Zalgiris Kaunas have brought Keenan Evans back to the team after the American guard began the 2026-27 season on loan with the London Lions. The Lithuanian club announced the move on Friday, October 23, following a recurring injury to Nigel Williams-Goss that prompted Zalgiris to seek additional help in the backcourt.
Evans, 30, had signed with Zalgiris during the summer but was immediately loaned to London. He previously played for the Kaunas club in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, establishing himself as one of its key offensive players before two serious injuries disrupted his progress. He subsequently joined Olympiacos Piraeus and was part of the Greek club’s EuroLeague title-winning team last season, although an Achilles tendon injury limited his availability.
Zalgiris president Paulius Jankunas explained that the decision to bring Evans back followed Williams-Goss’ latest injury and was intended to strengthen the team’s rotation rather than place the burden of turning the season around on one player.
“The decision was made after Nigel Williams-Goss’ recurring injury. We needed a quick solution, and we certainly have a lot of information about Keenan,” Jankunas said. “Naturally, he knows the organization, and we know him and the qualities we need from him.”
Jankunas stressed that Evans was returning to contribute alongside his teammates, not as a player expected to solve every problem facing the team.
“Keenan is coming to help the team – he is not a savior who will save the team, this is not what we’re talking about. We simply need an additional player who can be part of the rotation and improve the team’s overall game,” the Zalgiris president said.
The move comes as Zalgiris look to improve a backcourt that has relied heavily on Carsen Edwards for scoring. Edwards leads the team with 17.2 points per game through six EuroLeague appearances, while Williams-Goss averaged 7 points and 4.5 assists in his two games before his injury. Saben Lee has added 4.3 points and 4 assists across three appearances, while Maodo Lo is averaging 1.8 points and 2 assists in five games.
The club also highlighted Evans’ ability to organize the offense and manage the team on the court. His familiarity with Zalgiris could help ease his transition back into the system, although the club will assess his readiness through training and game action.
Jankunas said Evans’ physical condition had been good at the start of the season, with his playing time gradually increasing as his body responded to a heavier workload.
“His physical condition is good, and he feels well at the moment. At the beginning of the season, his workload was more limited, but now his minutes are increasing, and the regime is more flexible because his body is responding well to the increased load,” Jankunas said. “When he arrives here, we’ll see – he’ll train with us, start playing, and, of course, we’ll have to assess him ourselves, although we have a lot of information.”
Evans has appeared in four EuroCup games for London this season, averaging 11.8 points and 2.8 assists in 24.8 minutes per game. He shot 30.6% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range, while converting 90.5% of his free throws.
His previous EuroLeague seasons with Zalgiris provide a stronger indication of his scoring potential at the highest European level. Evans averaged 15.9 points and 3.7 assists in 17 EuroLeague appearances in 2022-23, then increased his scoring to 17.3 points per game across 34 appearances in 2023-24.
Zalgiris entered the announcement with a 2-4 record in the 2026-27 EuroLeague season, sitting 14th in the standings. The return of Evans gives the team another experienced guard as it looks to navigate Williams-Goss’ absence.
