Who would have thought that Tomas Masijulis, the former assistant to Šarūnas Jasikevičius, would become the new head coach of Žalgiris! Yes, you read that right — the man who spent years in Jasikevičius’s shadow is now taking the helm of the legendary Lithuanian club. He signed a two-year contract with an option to extend for another year, and the social media of the Kaunas club keeps repeating: “He’s back home!” But is this really a homecoming or just the start of a new basketball drama?
Masijulis ended his playing career back in 2013, and during his playing days, he won the EuroLeague with Žalgiris in 1999. After retiring, he moved into coaching, first leading Žalgiris’s second team, then becoming Jasikevičius’s assistant at Žalgiris, Barcelona, and Fenerbahçe. Now, he finally gets the chance to lead one of Europe’s most famous clubs on his own.
But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Masijulis is replacing Andrea Trinkieri, who left the club after just one year, and that after winning the championship title. Will Masijulis manage to keep Žalgiris on top, or will the club face new troubles?
Meanwhile, Montenegrin national team player Marko Simonović is no longer a member of Turkish club Bahçeşehir. After stints with Beşiktaş and Bahçeşehir, Simonović is now a free agent looking for a new team. This season, he averaged 8.3 points and 4 rebounds per game.
These two events show just how dynamic and unpredictable the basketball scene is in the region and Europe. While Žalgiris hopes for a fresh start with Masijulis, players like Simonović are hunting for new opportunities. Who will come out on top? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure — basketball won’t leave us indifferent!
Got thoughts on the new Žalgiris coach or Simonović’s career? Drop a comment! Maybe your prediction will be spot on, or at least a good joke for the next game!
