Star player switches sports leagues, joining Bayern Munich football team instead of the NBA: "One of Europe's top talents now graces the pitch in Munich"
Rokas Jokubaitis, a 24-year-old Lithuanian basketball star, has signed a three-year contract with FC Bayern Munich, extending his tenure until 2028. This move marks a significant step in Bayern's ambitious basketball project, as Jokubaitis brings a wealth of EuroLeague experience to the table.
Jokubaitis' career began at the basketball academy in Klaipeda and the youth ranks of Žalgiris Kaunas, where he made his Lithuania's top league (LKL) debut at 17 and EuroLeague debut at 18. Over the past seven seasons, he has played in the EuroLeague for FC Barcelona and Maccabi Tel Aviv, averaging 12.6 points per game last season. He also won the EuroLeague Rising Star award in 2022 and has captured national championships in Spain and Lithuania.
The decision to join Bayern was not made lightly. Jokubaitis was drawn to the club because of its rapid growth and serious ambitions in basketball. He was personally encouraged by teammates like Oscar da Silva and received positive early outreach from Bayern’s coach and management. Jokubaitis expressed a desire to take on significant responsibility within the team and to help Bayern reach the EuroLeague playoffs.
Regarding his potential NBA career, Jokubaitis was drafted in the 2021 NBA draft (34th overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder, then traded to the New York Knicks). However, he chose to continue his career in Europe, citing factors such as career development, immediate playing opportunity, and trust in Bayern's project as reasons for his decision.
Dragan Tarlac, Bayern's sports director, did not elaborate on why or how the club won the bid for Jokubaitis' services. The contract includes usual clauses and options.
With Jokubaitis joining the team, he is expected to take over a large part of the playmaking load from Nick Weiler-Babb and Shabazz Napier. He will be a key building block for the future team of coach Gordon Herbert, providing a solid foundation for Bayern's ambitions in the EuroLeague and national titles.
As Jokubaitis prepares for the Euro Championship with Lithuania, he is looking forward to taking on his new role at FC Bayern in September. His departure from Maccabi Tel Aviv, whose contract was still valid until 2027, and the official departure of Shabazz Napier have not yet been confirmed.
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Jokubaitis, having garnered considerable success in various EuroLeague teams such as FC Barcelona and Maccabi Tel Aviv, will now bring his basketball skills to the NBA-aspiring FC Bayern Munich. Pursuing his European career for the reasons of development, immediate playing opportunity, and trust in Bayern's project, Jokubaitis is poised to contribute to FC Bayern's ambitions in both the EuroLeague and national titles.
