2024-04-09 23:48:14
After signing the new contract, the basketball player shared his warm impressions with “Žalgiris TV”.
“I feel good, I like everything here. I have been in the “Zalgiris” organization since the days of the backup team. I feel the added stimulus of being here since those first days. I may not have come to the main team directly from there, but I found my place here. I have a role to play. It’s fun,” said the tall man.
L. Birutis decided not to wait for the summer and the chance to test himself in the free agent market, so he negotiated the terms of a new contract before the end of this season. The player went on to name the reasons for such an early decision.
“I am happy to be here. As I said, I have my role. The coach is trying to find different options for me, both offensively and defensively. As we can see, we are all improving a lot under this coach. “Zalgiris” organization is one of the best in Europe, we have a wonderful fan base, tickets are sold out for every Euroleague home match, we have good support both away and in the LKL championship. All this motivated me to stay,” said L. Birutis.
After head coach Andrea Trinchieri joined Zalgiris in the second half of the EuroLeague season, L. Biručis’ game curve jumped up, and in one part of the season, the midfielder was among the most useful players in his position.
Žalgiris spoke about his relationship with A. Trinchieri.
“I think each of the players has improved. If we try, we can really learn a lot from him. The coach has an amazing understanding of basketball, all those details…
You just have to try to listen to them, try to implement what is asked, which will make both the players and the whole team better. We saw how good we can be,” said the Žalgiris resident.
At the end of this season, L. Birutis will have spent 3 seasons in the ranks of “Žalgiris” with breaks. The basketball player is happy that he can be visited by one of the old-timers in the Kaunas team.
“It’s a bit strange, because even last season together with Ignas Brazdeikis, as the youngest players of “Žalgiris”, we wore common team bags.
It’s nice that I can be important to the team, that I can help the team both on and off the field. It’s nice to be a part of this organization,” said the “Žalgiris” midfielder.
Together with the team, the tests of the last part of the season are waiting for L. Biručis. After “Žalgiris” did not qualify for the next stage of the Euroleague season, the team is waiting for the battle for the trophy in the “Betsafe-LKL” championship.
“There is no question – the LKL championship is a very important goal for me, the whole team and the fans. I don’t see any reason to relax, we have to defend the title we won. We still have the last remaining matches of the EuroLeague, we cannot disappoint the fans”, assured L. Birutis.
2024-04-09 23:48:14