May 76–92 82–87 5 May 29 Mar
Lietkabelis 70–79 101–74 89–83 — 84–96 100–76 89–84 80–86 77–81
12 May 91–80 21 Apr — 26 Apr 6 May 3 May 75–77 4 Apr
Neptūnas 102–74 117–113 85–72 97–87 — 113–82 95–87 101–103 71–84
29 Apr 17 May 6 Apr 28 Mar — 11 Apr 10 May 19 Apr 14 May
Nevėžis-Paskolų klubas 94–87 83–85 79–96 77–69 85–92 — 64–82 107–93 68–94
26 Apr 88–85 9 May 81–80 23 Apr — 13 May 28 Mar 67–91
Rytas 99–73 104–72 96–99 73–84 97–93 104–74 — 94–79 81–90
29 Mar 6 May 25 Apr 96–81 100–95 6 Apr — 28 Apr 19 Apr
Šiauliai 83–94 93–78 102–108 87–80 89–85 98–95 100–105 — 71–75
83–73 4 Apr 97–90 16 May 81–90 3 May 12 Apr — 25 Apr
Žalgiris 108–71 104–91 98–68 85–87 112–77 88–73 79–75 93–72 —
5 May 97–90 28 Apr 10 May 87–76 17 May 98–81 94–65 —
Updated to match(es) played on 22 March 2026. Source: LKL.lt
Legend: Blue = home team win; Red = away team win.
Matches with lighter background shading were decided after overtime.

Attendances to arenas

Average attendances

Pos Team Total High Low Average Change
1 Žalgiris 58,284 13,538 783 4,857 −7.3%†
2 Rytas 28,583 9,186 1,796 2,858 −17.7%†
3 Šiauliai 27,484 5,146 1,591 2,498 +10.9%†
4 Neptūnas 19,635 4,449 1,584 2,454 +7.7%†
5 Lietkabelis 19,235 5,181 925 1,923 −3.2%†
6 Juventus 16,047 2,462 943 1,458 +4.6%†
7 Nevėžis-Paskolų klubas 15,419 2,389 1,047 1,401 +21.0%†
8 Gargždai 16,260 1,500 1,021 1,355 n/a1
9 Jonava Hipocredit 10,297 2,200 520 936 −26.8%†
League total 211,244 13,538 520 2,200 −5.1%†

Source: LKL.lt
Notes:
1: Team will make its debut.

Statistics

As of 22 March 2026

Source: LKL.lt

Performance Index Rating

Rank Player Club Games Rating PIR
1. Arnas Velička Neptūnas 20 434 21.7
2. Artūras Gudaitis Rytas 18 358 19.9
3. Jerrick Harding Rytas 16 302 18.9
4. Donatas Tarolis Neptūnas 16 300 18.8
5. Cedric Henderson Šiauliai 18 317 17.6

Points

Rank Player Club Games Points PPG
1. Jerrick Harding Rytas 16 306 19.1
2. Cedric Henderson Šiauliai 18 332 18.4
3. Jamel Morris Lietkabelis 19 316 16.6
4. Hassan Diarra Juventus 11 181 16.5
5. Rihards Lomažs Neptūnas 20 315 15.8

Rebounds

Rank Player Club Games Rebounds RPG
1. Artūras Gudaitis Rytas 18 147 8.2
2. J.D. Muila Nevėžis–Paskolų klubas 21 156 7.4
3. Paulius Danusevičius Lietkabelis 20 133 6.7
4. Lukas Uleckas Juventus 20 128 6.4
5. Oskaras Pleikys Šiauliai 21 129 6.1

Assists

Rank Player Club Games Assists APG
1. Arnas Velička Neptūnas 20 142 7.1
2. Nigel Williams-Goss Žalgiris 11 66 6
3. Sylvain Francisco Žalgiris 16 75 4.7
4. Makai Ashton-Langford Jonava Hipocredit 18 82 4.6
5. Jordan Walker Rytas 16 71 4.4

Individual game highs

Category Player Club Opponent Statistic
PIR Ignas Sargiūnas Rytas Lietkabelis (Mar 22, 2026) 58
Points Ignas Sargiūnas Rytas Lietkabelis (Mar 22, 2026) 43
Rebounds J.D. Muila Nevėžis–Paskolų klubas Jonava Hipocredit (Feb 14, 2026) 14
Assists Arnas Velička Neptūnas Rytas (Jan 31, 2026) 15
Steals Arnas Velička Neptūnas Lietkabelis (Jan 24, 2026) 5
Lesley Varner Jonava Hipocredit Žalgiris (Feb 1, 2026)
Trenton McLaughlin Nevėžis–Paskolų klubas Rytas (Dec 6, 2025)
Blocks Moses Wright Žalgiris Gargždai (Dec 7, 2025) 4
Jacob Wiley Rytas Nevėžis–Paskolų klubas (Sep 21, 2025)

Other statistics

Category Player Club Games Average
Steals Dayvion McKnight Šiauliai 21 1.6
Blocks Jacob Wiley Rytas 17 1.1
Moses Wright Žalgiris 20
Artūras Gudaitis Rytas 18
Gytis Masiulis Rytas 20
Turnovers Arnas Velička Neptūnas 20 3
Fouls drawn Arnas Velička Neptūnas 20 5.9
Minutes Cedric Henderson Šiauliai 18 28:50
Lukas Kreišmontas Jonava Hipocredit 16
FT % Harrison Cleary Neptūnas 21 97.7%
2-Point % Šarūnas Beniušis Juventus 21 76.8%
3-Point % Paulius Danusevičius Lietkabelis 20 53.5%

Club statistics

Category Club Average
PIR Žalgiris 112.9
Points Neptūnas 92.6
Rebounds Žalgiris 38
Assists Žalgiris 23.5
Steals Šiauliai 7.5
Blocks Rytas 4.4
Turnovers Nevėžis–Paskolų klubas 13.8
FT % Rytas 79.2%
2-Point % Žalgiris 61.5%
3-Point % Lietkabelis 38.5%

Awards

All official awards of the 2025–26 LKL season.

MVP of the Month

Month Player Team PIR Source
2025
September–October Artūras Gudaitis Rytas 22 [17]
November Augustine Rubit Lietkabelis 25.3 [18]
December Arnas Velička Neptūnas 26.7 [19]
2026
January Jerrick Harding Rytas 28.3 [20]
February Cedric Henderson Jr. Šiauliai 25 [21]
March
April

LKL clubs in international competitions

Euroleague Basketball competitions
Team Competition Progress Result W–L
Žalgiris EuroLeague Regular season 18–14
Lietkabelis EuroCup Regular season Group B 9th place out of 10 teams 5–13
Neptūnas Regular season Group A 8th place out of 10 teams 7–11
FIBA competitions
Team Competition Progress Result W–L
Rytas Champions League Regular season Group A 1st place out of 4 teams (4–2) 8–4
Round of 16 Group I 1st place out of 4 teams (4–2)
Quarterfinals vs. ERA Nymburk
Juventus Qualifying tournament 3 Quarter–finals Win vs. Karhu Kauhajoki 1–1
Qualifying tournament 3 Semi–finals Loss vs. UCAM Murcia

Notes

  1. ^ Babrauskas was initially named as interim head coach, before being appointed on a permanent basis on 21 October 2025.

References

  1. ^ "Pranešimas: dėl 2025/2026 m. sezono". mbasket.lt (in Lithuanian). 11 July 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  2. ^ ""Wolves" prašo laikino LKL licencijos panaikinimo, Žiemelis atsistatydina iš rėmėjų". lrt.lt (in Lithuanian). 12 June 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  3. ^ "LKL Valdyba suteikė licenciją "Gargždų" komandai". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 10 July 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  4. ^ "Gargždų grįžimą į LKL temdo praeities nuoskaudos: apgailėtina ir juokinga". lrt.lt (in Lithuanian). 17 July 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  5. ^ "Naujame LKL sezone dėl trofėjaus kovos devynios komandos". lrt.lt (in Lithuanian). 12 August 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  6. ^ "Naujasis Klaipėdos "Neptūno" vyriausiasis treneris – Gediminas Petrauskas". bcneptunas.lt (in Lithuanian). 3 June 2025. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  7. ^ "Zalgiris and Andrea Trinchieri part ways". zalgiris.lt. 23 June 2025. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  8. ^ "EuroLeague champion takes Zalgiris helm". zalgiris.lt. 28 June 2025. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  9. ^ "Atsisveikiname su vyr. treneriu Gediminu Petrausku". kknevezis.lt (in Lithuanian). 3 June 2025. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  10. ^ "Kėdainių "Nevėžis" pristato naują vyriausiąjį trenerį – komandą nuo šiol treniruos Laimonas Eglinskas". kknevezis.lt (in Lithuanian). 29 June 2025. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  11. ^ "Darius Songaila – naujasis Šiaulių komandos generolas". bcsiauliai.lt (in Lithuanian). 3 July 2025. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  12. ^ "Gargždų klubas pasirašė sutartį su vyr. treneriu". gargzdaibasketball.lt (in Lithuanian). 18 July 2025. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  13. ^ "Mantas Šernius keliasi į Lietuvos čempionų gretas". bcjonava.lt (in Lithuanian). 28 June 2025. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  14. ^ "Naujajame sezone jonaviečiams vadovaus Paulius Juodis". bcjonava.lt (in Lithuanian). 29 July 2025. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  15. ^ a b "Jonavos klubas padėkojo už darbą Pauliui Juodžiui". bcjonava.lt (in Lithuanian). 7 October 2025. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  16. ^ ""Jonava Hipocredit" trenerių štabą papildė Artūras Milaknis, o Steponui Babrauskui įteiktas ilgalaikis kontraktas". bcjonavahipocredit.lt (in Lithuanian). 21 October 2025. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  17. ^ "Rugsėjo–spalio MVP A. Gudaitis – apie kalbas dėl Eurolygos ir pirmąjį sezono derbį". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 1 November 2025. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  18. ^ "Lapkričio MVP – iki paskutinės sekundės "Lietkabeliui" širdį atidavęs A. Rubitas". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 26 November 2025. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  19. ^ "Įsimintinus 2025-uosius A. Velička vainikavo gruodžio MVP apdovanojimu: "Noriu tęsti progresą"". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 2 January 2026. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  20. ^ "LKL sausio mėnesio MVP – nė sykio nelaimėjęs gynėjas". basketnews.lt (in Lithuanian). 2 February 2026. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  21. ^ "Vasario MVP tapęs C. Hendersonas apie pakilų laikotarpį "Šiauliuose": "Mūsų komanda nekenčia pralaimėti"". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 2 March 2026. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
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