Keenan Evans on move to Zalgiris: 'My upcoming role in the team sold me' / News - Basketnews.com

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Keenan Evans is the newest Zalgiris Kaunas acquisition of the 2022 EuroLeague offseason.

Points this season

45%73,0Points made:73,0Accuracy:44,9%Place in standings:16Record max:103Record min:51Best scorer:Lukas LekavičiusTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

The American guard joined the Lithuanian team on a two-year deal. Now on vacation in Cancun, Mexico, Evans joined the Zalgiris Insider platform's podcast to talk about the signing.

"I'm excited, I'm always excited for new challenges, meeting new people, new opportunities, especially, a new country," the former Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv guard told.

"I went online, I watched videos about the club, the background, the arena, all the facilities, and I saw the fans," the player talked about joining the club. "I have a friend that played this last year here in Lithuania, and he was all talking about how amazing the fans are. I can't wait to be in that environment."

Evans is being projected as the main point guard at the club. In his maiden EuroLeague season, the guard averaged 8.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists for 10.2 PIR over 34 games last year.

"One of the biggest ideas, the main thing, that sold me on the team, for any team, and for any player, is the role that you will play on that team," Evans explained. "I'm just looking for somewhere where I can continue to elevate my game, somewhere where you can leave an imprint on."

"I felt like the role for this team would be really good. The facilities? Top of the EuroLeague. When you have 24-hour access to the gym, that's what I think many hoopers want to hear," the newly-acquired guard said.

The general manager of the club, Paulius Motiejunas, revealed to Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews several days ago that the current Zalgiris player, Tyler Cavanaugh, was recruited to call Evans to persuade him to join the team.

"When people like that call you, people that are so high in the club and personally want to make a call to you, that speaks volumes to me," the newly-signed guard told. "When he called, I was really like 'they really want me, they're really interested in me', that was very appreciative."

Keenan Evans interview excerpt:

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