JERUSALEM, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Euroleague club Maccabi Tel Aviv announced on Wednesday the three-year signing of Lithuanian point guard Rokas Jokubaitis, who has played for the last three seasons in FC Barcelona.
At the beginning of his career, the 23-year-old played four seasons in the Lithuanian Euroleague side Zalgiris Kaunas and was then selected in the 2021 NBA draft with the 34th overall pick by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
He joined Barcelona in July 2021, and in his first season with the team, he achieved the Euroleague Rising Star award.
In six Euroleague seasons with both clubs, Jokubaitis averaged 5.6 points and 2.4 assists per game in 165 games.
Since the age of 19, he has also played for the Lithuanian national team, including eight games in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup final tournament, in which Lithuania finished in sixth place.
"I am really happy and cannot wait to start with the team, to play in front of one of the best fanbases in Europe," said Jokubaitis.
Maccabi head coach Oded Kattash added, "I do not doubt that Rokas will fit in with the fabric of the team we are building, and he can help us achieve our goals." ■
