Paulius Jankunas is new EuroLeague rebounds king 0

All hail to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague’s new rebounding king, Paulius Jankunas of Zalgiris Kaunas! Jankunas’s third rebound against Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade on Wednesday night at Stark Arena gave him 1,783 over his 17-season EuroLeague career and took him past Real Madrid big man Felipe Reyes for the most in competition history.

Since December of 2017, Jankunas has been competition’s career leader in defensive rebounds, a total he has now run to 1,272. In mid-November, he became just the fourth player ever to reach 3,000 points, and now has 3,015 total. Jankunas also ranks fourth all-time with 511 offensive rebounds and in two-pointers made (955), and fifth in free throws made (691).

Jankunas has consistently ranked among the best rebounders in the competition; only three players among the 20 with the most rebounds in EuroLeague history have averaged more than his career 5.4 boards per game.

Jankunas, 35, has played all but one of his professional seasons with Zalgiris, which he led to the EuroLeague Final Four just two seasons ago. He was named to the All-EuroLeague team that season, too. His trophy case includes 13 Lithuanian League championships and seven Lithuanian Cups, all with Zalgiris. Jankunas also won a silver medal at EuroBasket 2015 and a bronze at EuroBasket 2007 with the Lithuanian national team.