The guard will get his first taste of EuroLeague basketball in the coming season
Matt Mitchell heads to Zalgiris
Article
2 Mins read
Zalgiris Kaunas has completed the signing of Matt Mitchell on a one-year contract with an option for another season, the club confirmed Thursday morning.
Mitchell (1.99 meters, 25 years old) shined for Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul in the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup season, averaging 12.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and an 11.8 PIR in 21 games. In his rookie EuroCup campaign, he helped Besiktas reach the semifinals. Next season will be Mitchell’s first year in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.
Mitchell made his EuroCup debut in Round 2 and went on to play the remaining 17 regular-season games for Besiktas, posting 12.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.0 assist and an 11.1 PIR as the Turkish side went 9-9 and finished sixth in Group A. In the eighthfinals, the American forward had 8 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 3 steals in 36 minutes as Besiktas eliminated last year’s champion, Dreamland Gran Canaria. Mitchell built on that performance in the quarterfinals, recording 22 points and 6 rebounds in 26 minutes during Besiktas’s victory against Hapoel Schlomo Tel Aviv.
In Game 1 of the semifinals, Mitchell had 10 points and 4 rebounds, but Besiktas fell 1-0 down in the series by losing 86-74 at Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse. Then, in Game 2, he amassed 17 points, 6 rebounds and 1 steal in an 82-71 win as Besiktas leveled the series, though a head injury suffered by Mitchell with 3:57 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter prevented him from featuring in Game 3, which Besiktas ended up losing as Bourg sealed a spot in the EuroCup Finals.
Zalgiris will be hoping that Mitchell can continue his development as he makes the step up to the EuroLeague, having impressed in his first EuroCup season in 2023-24.