Mantas Rubštavičius

Mantas Rubštavičius
No. 17 – Žalgiris Kaunas
PositionShooting guard
LeagueLKL
EuroLeague
Personal information
Born (2002-05-06) 6 May 2002
Panevėžys, Lithuania
Listed height198 cm (6 ft 6 in)
Listed weight84 kg (185 lb)
Career information
NBA draft2024: undrafted
Playing career2018–present
Career history
2018–2019Lietkabelis Panevėžys
2019–2022Žalgiris Kaunas
2019–2022→Žalgiris-2 (partially loaned)
2022–2023Lietkabelis Panevėžys
2023–2024New Zealand Breakers
2024–2025Lietkabelis Panevėžys
2025–presentŽalgiris Kaunas
Career highlights
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Lithuania
FIBA U20 EuroBasket
Silver medal – second place 2022 Montenegro Team

Mantas Rubštavičius (born 6 May 2002) is a Lithuanian basketball player for the Žalgiris Kaunas of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL) and the EuroLeague.

Professional career

On 21 January 2019, Rubštavičius, being just 16 years old, debuted and scored his first points in the premier Lithuanian Basketball League as a member of his hometown team Lietkabelis Panevėžys.[1] During the 2018–2019 season he played in five games for Lietkabelis.[2]

On 17 May 2019, Rubštavičius had signed a long-term deal with the most titled Lithuanian basketball club Žalgiris Kaunas.[3] Rubštavičius mostly was loaned to Žalgiris' reserve team BC Žalgiris-2 of the National Basketball League, however he has also played in some games for the primary Žalgiris team in the Lithuanian Basketball League and on 8 April 2021 debuted in the premier European basketball league EuroLeague by scoring 2 points per 2 minutes.[4][5]

On 12 July 2022, Rubštavičius returned to his hometown team Lietkabelis by signing a 1+1 seasons deal, however Žalgiris retained a right to bring back Rubštavičius to their roster after the first season.[4] During the 2022–2023 season he had averages of 7.1 points, 1.85 rebounds, 1.1 assists per 17:40 minutes in the Lithuanian Basketball League and 4.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists per 14.8 minutes in the second tier European basketball league EuroCup.[6][7]

In June 2023, Rubštavičius had signed a contract with the New Zealand Breakers of the premier Australian basketball league.[8] While representing the Breakers in the premier Australian league on average per game he played for 19.9 minutes and averaged 9.5 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists.[2]

Rubštavičius went undrafted in the 2024 NBA draft, but represented the Golden State Warriors in the 2024 NBA Summer League.[9][10]

On 29 July 2024, Rubštavičius signed yet another long-term deal with Žalgiris and was loaned to Lietkabelis for his third stint with the team.[11] During the 2024–2025 season he had averages of 13.78 points, 3.09 rebounds, 1.89 assists per 25:34 minutes in the Lithuanian Basketball League and 12.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists per 25.3 minutes in the EuroCup.[6][7]

In July 2025, the return of Rubštavičius to the primary Žalgiris team was announced.[12]

National team career

Rubštavičius played for the Lithuania men's national under-16 team in the 2018 FIBA U16 European Championship, averaged 5.1 points, 1.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, his team was eliminated 78–80 in the Quarter-final by the Croatian national team, who subsequently won the tournament.[13]

Rubštavičius role has significantly increased when he represented the Lithuania men's national under-19 team in the 2021 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup during which he averaged 10.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, however his team was eliminated 79–84 after overtime in the Quarter-final by the French national team.[13]

Rubštavičius' final appearance with the Lithuanian youth basketball teams was during the 2022 FIBA U20 European Championship when by averaging 19.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists he has led the Lithuania men's national under-20 team to silver medals (the final was lost 61–69 to Spain).[13] During the quarter-final versus the French national team, which was won by the Lithuanian national team 89–79, he scored 38 points and surpassed Lithuania's all-time record of most points in a U20 tournament game, which previously belonged to the Lithuanian basketball legend Arvydas Macijauskas (37).[14] Rubštavičius was the top scorer of the tournament and was included into the All-Tournament Team.[15]

On 23 February 2023, Rubštavičius debuted in the Lithuania men's national basketball team in an official game of qualification to the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup by scoring 12 points versus the Hungary men's national basketball team.[16] He described the debut feeling as "truly incredible".[16]

References

  1. ^ "Pirmuosius taškus savaitgalį pelnęs Rubštavičius išregistruotas iš „Lietkabelio" sudėties". BasketNews.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  2. ^ a b "NBA 2024 Draft Prospects - Mantas Rubštavičius". National Basketball Association. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  3. ^ "„Žalgiris" sukirto rankomis su talentingu 17-mečiu gynėju". BasketNews.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  4. ^ a b "„Žalgirio" sistemą palikęs gynėjas žais „Lietkabelyje"". BasketNews.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  5. ^ "Mantas Rubštavičius". Euroleague Basketball. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Mantas Rubštavičius". Lithuanian Basketball League. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  7. ^ a b "Mantas Rubstavicius, Basketball Player". Proballers.com. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  8. ^ Pakėnas, Rokas. "Neįprastą šalį pasirinkęs M.Rubštavičius: „Svajoju ir apie Eurolygą, ir apie NBA". 15min.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  9. ^ "LeBrono sūnus keliauja į tėčio klubą, Rubštavičius savo pavardės neišgirdo". BasketNews.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  10. ^ "Rubštavičiaus ekipa – NBA vasaros lygos atkrintamosiose". BasketNews.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  11. ^ "Su „Žalgiriu" ilgalaikę sutartį pasirašęs M.Rubštavičius keliasi į Panevėžį". 15min.lt (in Lithuanian). 29 July 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  12. ^ "Kovai dėl minučių „Žalgiryje" pasiruošęs M.Rubštavičius: „Turėsiu viską įrodyti treniruočių metu"". 15min.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  13. ^ a b c "Mantas Rubštavičius". FIBA. 2 August 2025.
  14. ^ "Istorinis įrašas: Rubštavičius – visų laikų Lietuvos rekordininkas". BasketNews.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  15. ^ "Į simbolinį penketą išrinktas Rubštavičius užfiksavo istorinį pasiekimą". BasketNews.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  16. ^ a b "Ryškiai rinktinėje debiutavęs 20-metis: „Jausmas neįtikėtinas"". BasketNews.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 2 August 2025.
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