Zalgiris brings back Keenan Evans, loans him to London Lions

Zalgiris Kaunas has announced the return of Keenan Evans, signing the 29-year-old guard to a one-plus-one-year contract. Evans will spend the 2026-27 season on loan with the London Lions, where he will continue his recovery and look to regain his best form.

Evans played just one EuroLeague game for Olympiacos last season. His long-awaited return came in Round 10 against Zalgiris after recovering from the serious knee injury he suffered in May 2024 during his previous stint with the Lithuanian club.

However, his comeback lasted only two minutes, as Evans suffered another major setback after rupturing his left Achilles tendon.

It proved to be his only EuroLeague appearance for Olympiacos after joining the Greek powerhouse from Zalgiris in the summer of 2024. Although unable to contribute on the court during the postseason, Evans was part of the Olympiacos team that captured the 2026 EuroLeague championship.

The last fully healthy season for the 1.91-meter guard came in 2023-24 with Zalgiris. Evans appeared in all 34 EuroLeague games and was one of the competition’s top scorers, averaging 17.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game.

That impressive campaign came after another lengthy recovery, this time from a torn right Achilles tendon suffered just 57 seconds into a EuroLeague game against Fenerbahce during the 2022-23 season. Before that injury, Evans had been averaging 16.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.1 steals through 16 games.

The move to London will give Evans an opportunity to rebuild his rhythm and fitness while making his BKT EuroCup debut. He is the second Zalgiris player to join the Lions this summer after Maxwell Lewis.

London has been coached since 2025 by former Zalgiris assistant Tautvydas Sabonis, providing another connection between the two clubs.

Evans has competed in the EuroLeague since 2021, playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv, Zalgiris and Olympiacos. Before making his EuroLeague debut, he played for Hapoel Haifa in Israel, Igokea in the ABA League and the Grand Rapids Drive and Delaware Blue Coats in the G League.