Zalgiris president Paulius Jankunas has provided an update on Keenan Evans’ recovery process after the Lithuanian club decided to bring the American guard back to the organization.
Speaking in a video published on the Zalgiris Insider platform, Paulius Jankunas explained that the club has remained in constant contact with Keenan Evans throughout his rehabilitation and believes the guard is making strong progress ahead of his return to competitive basketball.
“Throughout the entire rehabilitation period, I communicated a lot with Keenan Evans, so we know his situation. We know what stage of rehabilitation he is currently in. As he says himself, this rehabilitation is psychologically easier for him – he has already gone through it before. He is pushing himself forward and is ahead of schedule,” Jankunas said.
💥 ZALGIRIS HERO IS BACK! 💚
— Basketball Sphere (@BSphere_) August 6, 2026
🟢 Keenan Evans is expected to sign with Zalgiris, but spend next season on loan at the London Lions, with a recall option that would allow Zalgiris to bring him back during the season. 🤝
Evans will look to rediscover his form after a series of… pic.twitter.com/m8MqpAUs7W
Zalgiris continues to support Keenan Evans
The update comes shortly after Zalgiris officially announced that Evans has returned to the organization, signing a 1+1 contract before immediately being sent on loan to London Lions.
The Lithuanian club’s decision represents a strong show of faith in a player who became one of the most important figures of Zalgiris’ recent EuroLeague era.
Evans first joined Zalgiris ahead of the 2022/23 season and quickly established himself as one of the most productive guards in European basketball. During his first EuroLeague campaign in Kaunas, he averaged 15.9 points and 17.4 PIR in 17 appearances before suffering a serious Achilles tendon injury in January 2023 against Fenerbahce.
Despite the setback, Evans returned at an elite level the following season. In the 2023/24 EuroLeague campaign, he played all 34 regular-season games, averaging 17.3 points and 18.3 PIR, becoming one of the leading guards in the competition.
However, his season was cut short again after suffering a serious knee injury during the Lithuanian Basketball League playoffs in May 2024.
Keenan Evans begins another comeback chapter
After leaving Zalgiris, Evans signed with Olympiacos and spent the 2024/25 season recovering before making his return to the court in November 2025.
His comeback was unfortunately interrupted almost immediately, as he suffered another Achilles tendon injury during a EuroLeague game against his former team Zalgiris in Piraeus.
Now, after another difficult rehabilitation process, Evans has returned to the Zalgiris organization, with the club prioritizing his long-term recovery and supporting his journey back to the court.
The next stage of his comeback will come with London Lions, where he will continue his rehabilitation and work toward returning to competitive basketball under head coach Tautvydas Sabonis.
