Betsson-LKL 2025–26 Preview: Smaller field, big headlines, and Šiauliai’s Reddish splash

Lithuanian basketball opens a new chapter this fall under the rebranded name Betsson-LKL. The 202

5–26 season tips off with only nine teams, but the drama and talent pool remain as strong as ever. With new coaches, European campaigns, and one blockbuster signing in Šiauliai, the league has no shortage of storylines.

A leaner, tighter league

This summer was turbulent for the LKL. Wolves Twinsbet suspended operations and M Basket–Delamode stepped down to the NKL, forcing the league board to act. Their solution was to grant Gargždai a new top-flight license, returning the club to the LKL and setting the field at nine participants. The regular season will run on a four-round double round-robin format (32 games per team), with the top eight advancing to the playoffs. Quarterfinals will be best-of-three, while both the semifinals and finals stretch to best-of-five.

Opening weekend is September 20–21. Jonava hosts Žalgiris and Lietkabelis meets Neptūnas on Saturday, while Sunday brings Gargždai vs Šiauliai and Nevėžis vs Rytas. Juventus sit out the first round because of their Basketball Champions League (BCL) qualifying campaign, and will join the LKL once that concludes.

Broadcast and accessibility

Fans will again be able to follow the action on BTV, while a new broadcast slot ensures that two Sunday games will be televised each round. Every game, meanwhile, will be streamed live and archived on Telia Play, giving both domestic and international viewers full access to the competition.

The King Mindaugas Cup heads north

The mid-season showcase takes on added significance this year. The Citadele King Mindaugas Cup Final Four will be held in Šiauliai on February 21–22, 2026. With Šiauliai strengthening their roster in historic fashion (more on that below), the city should be buzzing as it hosts Lithuania’s biggest in-season basketball event.

European campaigns: a balancing act

Lithuanian clubs once again spread across Europe’s top competitions, adding stress and prestige to their schedules.

• Žalgiris Kaunas will compete in the EuroLeague, which expands to 20 teams and 38 regular season rounds this year.

• Lietkabelis Panevėžys and Neptūnas Klaipėda both return to the EuroCup.

• Rytas Vilnius are locked into the BCL regular season, while Juventus Utena aim to qualify through the play-in rounds.

The heavy travel and condensed mid-week schedules will stretch rotations, making roster depth and fitness even more important in LKL play.

Coaching carousel: new voices, new strategies

Several benches see new leaders this year:

• Žalgiris Kaunas appointed Tomas Masiulis, a former EuroLeague champion and long-time assistant, on a two-year deal. His challenge is to manage the dual grind of a tougher EuroLeague and domestic dominance.

• Neptūnas Klaipėda hired Gediminas Petrauskas, a coach known for his tactical flexibility, to guide their EuroCup return.

• Šiauliai turned to Darius Songaila, former NBA forward and Spurs assistant, hoping his international experience helps elevate the club in a new era.

These hires add freshness and intrigue, with each team betting on leaders who understand both the Lithuanian context and the wider European stage.

Club-by-club outlook

Žalgiris Kaunas remain the standard-bearers. They enter as defending champions, but EuroLeague expansion means the domestic campaign could feel secondary at times. Depth will be tested, and Masiulis’ willingness to trust younger players in LKL games could determine seeding in May.

Rytas Vilnius continue to invest heavily in the BCL, but the congested schedule often costs them early in domestic play. If they can stay healthy through the fall, they will be strong contenders for the finals.

Lietkabelis Panevėžys and Neptūnas Klaipėda both seek to re-establish themselves as stable EuroCup participants. For Neptūnas, it’s a comeback season: Petrauskas’ challenge is to rebuild trust locally while keeping pace in Europe.

Juventus Utena open later due to the BCL qualifiers. If they qualify, the early intensity could give them an edge when they join the LKL calendar.

Jonava and Nevėžis sit in the middle of the table, dangerous enough to steal wins from anyone, but needing consistency to move up the ladder. Their clashes against one another will have big playoff seeding implications.

Gargždai return to the LKL with renewed energy. Their survival will depend on home wins and smart rotation against the bigger clubs. For them, avoiding ninth place is already a big objective.

Šiauliai: the Reddish revolution

The biggest news of the summer didn’t come from Kaunas or Vilnius but from Šiauliai. The club shocked the basketball world by signing Cam Reddish, the 26-year-old former NBA wing most recently with the Los Angeles Lakers. With stops in Portland, New York, and Atlanta earlier in his career, Reddish brings NBA pedigree and high-level athleticism to Lithuania.

This isn’t just a marketing stunt. Under new head coach Darius Songaila, Šiauliai assembled a roster that balances experience and upside. The addition of Reddish to a squad already bolstered by players like Siim-Sander Vene and Will Richardson signals a genuine push to break into the league’s upper tier.

Reddish provides size on the wing, the ability to create his own shot, and defensive switchability. If he adapts quickly to the European style—where spacing, contact, and defensive rotations differ from the NBA—Šiauliai could rise into the playoff semifinals conversation. Beyond results, his presence raises the profile of the entire league, showing that Lithuania can attract recognizable NBA talent.

With Šiauliai also set to host the King Mindaugas Cup Final Four, the timing of Reddish’s arrival couldn’t be better. A deep cup run in front of their home fans would cement this as a transformative season for the club.

What to watch early

• Opening night clashes: Jonava vs Žalgiris and Lietkabelis vs Neptūnas set the tone immediately, offering early glimpses at how Euro-focused teams will balance rosters.

• Reddish’s debut: Šiauliai open at Gargždai on September 21. The spotlight will be squarely on how Reddish looks in his first LKL minutes.

• Juventus catch-up: Depending on their BCL results, Juventus could enter LKL play already battle-hardened. Their opening form will be worth monitoring.

Final thoughts

The Betsson-LKL may have slimmed down to nine clubs, but the competitive fire is still strong. Žalgiris will try to balance EuroLeague ambition with domestic dominance, Rytas and Neptūnas will juggle international commitments, and Šiauliai—with Cam Reddish in the lineup—emerge as the most exciting wild card. Add in the mid-season showcase of the King Mindaugas Cup in Šiauliai and the full accessibility of games on BTV and Telia Play, and Lithuania’s top league is set for another fascinating year.

European basketball never sleeps — from the EuroLeague to ENBL, every league tells a part of the story. Stick with us all season for coverage, scouting insights, and updates.

— DannyZHoops