Sports journalists and head coaches of the league teams expressed their opinion in the “Breakthrough of the Year” vote.
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Their votes determined that in the 2025-2026 season, this honor went to Lukas Kreišmontas, a representative of “Jonavos Hipocredit”. The 25-year-old forward became an indispensable part of Steponas Babrauskas’s constructed game, without which the team’s leap into the playoffs would be hard to imagine.
The team captain became a solid starter and, by utilizing more minutes (from 21 to 29.5), improved his statistics in all aspects of the game: from 5.8 points to 12.3, from 3.3 rebounds to 4.6, from 1 assist to 1.2. The player’s efficiency more than doubled, reaching 7.1 utility points last year, and as much as 14.6 this year.
Moreover, the 199 cm tall player from Plungė noticeably improved his accuracy. Two-pointers – from 56 to 58 percent, three-pointers – from 38 to 48 percent, free throws – from 75 to 80 percent.
This was his fourth season with the Jonava club. This time, the year was unusually full of turbulence – not only players changed in the club, but also management and coaches. However, even such conditions did not affect the dedication of one of Jonava’s leaders to his team’s goals.
Although L. Kreišmontas does not yet know where he will play next season, he does not hide that he wants to try himself in an international tournament. In addition, the basketball player had kind words for the Jonava organization, which gave him a chance after his stint in the Klaipėda “Neptūnas” system.
LKL.lt portal interviewed L. Kreišmontas about his breakthrough year.
– You received an award that is probably the crowning prize of your career start. How do you personally evaluate this recognition?
– It was really unexpected, I didn’t expect it. Our team representative wrote that I won, which really surprised me. Of course, this is an additional motivation to continue working and improving.
– You joined the company of players who have won this award in recent years. These are Panagiotis Kalaitzakis, Matas Jogėla, Ignas Sargiūnas, and Martynas Pacevičius. What does this company you’ve found yourself in say to you, and do you expect a similar career trajectory as these players?
– It’s a serious company, I don’t know what else to say. As for whether I will rise like them – we’ll see. I’m not thinking about it now, I’m still resting a bit. All questions will be resolved over the summer. We’ll see how much serious interest there is. Of course, I would like to try myself at a higher level, to see how it goes.
– Perhaps this summer you will prioritize playing in an international tournament?
– Yes, of course, it would be a priority.
– How would you generally describe this year in Jonava? How much did the difficult situation in the team – various changes in players, management, coaches, being in last place for a long time – contribute to your development? Perhaps these were precisely the best conditions for personal growth?
– I’ve said that changes in both coaches and players would not be beneficial for anyone, speaking about the team. That season was really difficult both psychologically and physically. More psychologically, because there were no victories and we only started playing well at the end of the season. My development was helped by increased playing time and a somewhat more important role than in previous seasons. The trust of the coaches and the team contributed greatly. The coaches knew what I could and couldn’t do, so they didn’t put me in uncomfortable situations. I was in my groove and my game improved.
– Like you, both Oskaras Pleikys and Nojus Mineikis showed significant improvement. All three of you played together at “Neptūnas” a few years ago. How nice is it that your generation collectively made such strides forward in their game this year?
– It’s nice, of course. Now communication has decreased, as we play in different teams, but when we meet, we always talk, laugh, we have memories from previous seasons, from “Neptūnas” reserves. I’m happy for them. They are truly great guys, I wish them the best of luck.
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– All your statistics essentially increased, and the most significant change is your contribution in offense. Both your points average and three-point shooting percentage increased. How did you achieve this – starting from summer work to your role in the team and the breakthrough when you managed to secure an offensive role from a defensive player?
– I think everything came together: summer work, increased self-confidence. The coaches and the team instilled that confidence in me. My role grew, I had more combinations. The coaches trusted me more and didn’t put me in uncomfortable positions.
– It’s interesting how the work with the coaching duo – Steponas Babrauskas and Artūras Milaknis – looked. Do you feel like you’ve absorbed all the wisdom these two legendary players have accumulated?
– I think both contributed unequivocally. I had personal conversations, they showed me videos where I could shoot even more, where I could be more effective. Milo’s joining during the season helped both Steponas and all the players a lot. The man has played a lot in the Euroleague, he had ideas that you might not think of yourself – for example, how to get open, escape from a player, get through a screen better. Steponas has known me since last year, he instilled confidence that I can make shots, and if I missed – I still had to shoot. Both coaches contributed unequivocally, thank you to them.
– You have already spent four years in Jonava and evolved from a young talent into a full-fledged, one of the league’s most effective players on both ends of the court, as well as the team captain. If it happened that you didn’t return to Jonava, how would you summarize this period and what would you say to the organization, fans, and coaches?
– Jonava is a super city, a super club. Only the best words about them. I can say that they raised me to this level. The fans are absolutely super – you’re recognized everywhere, going to the store or for coffee, everyone knows you, communicates warmly. Starting from practices – you’re dressed, everything is taken care of, all you have to do is go to work and fight for the city and the fans.
– You also had difficult seasons in Jonava before, but this one is somewhat impressive because you finally managed to reach the playoffs. Did this season harden you for the future?
– I think so. The psychological pressure was greater than the physical fatigue. It hardened not only me but also the coaches, management, and the entire organization.
– Does this breakthrough season change your own expectations and self-pressure, looking to the future?
– My expectations have always been high. Now, having finished the season, I look at myself and it seems that I could have done even better everywhere. Expectations are constantly growing. I would like to try myself in an international tournament, perhaps go play abroad. If I don’t try or don’t go, the opportunity might not arise later, and then I would regret it and wonder if I could have played or not.
– This year you were second in the league in minutes average. Do you feel exhausted? How much rest will you need in the summer before getting back to work?
– At the end of the season, I felt my strength gradually waning, but I didn’t see a problem with that, I’m still young. I’ll rest for a week and then start preparing individually for the upcoming season.
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