The flagship of Great Britain is currently visiting Lithuania, where it continues preparations for the upcoming season.
Read more „Eika Group“ acquired a logistics center in Germany for 17 million euros
On Tuesday, in a friendly match held on Nemunas Island, London “Lions” lost to Panevėžys “Lietkabelis” with a score of 83:89, and Keenan Evans, returning to the court after a 10-month break, scored 13 points (2/4 two-pointers, 1/2 three-pointers, 6/6 free throws) in 13 minutes of play and became the team’s top scorer.
“It’s nice to be back,” Keenan Evans told “Žalgiris Insider” before the game. “This arena has a certain smell that awakens memories. The arena has changed a bit since my time with the team, but just the shots here bring back memories. It’s always nice to return. Just stepping off the plane at the airport… How strange that every country has its own smell. Lithuania and Kaunas smell of peace and tranquility. Obviously, a lot is happening in London and around Wembley. A lot of noise, a lot of people, but here you see two kids riding bicycles and you feel the calm.”
Tautvydas Sabonis, coaching the “Lions” team for the second season, shared the story of how K. Evans proposed the idea of possible cooperation during the off-season.
“Do you need a point guard?” – T. Sabonis announced the American’s message.
“We talked all summer, we talked during the season. I was always interested in Keenan’s situation, and when he sent that message, it was ‘wow’,” said T. Sabonis. “Of course, we discussed some details, and then others got involved. It’s a good feeling to know that Keenan himself is interested. It’s always easier to acquire a player when the player himself is interested, rather than having to persuade him. I’m very happy that everything went so well and we see Keenan in the ‘Lions’ jersey. An important season awaits us and Keenan.
I told the ‘Lions’ people that Keenan is interested, then we talked with the ‘Žalgiris’ people, agents. After a few weeks, everything was resolved, although I wanted it to happen faster. We are glad that Keenan agreed to the offer.”
K. Evans shared his first impressions of life in London on the show.
“After many years of playing in Europe, I try to tell people that you can’t compare a place where your native language is spoken. Of course, the accents in London are different, but it’s wonderful to hear your language everywhere. You can crack jokes that all your teammates get. It’s wonderful, even though I’ve only been here for two weeks. It was nice to look around London with my family. So far, everything is wonderful,” said the 30-year-old, 191 cm tall basketball player, who has signed a contract with “Žalgiris” under a “1+1” formula.
Read more «Very shocked»: a Lithuanian openly shared what he experienced near the devastating flood in Nepal
