Paulius Jankunas talks on what he'll miss the most and upcoming changes in Zalgiris / News - Basketnews.com

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The long-tenured career of Paulius Jankunas has come to an end - Zalgiris Kaunas defeated Siauliai, clinching the bronze in the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL).

3-pointers this season

35%8,4Points made:8,4Accuracy:35,3%Place in standings:13Record max:13Record min:4Most made 3FGs:Artūras MilaknisTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

In his last game, Jankunas played for 16 minutes, scored 9 points (2/2 2PT, 1/3 3PT, 2/2 FT), grabbed 5 rebounds, and made 1 assist for 12 PIR.

When the final buzzer rang, Jankunas gave his jersey to the coach that invited him to Zalgiris back in 2003 - the current Siauliai head coach Antanas Sireikia.

"The game, the season, the career just ended," Jankunas said after the game in a TV interview. "There aren't a lot of thoughts, emotions are taking over right now, but they're inside like they have been throughout the entire career. I know how to control them, but I'll burst at some point."

During the 18 seasons in the LKL, Jankunas only won either gold or silver medals. The career was ended with a lesser medal, but the forward is not particularly worried about it.

"I would happily choose not to have this medal, but it is what it is, and you never know where the life is going to take you," Jankunas said. "Everything is okay, extremely difficult season, lots of valuable experience that will help me in the future not only as a basketball player. What happened, happened, we're looking into the future."

The captain of the green-and-whites thanked his relatives and the Zalgiris fans.

"First, I want to thank my family, my wife Ieva, my three wonderful kids, my parents, my sister, and her family for all the years of support and sacrifice. I would be nothing without you.

Thank you to all the fans for your support. I personally felt both in Zalgiris and in the Lithuanian national team that fans love me and my teammates. It was fun to play for them, and I hope I did something well," Jankunas thanked.

Paulius Jankūnas

Team:Zalgiris KaunasPosition:PF, CAge:38Height:205 cmWeight:107 kgBirth place:Kaunas, LithuaniaProfileNewsStatistics

Talking about the series, the big man pointed out that finding the motivation to play was the most difficult thing.

"A tough game, we had some trouble because coach Sireika's team always plays unpredictably. I know from our scouts that it's difficult to have a plan against them. I don't think we needed many tactics in this series, though. We needed dedication, emotions, and for us to show up in the game.

The series itself wasn't easy. The result is one thing, but it doesn't show what happened in the games. We barely won in Game 2, and all other games were intense. Siauliai played very well with all these injuries, and I think they had a good season," Jankunas told the media in the post-game press conference.

Before the game in Kaunas, you mentioned that there were a lot of emotions and you had to deal with them. How was it now?There were fewer emotions. I have my family and my friends back there at home, so the emotions rise. You have the arena, the fans... everything is much more touching. I knew that we had to win, that there was no other way, we didn't want to prolong the series. We wanted to finish it and go to rest. The emotions were put to rest.

You received an award from the team's staff...It was a nail and iron sneakers. This is an old tradition of Zalgiris. If I'm not mistaken, Darius Songaila was the first to receive it, then Robertas Javtokas, and now me.

The season has ended, can we talk about Jankunas' first actions in the office? How much will Zalgiris change during the offseason?I think it's too early to talk about the summer yet. The season just ended, and I don't think about the work to come. I know it's going to start a bit later.

I think Zalgiris will change. If we can tell about it slightly, the season was not successful, so we need change, for sure.

What should Zalgiris improve so that the season doesn't repeat itself?Many things. We had problems in multiple positions - we had issues everywhere. We have a coaching staff that can express their opinions and point our attention to the players they imagine the game with. It mostly depends on them who is going to play here next year.

19 years of professional basketball. What will you miss the most?The daily routine. I've been playing basketball since I was very little. When you start playing professionally, everything is clear - the rhythm throughout the entire 10 months, the games, the practices, the free days. You get used to it, and it's easy planning your time because everything is given and planned for you in advance. The schedule is going to fade now, and I'll have to get used to the new one, I'll have to find time for training and holidays with my family.

How much of an honor was being the captain of the Zalgiris team? Who do you see taking it over?The responsibility is huge. When everything goes right and the team wins, when you get to the Final Four, the part of the captain might not be that important. There are always some internal issues, but the captain's interference is minimal when the team wins, and everyone is happy during practices.

When there was a crisis in the club, I needed to interfere. It was easier for Lithuanians because we knew that we were going to play there, we weren't leaving. We had to talk to the foreigners, to coaches. There was a time when I had to visit some sponsors together with Paulius [Motiejunas, Zalgiris GM].

There were numerous times throughout my career when I was happy that they happened. I gained valuable experience that's going to help in my upcoming future off the court.

Who could the captain of the team be now?We have some older players, the talk is about them. Arturas [Milaknis], Mantas [Kalnietis], Edgaras [Ulanovas] have risen to take the reign. The election of a new captain is going to take place next year, and I'm excited because we haven't seen it in a number of years.

You gave your shirt to Antanas Sireika after the game. How did the idea come and what does he mean to you?I sat down yesterday and just decided. The coach said many great things about me after the game in Kaunas, and I thought that I needed to thank him in some way. Words are not always enough, so I gave away my shirt.

I came to Zalgiris because of him, he gave me confidence early on. I felt like part of the team from the very first day in the club. The youth usually stands on the sidelines and allows others to practice, just watches calmly.

He included me from the very first practice, both for local and EuroLeague matches. He's a person who gave me a lot because the beginning is very important for every player. When you receive so much confidence, you just can't let the person down.

Have there been thoughts about ending the career a year earlier due to the difficulty of the current season?No, the season was difficult, and the final places does not satisfy neither me nor the club or the players. I look at it as experience. We joked with the veterans that so many things went wrong at the same time that we can take each of the things and just place them in each of the seasons.

I didn't have such thoughts to end the season last year. I haven't run from responsibilities throughout my career, and I'm not going to start now.

You had a lot of farewells during this season...I didn't expect all those farewells in the EuroLeague. I expected them to come after the final game in the LKL. Alright, it was a game after the final match at home, but I'm happy that I'm being shown respect and admiration. I'm telling it today - it is my last goodbye, now and forever.

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