BC Neptūnas

Neptūnas Klaipėda
Leagues	LKL Eurocup
Founded	1962
History	Klaipėdos Maistas 1962–1964 Klaipėdos Neptūnas 1964–present
Arena	Švyturio Arena
Capacity	6,000
Location	Klaipėda, Lithuania
Team colors	Blue and White
President	Valentinas Greičiūnas
Team manager	Osvaldas Kurauskas
Head coach	Dainius Adomaitis
Championships	1 Lithuanian Basketball League 1 Lithuanian Basketball League
Retired numbers	2 (7, 11)
Website	bcneptunas.lt
Uniforms
Home Away

BC Neptūnas (Lithuanian: Krepšinio Klubas Neptūnas) is a basketball club from Klaipėda, Lithuania participating in Lithuanian Basketball League and internationally in the Eurocup. It was founded in 1962 under name BC Maistas (English: Food) and in 1964, BC Maistas's name was changed to BC Neptūnas. The club carries the name of the Roman sea god Neptune. Neptūnas participated in the 2014–15 Euroleague season and is only the third Lithuanian club to participate in the premier European basketball league, after Žalgiris and Lietuvos rytas.

History

First steps (1964–1993)

In 1966 Neptūnas won the Žalgiris friendship championship and next year with the same roster became runners-up.

Since 1970 there have been many changes in the team, coaches and players left team and they been changed with new team members, so the team didn't achieved better results. In 1975 Klaipėda's community decided to change team from its foundations which base was people form Klaipėda and Samogitia region, which also finished studies in Vilnius and Kaunas cities. There was young and perspective players, whose energy helped to reach better results in two years period. Which includes 3rd Place in Lithuanian Spartakiada; in 1981 and 1982 they became runners-up of newspaper "Sport" championship, and also in 1983 they became champions of the Soviet Union Professional Union championship.^[1]

Difficult start in the LKL (1993–1998)

BC Neptūnas classic logo

The Lithuanian Basketball Association was founded in 1993, when eight of the strongest Lithuanian basketball clubs' officials met with the representatives of the Šarūnas Marčiulionis basketball fund. Neptūnas was among that eight. This association would soon announce their basketball league that would start in the upcoming fall.^[2]

During the founding 1993–1994 LKL season, Neptūnas finished last, reaching only 4 victories per 36 games, despite the tirelessly efforts shown by Gintautas Bendžius, who averaged almost 20 points per game and was the third best scorer in the whole league.^[3] In the following season Neptūnas slightly improved, reaching 10 victories and suffering 30 defeats, with the help of a 21-year-old native Eurelijus Žukauskas, who quickly started becoming the star of the team and later was even nicknamed the "Lithuanian king of blocks".^[4][5]

In the 1995–1996 LKL season, Neptūnas stepped even further. With Svajūnas Airošius, Aloyzas Vasiliūnas, Artūras Jakubauskas averaging double-digits in points and Eurelijus Žukauskas often adding solid double-doubles, the team qualified into the LKL playoffs for the first time with 17 victories as the 7th seed.^[6] Though, they were eliminated by the Lithuanian powerhouse Žalgiris Kaunas 0–2 there, after failing to guard the Lithuanian star and Olympic champion Rimas Kurtinaitis, who averaged 25.5 points over these games.^[7][8]

Neptūnas continued to show progress in the 1996–1997 season, qualifying into the LKL playoffs again by accomplishing a solid 19-17 record, the first with over 50% victories ratio in the club's LKL history.^[9] Despite losing the first series game versus BC Šiauliai 80–69, on April 4, 1997, Neptūnas achieved their first-ever victory in the LKL playoffs with a dominating fashion 88–60.^[10][11] Yet after the 88–73 Šiauliai' revenge two days later, the series were lost 1–2.^[12] It was the last game for Eurelijus Žukauskas with Neptūnas jersey, who, after averaging 15.7 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.1 blocks, joined Žalgiris and soon became a Euroleague champion and a multiple medalist with the Lithuania men's national basketball team. Another Neptūnas leader Artūras Jakubauskas left the team as well.

Following the loss of two long-term leaders, the team failed to compete in the same shape during the 1997–1998 LKL season. Neptūnas finished in the 8th seed during the regular season with a 6–12 record, but after an unsuccessful second round they finished just 9th among 10 teams.^[13] The only consolation of the season was a notable progress demonstrated by an 18-year-old Arvydas Macijauskas, who would later become one of the primary faces of the Lithuanian basketball.^[14]

Participation in the Korać Cup (1998–2000)

The 1998–1999 season was remarkably different as on October 6, 1998, Neptūnas debuted in the FIBA Korać Cup, their first European tournament during a game versus the Espoon Honka, which they lost 93–73.^[15] Although afterwards, the team, led by Svajūnas Airošius, Arūnas Seferis and Arvydas Macijauskas, finished with a 4–2 record, claimed the second place in the group and advanced into the sixteenth-finals. They were stopped in that stage by Darüşşafaka, losing the series 0–2.^[16] Neptūnas also returned to the LKL playoffs that season after finishing 5th during the regular season. They were eliminated by BC Šiauliai yet again there, this time 1–2.^[17] After the season, Arvydas Macijauskas signed with the Lietuvos rytas Vilnius.

During the 1999–2000 FIBA Korać Cup season, Neptūnas had less fortune than in the previous year. They were drawn into the group H, finished with just 1–5 record, and after taking the 3rd spot in the group did not advanced further.^[18] In LKL, Neptūnas finished 8th and failed to challenge Žalgiris Kaunas in the first round of LKL playoffs, losing the series 0–2 with the average of 30 points difference.^[19]

Tomas Delininkaitis, a two-time medalist with the Lithuania national team, started his career in Neptūnas.

First sparks in the LKL playoffs (2000–2012)

Future team's captain Martynas Mažeika debuted with the Neptūnas jersey in 2000.

After the 1999–2000 season, Neptūnas became a constant LKL playoffs participant, though at first they were unable to climb over the quarter-finals barrier. During the 2000–2001 LKL season, Neptūnas, led by one of the LKL's best scorer and playmaker Vidas Ginevičius (19.59 points, 4.32 assists per game), finished in a desired 3rd seed during the regular season, but was shockingly eliminated 0–2 by the Alita Alytus in the quarter-final.^[20] During the following 2001–2002 LKL season, Neptūnas triumphed just 10 times per 32 games, but that was enough to qualify for the LKL playoffs as the 8th seed, although they were quickly wiped out 0–2 by an uprising Lithuanian powerhouse Lietuvos rytas Vilnius, led by young and hungry Ramūnas Šiškauskas, Robertas Javtokas, Simas Jasaitis, Rimantas Kaukėnas and a former Neptūnas player Arvydas Macijauskas.^[21][22] The 2002–2003 LKL season was only slightly different, this time the Neptūnas squad finished 6th in the regular season, but yet again was smashed 0–2 in the quarter-final by BC Šiauliai, in spite of all the Tomas Delininkaitis efforts.^[23] Next season Neptūnas reached the all-time bottom by winning just 6 times per 36 games and finishing last in the league (10th).^[24]

Antonio Grant, leader of the team during the 2004–2005 season.

The 2004–2005 season was a bit more positive page in the club's history. During it, Neptūnas finished 4th during the regular LKL season and advanced to the TOP 5 teams of the league group, however Neptūnas was once again eliminated by BC Šiauliai in the knockout stage 1–2 and finished 5th in the final rankings.^[25] During the 2005 LKL All-Star Day, Petras Šalvis won the club's third LKL Three-point Shootout title.^[26] The team have also participated in the Baltic Basketball League Elite Division for the first time as well, finishing 5th.^[27] Neptūnas slightly regressed again in the following 2005–2006 season, finishing 6th during the regular LKL season and, as previously, lost the first round of the LKL playoffs to BC Šiauliai 0–2 and finished only 10th in the BBL, with the only consolations being the club's fourth LKL Three-point Shootout title captured by Marius Kasiulevičius and the club's first-ever LKL Slam Dunk Contest champion title by Antonio Grant.^[28][29]

In the 2006–2007 season, Neptūnas finished 3rd during the regular LKL season for the second time in the club's history. Furthermore, they have also finally climbed over the quarter-final stage of the LKL playoffs by overcoming the Nevėžis Kėdainiai 2–0. Although, the Neptūnas' journey was again stopped by Lietuvos rytas at semi-finals 0–2 and Neptūnas qualified to their first historical LKL bronze final. The aspiration for the first-ever LKL medal was crushed by gallingly losing the series 0–3 to BC Šiauliai, with two home games being lost by just three and two points.^[30] In BBL, the team finished 2 stairs lower than in the previous season (12th).^[31]

Before the 2007–2008 season, Neptūnas signed with a 19-year-old Deividas Gailius, who would soon lead Neptūnas during some of the most historical club's moments. However that season the team did not had much luck on the court. They ended up 5th during the regular LKL season and were once more eliminated in the quarter-final, this time by BC Alytus 1–2.^[32] The first series game, which could have made the series completely opposite, was dramatically lost by just three points in Alytus.^[33] Moreover, Neptūnas disappointingly finished only 16th in the BBL Elite Division. This was the club's worst and the last appearance in the elite division of the league.

The first part of the 2008–2009 LKL season finished almost identically when the club finished in the 5th seed, however the playoffs were different drastically.^[34] Neptūnas overcame the LKL quarter-final for the second time in the history, beating Nevėžis 2–1. And after losing the semi-final to Žalgiris 0–2, Neptūnas returned to the bronze final for another try where they yet again faced a long-term rival BC Šiauliai. Despite the militant efforts and the seek for a long awaited revenge, the series were lost 2–3 following another dramatic defeat of 73–80 in Šiauliai, with Valdas Vasylius and Arvydas Eitutavičius scoring more than a half of the team's points (45).^[35]

In the 2009–2010 LKL season, Neptūnas, led by a future team's manager Osvaldas Kurauskas, clinched the 5th spot during the regular season for a third straight year and was eliminated by the Juventus Utena 0–2 in the quarter-final.^[36] The 2010–2011 LKL regular season was done by achieving just one less victory than in the previous season, however this resulted in finishing only 8th and facing off the upcoming champions Žalgiris Kaunas in the first round of the playoffs.^[37] Regardless of being smashed 61–96 in Kaunas during the first series encounter, the team, led by a captain Martynas Mažeika, mightily fought in their home arena, this time losing only 82–88.^[38][39] Nevertheless, with the Švyturys Arena being build in the city, the historical victories and achievements were yet to come.

Historical victories and achievements (2012–present)

2012–13 season: VTB United League debut

"It is sweet. Especially because of the way we achieved it. We were young, talented, ambitious, but undulating team. Prienai ruined our feast in Klaipėda, so now we ruined their feast in Prienai. Prienai kindle the hell at home, but we haven't heard it. We were accumulated for basketball and it did not affect us."

— Kazys Maksvytis, following the club's first triumph in the LKL bronze final.^[40]

The 2012 is a memorable year for Neptūnas as they were invited to VTB United League, despite the fact that they only took 6th place in LKL the previous season.^[41] Club director Osvaldas Kurauskas said that they're not going to be group outsiders and that they will raise club budget for the next season.^[42] Neptūnas debuted in VTB United League on October 7, 2012 against CSKA Moscow. Despite powerful opponent Neptūnas won two quarters by one point (23–22, 14–13), however it wasn't enough to win the game as Neptūnas lost with result 72–83.^[43] After the season in VTB United League, they were last in a group, however they were invited to continue playing in this league for another season. Despite poor results in the VTB League, where they finished with a dismal 3–15 record, Neptūnas recovered in the LKL, thanks to very solid play from leader Deividas Gailius, finishing 3rd and winning the bronze medals for the first time in club history, in a competitive series against BC Prienai, winning 3–2.^[44]

2013–14 season: First time LKL finalists

"Now we are loading our suitcases and are going back to Klaipėda, but not quitly, we are going there with a cup and the raised heads. I think the fans were satisfied with the final series. <...> I hope that the Klaipėda's team will climb higher step by step. <...> I think we can play in the Euroleague."

— Kazys Maksvytis, after losing the club's first LKL final series 2–4.^[45]

The 2013-14 season is not less memorable for Neptūnas. During the regular season, Neptūnas several times defeated LKL champion and constant Euroleague participant Žalgiris Kaunas with results 81–73 at Švyturys Arena^[46] and 79–88 at Žalgiris Arena.^[47] In the regular LKL season Neptūnas took third place and met Šiauliai in the quarter-finals, which they eliminated with series result of 2-1, Neptūnas also won semi-finals against Prienai TonyBet with result 2-0 and qualified to the LKL finals for the first time in the club history.^[48] In the finals Neptūnas met previously defeated Žalgiris. Despite two former victories during the regular season, basketball experts showed wide skepticism in chances of Neptūnas winning any games there.^[49] Nevertheless, the militant Neptūnas showed that they may fight against Žalgiris and won first LKL final series game with result 71–59 in crammed Švyturys Arena,^[50] however then Neptūnas lost three games to Žalgiris and almost lost all the chances of winning the series.^[51][52][53] In spite of that, Neptūnas did not give up and won fifth series game with result 87–86,^[54] however they failed to do that again in sixth series game and after being crushed 90–70, lost the LKL final series with result 4–2.^[55] Despite sufficiently successful LKL season, Neptūnas had tough times in international competitions. In the second-tier European league Eurocup Neptūnas won four games of ten and after taking fifth place of sixth in the group did not qualified into the second stage. Neptūnas also participated in VTB United League, however there, after winning five of eighteen games, Neptūnas did not qualified into the playoffs and took eight place of ten in the group. Following best LKL season in club history, on June 25, 2014 Neptūnas was invited to join prestigious Euroleague as a LKL vice-champion for the 2014-15 season.^[56]

2014–15 season: Euroleague debut

Since 2011 Neptūnas plays in one of the Lithuania's finest arena.

Mustafa Shakur, one of the Neptūnas leaders in 2014–15 season.

Before debut in Euroleague, Neptūnas recalled former team leader Deividas Gailius. Multiple LKL champion Donatas Zavackas and UBL champion Michailas Anisimovas were signed as well. Though Anisimovas left the team shortly afterward without debuting in Euroleague due to the military crisis in Ukraine. On October 15, 2014, Neptūnas played his first Euroleague game against the Laboral Kutxa, which they lost with result 69–88 despite playing more than two quarters point-to-point.^[57] On October 23, 2014, Neptūnas achieved club's first Euroleague victory against KK Crvena zvezda with result 83–81 after the Valdas Vasylius winning shot 3 seconds away from the over-time.^[58] This was first Euroleague's game played in the Neptūnas home-court. On October 31, 2014, Neptūnas lost third Euroleague game only after OT with result 81–85 against one of the strongest tournament team, two times Euroleague champion over past three years Olympiacos Piraeus.^[59] Despite being competitive and tightly holding the chances of qualifying into the TOP16 stage, Neptūnas failed to accomplish this achievement in their debut Euroleague season, totally winning 4 games of 10 and taking the 5th place in the group. It was just one step from the TOP16's qualifier Galatasaray, which also finished with a 4-10 record. As a result, Neptūnas was transferred to Eurocup Last 32 stage. The Eurocup was just a terrible place for Neptūnas. There they won only once against Paris-Levallois Basket, suffered five defeats and took the last place in the group. Promising season in international competitions was finished with a painful accord.

On February 20–22, Neptūnas participated in 2015 LKF Cup. They surprisingly lost quarter-finals game to Šiauliai 71–73 and ended the appearance in competition early.^[60]

Neptūnas recovered in the LKL, playing very solidly, even splitting the season series with Žalgiris. They defeated the Lithuanian powerhouse twice in two weeks: 67–65 in Klaipeda^[61] and 90–86 in Kaunas.^[62] Deividas Gailius led Neptūnas during these two games. Though, they took only the third spot during the regular season due to the unfavorable results versus Lietuvos rytas. Neptūnas defeated Dzūkija with the series result of 3–1, losing only once in Alytus 56–65.^[63] Although, the semi-finals began unsuccessfully for the team versus Lietuvos rytas. Despite holding up close to the opponents the whole game, Neptūnas lost during the final minutes 88–79 in Vilnius.^[64] Though, Neptūnas, led by Deividas Gailius (22 points) and Arnas Butkevičius (20 points), successfully reached revenge in Klaipėda, overcoming Rytas 107–101 after OT.^[65] Semi-final series tied at 1–1. Though, Neptūnas lost another thriller 96–89 two days later in Vilnius and ended up on the edge of the precipice.^[66] Furthermore, primary Neptūnas center Simas Galdikas suffered a painful leg injury, after stepping on Kšyštof Lavrinovič feet.^[67] Despite that, team's coach Kazys Maksvytis said that "we will meet in Vilnius again".^[68] Though, this promise did not came true following the 87–92 lose at home.^[69] Neptūnas lost the semi-final series 3–1 to Lietuvos rytas. And then Neptūnas suffered the biggest fiasco of the season. They shockingly lost to Juventus LKL bronze medals series 2–3, including an embarrassing defeat in the decisive game 69–84 in the home arena.^[70]

Neptūnas had the highest attendance rate in all LKL during this season (3022 spectators per game).^[71]

2015–16 season: Second Eurocup season

Dainius Adomaitis replaced Kazys Maksvytis in 2015.

Following the lost LKL semi-final and the bronze final last season, Neptūnas did not automatically qualified into the Eurocup. Though, on June 29, 2015, they received the wild card to the tournament.^[72] For the first time in history, three Lithuanian basketball clubs were invited to participate in the second-tier European league. Krasta Auto (authorized BMW dealer in Lithuania) became one of the club sponsors, giving brand-new cars for the club members.^[73]

Daniel Ewing, star of the team during the 2015-16 season.

Neptūnas began summer by losing former leader Deividas Gailius, who signed with Lietuvos rytas Vilnius.^[74] Gailius was replaced with one of the last season Juventus leaders Arvydas Šikšnius.^[75] Furthermore, former Juventus head coach Dainius Adomaitis signed a two-year deal with Neptūnas as well. Past Lithuania men's national basketball team head coach Kęstutis Kemzūra, Olympic champion Valdemaras Chomičius, Lithuania national team head coach assistant Darius Maskoliūnas and Gediminas Petrauskas were other solid candidates to replace Kazys Maksvytis.^[76] Neptūnas captain Martynas Mažeika signed a new two-year contract with the club.^[77] It was his 11th season in Neptūnas. Vytautas Šarakauskas and Simas Galdikas stayed in Neptūnas as well, both signing two-years contracts with the club.^[78][79] One of BK Ventspils leaders Jerai Grant became club's first foreigner in the summer of 2015.^[80] University of Rhode Island graduate Gilvydas Biruta, who represented Denver Nuggets during the 2015 NBA Summer League, also joined BC Neptūnas.^[81] Three times Polish league champion and an experienced Euroleague player Daniel Ewing became Neptūnas' main point guard on August 15, 2015.^[82] Neptūnas also signed a multiple NCAA three-pointers records holder Travis Bader to strengthen the shooting guard position.^[83]

On October 14, 2015 the new 2015–16 Eurocup season began with a lose to the powerful Galatasaray S.K. squad 90–94 in Klaipėda.^[84] Second game versus the Hapoel Jerusalem B.C. wasn't successful either, losing it 74–59. Though, afterwards the team began showing a very solid shape. They have won 6 of 7 games, including the noteworthy away games victories versus the BC Nizhny Novgorod 78–82 and Galatasaray S.K. 76–82, both of them being Euroleague TOP16 participants last season. During the last match of the regular season versus the AEK B.C., Neptūnas was even able to guarantee the first place in the group, but after scattering the 16 points advantage in the third quarter, lost it 75–71 and finished second.^[85] Just before the start of the Eurocup's Last 32 stage, Trent Plaisted replaced Simas Galdikas.^[86] Despite a very successful first stage, the Last 32 phase began with a desperate loss to Aris B.C. 84–58 in Thessaloniki.^[87] However, the team then created a feast in Klaipėda, defeating Alba Berlin 73–65.^[88] Following it, Neptūnas suffered two close defeats to the Italian powerhouse EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (79–71 in Milan and 73–74 in Klaipėda).^[89][90] The pleasant 72–68 rematch with Aris B.C. left the Neptūnas hopes for the playoffs alive, though it vanished after losing to Alba 62–76 in Berlin and finishing with a 2–4 record in the second round.^[91][92]

On 19–21 February, Neptūnas competed in the newly formed Karaliaus Mindaugo taurė tournament. The team easily overcome BC Šiauliai 96–58 at the quarter-final, but was powerfully stopped at the semi-final by the upcoming champions Lietuvos rytas Vilnius 97–79.^[93][94] Still, they rehabilitated by winning the club's first Lithuanian Cup bronze medals after crushing Vytautas Prienai-Birštonas 88–51.^[95] Shortly after the competition, Gilvydas Biruta was replaced with Angus Brandt.^[96][97]

In LKL, Neptūnas finished the regular season in a third seed with a 19–17 record. Švyturys Arena had the highest spectators number in LKL for a second straight season, this time with 3474 per game.^[98]

Players

Retired numbers

On May 22, 2014 Neptūnas retired first two numbers.^[99]

Neptūnas Klaipėda retired numbers
No.	Player	Position	Tenure	Ceremony Date
11	Eurelijus Žukauskas	C	1994–1997	5/22/2014
7	Arvydas Macijauskas	SG	1997–1999	5/22/2014

Current roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

BC Neptūnas roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age PG 3 Ewing, Daniel 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 84 kg (185 lb) 33 – 26 March 1983 SF 6 Šikšnius, Arvydas 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 94 kg (207 lb) 28 – 10 October 1987 G 7 Mažeika, Martynas (C) 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 95 kg (209 lb) 31 – 29 January 1985 PG 8 Girdžiūnas, Mindaugas 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) 86 kg (190 lb) 27 – 20 January 1989 C 12 Brandt, Angus 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 112 kg (247 lb) 26 – 28 October 1989 SG 13 Bader, Travis 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 86 kg (190 lb) 24 – 2 July 1991 F/C 15 Šarakauskas, Vytautas 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) 108 kg (238 lb) 34 – 8 February 1982 PG 30 Beliauskas, Laurynas 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 78 kg (172 lb) 19 – 2 March 1997 SG 32 Kubilius, Erikas 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) 75 kg (165 lb) 21 – 11 March 1995 C 44 Plaisted, Trent 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) 111 kg (245 lb) 29 – 20 October 1986 F 41 Zavackas, Donatas 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 109 kg (240 lb) 36 – 23 April 1980 F/C 45 Grant, Jerai 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 102 kg (225 lb) 27 – 10 January 1989 G/F 51 Butkevičius, Arnas 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 92 kg (203 lb) 23 – 22 October 1992	Head coach Dainius Adomaitis Assistant coach(es) Mindaugas Brazys Athletic trainer(s) Benas Kentra Physiotherapist(s) Giedrius Sabaliauskas Team manager Osvaldas Kurauskas Legend (C) Team captain Injured Roster Updated: December 31, 2015

Depth Chart

Pos.	Starter	Bench	Bench	Reserve
C	Jerai Grant	Trent Plaisted	Angus Brandt
PF	Donatas Zavackas	Vytautas Šarakauskas
SF	Arvydas Šikšnius	Arnas Butkevičius
SG	Martynas Mažeika	Travis Bader	Erikas Kubilius
PG	Daniel Ewing	Mindaugas Girdžiūnas	Laurynas Beliauskas

Squad changes for the 2015/16 season

In

No. Position Player 6 SF Arvydas Šikšnius (BC Juventus) 45 C Jerai Grant (BK Ventspils) 49 PF Gilvydas Biruta (Rhode Island Rams) 3 PG Daniel Ewing (Le Mans Sarthe) G Matas Andruškevičius (V.Knašius Basketball School) F Arūnas Mikalauskas (V.Knašius Basketball School) 13 SG Travis Bader (Rio Grande Valley Vipers) 44 C Trent Plaisted (Club La Unión) 12 C Angus Brandt (Sydney Kings)

Out

No. Position Player 13 SF Deividas Gailius (to Lietuvos Rytas) 5 PF Ivan Nelyubov (to Parma Perm Krai) 42 PF Valdas Vasylius (to BC Lietkabelis) 22 PG Mustafa Shakur (to MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg) 49 PF Gilvydas Biruta (to Lavrio B.C.)

Out on loan

No. Position Player 21 C Simas Galdikas (to Steaua București) 14 SG Raidas Nacius (to BC Nafta-Universitetas) 8 SG Matas Andruškevičius (to BC Nafta-Universitetas) 25 SF Arūnas Mikalauskas (to BC Nafta-Universitetas)

Club achievements

Season	League	Pos.	Significant Events	Regional competitions	Pos.	LKF Cup	European competitions
1993–94	LKL	10	–	–	–	–	–	–
1994–95	LKL	10	–	–	–	–	–	–
1995–96	LKL	7	Quarter-finalist	–	–	–	–	–
1996–97	LKL	5	Quarter-finalist	–	–	–	–	–
1997–98	LKL	9	–	–	–	–	–	–
1998–99	LKL	8	Quarter-finalist	–	–	–	3 Korać Cup	R32
1999–00	LKL	8	Quarter-finalist	–	–	–	3 Korać Cup	GS
2000–01	LKL	5	Quarter-finalist	–	–	–	–	–
2001–02	LKL	8	Quarter-finalist	–	–	–	–	–
2002–03	LKL	6	Quarter-finalist	–	–	–	–	–
2003–04	LKL	10	–	–	–	–	4 FIBA Europe Cup	QF
2004–05	LKL	5	Quarter-finalist	BBL Elite Division	5	–	–	–
2005–06	LKL	6	Quarter-finalist	BBL Elite Division	10	–	–	–
2006–07	LKL	4	Semi-finalist	BBL Elite Division	12	–	–	–
2007–08	LKL	5	Quarter-finalist	BBL Elite Division	16	Fourth qualified	–	–
2008–09	LKL	4	Semi-finalist	BBL Challenge Cup	6	Eighth finalist	–	–
2009–10	LKL	5	Quarter-finalist	BBL Challenge Cup	4	Quarter-finalist	–	–
2010–11	LKL	8	Quarter-finalist	BBL Challenge Cup	4	Fourth qualified	–	–
2011–12	LKL	6	Quarter-finalist	BBL Challenge Cup	6	Second round	–	–
2012–13	LKL	3	Bronze medal	VTB League	10	Fifth round	–	–
2013–14	LKL	2	Runner-up	VTB League	8	Fifth round	2 Eurocup	RS
2014–15	LKL	4	Semi-finalist	–	–	Fifth round	1 Euroleague 2 Eurocup	RS R32

LKL playoffs

• 2001–2002 season – 8th (lost quarter-finals against Lietuvos Rytas 0:2)
• 2002–2003 season – 6th (lost quarter-finals against Šiauliai 0:2)
• 2004–2005 season – 5th (lost quarter-finals against Šiauliai 1:2)
• 2006–2007 season – 4th (lost bronze final against Šiauliai 0:3)
• 2008–2009 season – 4th (lost bronze final against Šiauliai 2:3)
• 2009–2010 season – 5th (lost quarter-finals against Juventus 0:2)
• 2010–2011 season – 8th (lost quarter-finals against Žalgiris 0:2)
• 2011–2012 season – 6th (lost quarter-finals against Šiauliai 1:2)
• 2012-2013 season – 3rd (won bronze final against Prienai 3:2)^[100]
• 2013-2014 season - 2nd (lost grand final against Žalgiris 2:4)
• 2014–2015 season – 4th (lost bronze final against Juventus 2:3)

Notable players

To appear in this section a player must be either:

• A player who has played at least 3 seasons (if foreign player) or 5 seasons (if Lithuanian player) for the club.
• A player who has won individual award.
• A Lithuanian player who has played for the Lithuanian national basketball team.
• A foreign international player who had significantly contributed into the results of the club.
• A Lithuanian player who had significantly contributed into the results of the club.

Lithuanians: Tomas Vanagas 1993–2000 Gintautas Bendžius 1993–1996, 1999–2000 Artūras Jakubauskas 1994–1997 Aloyzas Vasiliūnas 1994–1997 Eurelijus Žukauskas 1994–1997 Martynas Purlys 1995–1997 Svajūnas Airošius 1995–2000 Donatas Zavackas 1996–1998, 2003, 2006, 2014-present Alvydas Pazdrazdis 1997–1999 Arvydas Macijauskas 1997–1999 Mindaugas Mockus 1997–2004, 2006–2008 Dainius Miliūnas 1998–2000 Rolandas Urkis 1998–2001 Audrius Mineikis 1999–2005, 2005–2006 Gintautas Vileita 1999–2000, 2005–2006 Petras Šalvis 2000–2005 Vidas Ginevičius 2000–2001 Sigitas Kažukauskas 2000–2002 Vaidotas Pridotkas 2000–2008 Mantas Ruikis 2001–2005, 2010–2012 Tomas Delininkaitis 2001–2002 Osvaldas Kurauskas 2005–2006, 2008–2010 Vitalijus Stanevičius 2005–2008 Vaidotas Pečiukas 2005–2006, 2007–2008 Marius Runkauskas 2007–2008, 2011–2014 Arvydas Eitutavičius 2008–2009, 2013–2014

Lithuanians (cont): Valdas Vasylius 2008–2009, 2010–2011, 2013–2015 Martynas Mažeika 2000–2004, 2008–2009, 2010–present Giedrius Gustas 2012–2013 Martynas Andriuškevičius 2012–2013 Vytautas Šarakauskas 2012–present Deividas Gailius 2012–2013, 2014–2015 Foreigners: Jeff Halloway 2000–2001 Kipp Christianson 2002–2003 Willie Mitchell 2003–2004 Jānis Porziņģis 2003–2004 Antonio Grant 2004–2005, 2010 Sheiku Kabba 2004–2005 Jerome Coleman 2005–2006 Latece Williams 2005–2006 Ron Dorsey 2006–2007 Michailas Anisimovas 2007–2008, 2014 Arinze Onuaku 2011 Rashaun Broadus 2012–2013 Mustafa Shakur 2014–2015 Keith Benson 2014–2015 Daniel Ewing 2015–present Jerai Grant 2015–present Travis Bader 2015–present

Former coaches

Robertas Usaris (1964–1968) Antanas Kašiuba (1968–1974) Saulius Vilkas (1974–1983) Eugenijus Milkontas (1983–1993) Stasys Kaupys (1993–1995)

Grigorijus Pancerovas (1995–1996) Rimas Girskis (1996–1999) Grigorijus Pancerovas (1994–2004) Robertas Kuncaitis (2004–2005) Dean Murray (2005–2006)

Robertas Kuncaitis (2006–2007) Aloyzas Rudys (2007–2008) Rytis Vaišvila (2008–2009) Paulius Juodis (2009–2010) Rytis Vaišvila (2010)

Robertas Kuncaitis (2010–2011) Paulius Juodis (2011–2012) Osvaldas Kurauskas (2012) Kazys Maksvytis (2012–2015) Dainius Adomaitis (2015–present)

Team management

Board president

Eugenijus Gentvilas

Board members

Rimantas Taraškevičius Arnoldas Šileika Antanas Gricius Edmondas Dargis Valentinas Greičiũnas Jonas Dumašius Algimantas Pavilionis

Club director

Osvaldas Kurauskas

Statistical leaders

All time points per game in all tournaments (PPG)

Position	Player	Seasons	Games	Points Total	Points Per Game
1	Martynas Mažeika	10	371	4561	12.29
2	Valdas Vasylius	4	217	2581	11.89
3	Deividas Gailius	4	192	2372	12.35
4	Vaidotas Pridotkas	8	253	2077	8.21
5	Svajūnas Airošius	5	167	1972	9.68
6	Simas Galdikas	5	249	1894	7.6
7	Artūras Jakubauskas	3	112	1830	16.34
8	Audrius Mineikis	7	181	1752	11.80
9	Eurelijus Žukauskas	4	146	1629	11.16
10	Marius Runkauskas	4	154	1507	9.79

Youth Academy

Neptūnas closely works with V.Knašius Basketball School as a ladder for youth to professional basketball. Players such as Arvydas Macijauskas, Eurelijus Žukauskas, Tomas Delininkaitis, and many players of current Neptūnas roster were attending V.Knašius Basketball School. One current player of V.Knašius Basketball School Laurynas Beliauskas already plays for the Neptūnas' main team.^[101]

Video game

Neptūnas basketball club was featured in the NBA 2K16 video game.^[102][103]

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External links

• Official website of Neptūnas (Lithuanian)
• BC Neptūnas LKL.lt (Lithuanian)