Tyrone Wallace, who joined EuroLeague team Zalgiris Kaunas this past offseason, is reportedly departing from the club. Sources indicate that he is contemplating retirement due to personal reasons.
According to Jonas Leksas of Krepsinis.net, Wallace has requested to terminate his contract and is preparing to return to the United States. The decision comes without any financial compensation for either party.
Zalgiris is now in search of a replacement for the 30-year-old guard. Reports suggest that the club is looking at players from the NBA to fill the gap left by Wallace’s exit.
Wallace arrived in Kaunas last summer with expectations of being a key player for Zalgiris. His experience includes 112 NBA games, giving him valuable insight and skills for the European competition.
However, his time with Zalgiris was marked by challenges. Wallace faced a calf injury during the preseason, limiting his impact when he finally returned to the court.
In his brief time in the EuroLeague, Wallace participated in two games, averaging just four points, 1.5 rebounds, and one assist in 11 minutes of play. This lack of significant contributions has raised questions about his fit within the team.
In the Lithuanian Basketball League (Betsafe-LKL), he fared better. Over three games, Wallace averaged 12.7 points, two rebounds, and two assists in 17 minutes per game.
Prior to his stint with Zalgiris, Wallace had a diverse basketball journey. He entered the NBA in 2016 as the last pick of the draft by the Utah Jazz and spent time with several teams, including the Los Angeles Clippers and Atlanta Hawks.
His experience in Europe began in 2022, first with Paris Basketball, where he made a strong impact. He later averaged 17.9 points per game with Ankara’s Turk Telekom in the EuroCup before signing with Zalgiris.
As Zalgiris moves forward, the focus will shift to finding a suitable replacement for Wallace. The management is expected to act quickly to secure a new player, potentially from the NBA.
