2020–21 LKL season

The 2020–21 Lietuvos krepšinio lyga, also called Betsafe-LKL for sponsorship reasons, was the 28th season of the top-tier level professional basketball league of Lithuania, the Lietuvos krepšinio lyga (LKL). Žalgiris achieved their 23rd title overall, eleven consecutive.[1]

Betsafe-LKL
Season2020–21
Duration18 September 2020 – 10 May 2021
(Regular season)
12 May 2021 – 9 June 2021
(Play-offs)
Number of games180 (Regular season)
Number of teams10
Regular season
Season MVPIceland Elvar Már Friðriksson
Finals
ChampionsŽalgiris (23rd title)
  Runners-upRytas
Third placeLietkabelis
Fourth placeJuventus
Finals MVPUnited States Thomas Walkup
Statistical leaders
Points Lithuania Vaidas Kariniauskas 16.61
Rebounds Lithuania Julius Kazakauskas 9.28
Assists Iceland Elvar Már Friðriksson 7.53
Index Rating Iceland Elvar Már Friðriksson 19.44
Records
Biggest home winŽalgiris 92–45 Rytas
(06 December 2020)
Biggest away winNevėžis–OPTIBET 53–108 Žalgiris
(06 February 2021)
Highest scoringJuventus 80–116 Žalgiris
(27 May 2021)
Winning streak20 games
Žalgiris
Losing streak9 games
Nevėžis-OPTIBET
Pieno žvaigždės
All statistics correct as of 11 July 2021.

Competition format

During the regular season, all teams play 36 games. The top eight teams in the regular season standings, after playing their entire 36 game schedule, qualified for the playoffs in the quarterfinals, that was played in a best-of-three games format. The semifinals were played in best-of-three format.

The final round was played between the two winners of the semifinals. The finals series, for first place, as also games for third place were played in a best-of-five format.

Notable events
  • On 30 September 2020, the LKL has reached a historic agreement - LKL will be broadcast in foreign countries for the first time since its establishment.[2]
  • On 9 October 2020, the LKL decided that the match between Žalgiris and Nevėžis-Optibet on 11 October 2020 and the match between Juventus and Alytus Dzūkija on 10 October 2020 are postponed.[3]
  • On 27 October 2020, the LKL Board has decided how to deal with the spread of COVID-19 infection and how the LKL championship matches will take place. The minimum number of players in a team in order to play a match is 8 players, if there is no such number of players in the team, the match will be suspended and postponed to the next date.[4]
  • On 27 April 2021, the LKL board decided that 11 teams will participate in the tournament for the next 2021-22 LKL season. Next season, a team from NKL Cbet Jonava, which won the NKL title this year, will join LKL. The team that will take last place this season will not relegate to NKL.[5]
  • On 7 June 2021, the last match of the Betsafe-LKL final series took place. Žalgiris won the Betsafe-LKL title, it is already the 23rd Žalgiris title and the 11th consecutive title.[6]

Teams

Location and arenas
Location of teams in 2020-21 LKL

Ten teams were granted licences for the 2020–21 LKL season.[7]

Team Location Arena Capacity
Cbet Prienai Prienai Prienai Arena 1,500
Dzūkija Alytus Alytus Arena 5,500
Juventus Utena Utena Arena 2,000
Lietkabelis Panevėžys Cido Arena 5,950
Neptūnas Klaipėda Švyturys Arena 6,200
Nevėžis-OPTIBET Kėdainiai Kėdainiai Arena 2,200
Pieno žvaigždės Pasvalys Pieno žvaigždės Arena 1,500
Rytas Vilnius Jeep Arena 2,500
Avia Solutions Group Arena 10,000
Šiauliai Šiauliai Šiauliai Arena 5,700
Žalgiris Kaunas Žalgiris Arena 15,708

Managerial changes
TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableReplaced withDate of appointment
Nevėžis-OPTIBETLithuania Marius KiltinavičiusMutual consent29 November 2020[8]6th (5–5)United States David Gale7 December 2020[9]
RytasLithuania Donaldas KairysSacked16 January 2021[10]3rd (9–5)Lithuania Giedrius Žibėnas1 February 2021[11]

Regular season

League table

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Qualification or relegation
1 Žalgiris 36 33 3 3277 2569 +708 Advance to playoffs
2 Rytas 36 27 9 3185 2858 +327
3 Lietkabelis 36 23 13 3052 2883 +169
4 Juventus 36 23 13 3202 3102 +100
5 Cbet Prienai 36 14 22 3020 3210 −190
6 Neptūnas 36 14 22 2841 3061 −220
7 Šiauliai 36 13 23 3066 3290 −224
8 Pieno žvaigždės 36 12 24 2864 3043 −179
9 Dzūkija 36 11 25 2909 3067 −158
10 Nevėžis-OPTIBET 36 10 26 2735 3068 −333
Source: LKL.LT

Results
Home \ Away CBE DZU JUV LTK NEP NEV PIE RYT SIA ZAL CBE DZU JUV LTK NEP NEV PIE RYT SIA ZAL
Cbet Prienai — 81–74 91–105 93–78 99–67 87–85 96–99 80–90 94–87 72–96 — 88–82 94–108 70–92 72–66 97–70 71–76 67–97 90–89 81–101
Dzūkija 91–77 — 82–97 86–70 63–71 80–74 76–84 80–90 87–81 62–95 82–86 — 76–92 90–96 77–86 87–76 96–85 86–95 88–98 78–95
Juventus 89–84 106–98 — 76–78 85–84 83–76 89–75 79–100 96–82 90–87 94–91 97–86 — 78–88 98–58 92–73 85–83 82–88 86–90 78–102
Lietkabelis 84–87 93–85 100–79 — 87–82 98–69 84–60 78–59 101–76 77–82 87–79 100–80 98–86 — 82–77 88–95 98–90 85–79 108–105 88–94
Neptūnas 92–69 84–81 88–97 80–90 — 76–70 80–74 60–98 88–94 74–104 92–81 81–64 89–91 83–73 — 84–83 99–93 59–90 107–106 72–88
Nevėžis 92–88 78–82 70–87 76–70 79–76 — 58–81 100–94 96–77 47–78 71–84 57–71 81–99 76–67 88–77 — 64–89 91–82 87–88 53–108
Pieno žvaigždės 104–89 79–68 69–79 63–82 73–77 72–82 — 82–79 87–64 67–81 79–85 79–86 80–95 77–80 72–86 84–71 — 75–84 70–88 63–93
Rytas 105–81 80–74 106–77 78–72 95–83 96–91 106–82 — 107–80 72–84 99–63 92–79 88–86 81–67 97–76 81–73 87–88 — 104–68 81–90
Šiauliai 95–86 71–102 92–87 84–86 80–74 87–85 80–81 78–86 — 74–88 99–105 75–82 94–112 97–87 99–68 85–73 103–90 85–98 — 86–105
Žalgiris 103–100 86–80 84–63 61–72 81–59 94–59 95–76 92–45 89–56 — 90–62 92–68 97–79 70–68 85–72 99–66 107–83 85–86 96–60 —
Source: LKL.LT
Legend: Blue = home team win; Red = away team win.
Matches with lighter background shading were decided after overtime.

Play–offs
Main article: 2021 LKL Playoffs

Quarterfinals will be played in a best–of–three games format, while semifinals and the finals in a best–of–five format.

Bracket
 
QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinals
 
          
 
 
 
 
Žalgiris2
 
 
 
Pieno žvaigždės0
 
Žalgiris3
 
 
 
Juventus0
 
Juventus2
 
 
 
Cbet Prienai0
 
Žalgiris3
 
 
 
Rytas0
 
Rytas2
 
 
 
Šiauliai0
 
Rytas3
 
 
 
Lietkabelis0 Third place
 
Lietkabelis2
 
 
 
Neptūnas0
 
Lietkabelis3
 
 
Juventus2
 

Lithuanian clubs in European competitions
TeamCompetitionProgress
ŽalgirisEuroLeague11th
LietkabelisEuroCupRegular season
RytasChampions LeagueRegular season

Awards

All official awards of the 2020–21 LKL season.

Regular Season MVP
Pos. Player Team Source
PGIceland Elvar Már FriðrikssonŠiauliai[12]

LKL Finals MVP
Pos. Player Team Source
PGUnited States Thomas WalkupŽalgiris[13]

Other awards
Award Player Team Source
Gentleman of the yearLithuania Arnas ButkevičiusRytas[14]
Breakthrough of the yearLithuania Margiris NormantasLietkabelis[15]
The best defensive playerUnited States Thomas WalkupŽalgiris[16]
The best young playerLithuania Rokas JokubaitisŽalgiris[17]

Best coach of the season
Coach Team Source
Lithuania Mantas ŠerniusCbet Prienai[18]

All-LKL Teams
First Team
Iceland Elvar Már Friðriksson Šiauliai
Lithuania Vaidas Kariniauskas Juventus
Lithuania Mindaugas Sušinskas Cbet Prienai
Lithuania Gytis Masiulis Lietkabelis
France Joffrey Lauvergne Žalgiris

Source:[19]

Player of the month
Month Player Team PIR Source
2020
SeptemberUnited States Demetrius JacksonRytas22[20]
OctoberLithuania Regimantas MiniotasCbet Prienai30.5[21]
NovemberIceland Elvar Már FriðrikssonŠiauliai27[22]
DecemberLithuania Edgaras ŽelionisPieno žvaigždės26[23]
2021
JanuaryLithuania Žygimantas SkučasJuventus22.7[24]
FebruaryLithuania Vaidas KariniauskasJuventus26.5[25]
MarchLithuania Tomas LekūnasPieno žvaigždės23.2[26]
AprilLithuania Mindaugas KupšasJuventus25.6[27]

Statistics

Rating
Rank Name Team Games Rating PIR
1.Iceland Elvar Már FriðrikssonŠiauliai3670019.44
2.Lithuania Julius KazakauskasNevėžis-OPTIBET3259218.50
3.Lithuania Mindaugas KupšasJuventus4684118.28

Source: LKL.LT

Points
Rank Name Team Games Points PPG
1.Lithuania Vaidas KariniauskasJuventus2846516.61
2.Puerto Rico Kyle VinalesLietkabelis3657816.06
3.United States Sedrick BarefieldNevėžis-OPTIBET2843415.50

Source: LKL.LT

Rebounds
Rank Name Team Games Rebounds RPG
1.Lithuania Julius KazakauskasNevėžis-OPTIBET322979.28
2.Lithuania Giedrius StaniulisDzūkija251917.64
3.Germany Ariel HukportiNevėžis–OPTIBET211557.38

Source: LKL.LT

Assists
Rank Name Team Games Assists APG
1.Iceland Elvar Már FriðrikssonŠiauliai362717.63
2.Lithuania Žygimantas JanavičiusNeptūnas312026.52
3.Lithuania Vaidas KariniauskasJuventus281736.18

Source: LKL.LT

Other statistics
Category Player Team Games Average
Steals Lithuania Margiris NormantasLietkabelis371.86
Blocks Germany Ariel HukportiNevėžis–OPTIBET211.24
Turnovers Lithuania Vaidas KariniauskasJuventus283.82
Fouls drawn Iceland Elvar Már FriðrikssonŠiauliai365.11
Minutes Lithuania Mindaugas SušinskasCbet Prienai3632:21
FT % United States Andrew GoudelockRytas3692.73%
2-Point % Latvia Kaspars BērziņšŠiauliai2373.40%
3-Point % Lithuania Gytis RadzevičiusRytas4351.69%

Source: LKL.LT

Individual game highs
Category Player Team Statistic Opponent
Rating Iceland Elvar Már FriðrikssonŠiauliai51Pieno žvaigždės (Apr 21, 2021)
Points Iceland Elvar Már FriðrikssonŠiauliai33Pieno žvaigždės (Apr 21, 2021)
Rebounds Lithuania Julius KazakauskasNevėžis-OPTIBET18Rytas (May 8, 2021)
Assists Iceland Elvar Már FriðrikssonŠiauliai17Neptūnas (May 7, 2021)
Steals Lithuania Margiris NormantasLietkabelis7Juventus (Jan 13, 2021)
Blocks Germany Ariel HukportiNevėžis-OPTIBET4Rytas (May 8, 2021)

Source: LKL.LT

Team statistics
Category Team Average
Rating Žalgiris112.89
Points Žalgiris91.66
Rebounds Nevėžis-OPTIBET37.22
Assists Žalgiris23.23
Steals Lietkabelis8.43
Blocks Juventus3.22
Turnovers Nevėžis-OPTIBET17.00
FT % Žalgiris81.09%
2-Point % Juventus60.89%
3-Point % Žalgiris42.27%

Source: LKL.LT

Sponsors

Title sponsor

General sponsor

Main sponsors

Sponsors

  • Pigu.lt
  • Samsung
  • Norfa
  • Perlas
  • Citybee
  • UNIQA
  • Bio-Circle
  • Charlie Pizza
  • Apranga Group
  • Molten
  • AirGuru

Technical partners

  • Alpera
  • Cobalt
  • Persence
  • TŪTA

Broadcast partners

  • BTV
  • Fanseat
  • Dimedia

Information partners

  • LNK
  • Delfi

Medical research partner

  • ANTĖJA laboratory

References
  1. "11-ąjį kartą iš eilės: "Žalgiris" – "Betsafe-LKL" čempionas". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 7 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  2. "Historic TV rights agreement: Lithuanian Basketball League will be broadcast abroad". en.lkl.lt. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  3. "Betsafe-LKL tvarkaraštyje – pokyčiai dėl COVID-19 atvejo Žalgiryje". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 9 October 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  4. "LKL valdyboje priimti sprendimai dėl čempionato vykdymo tvarkos didėjant COVID-19 infekcija užsikrėtusių žmonių skaičiui". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 27 October 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  5. "LKL valdyba nubalsavo – kitą sezoną čempionate rungtyniaus 11 komandų". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 27 April 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  6. "11-ąjį kartą iš eilės: "Žalgiris" – "Betsafe-LKL" čempionas". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 7 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  7. "2020–21 LKL sezonui licencijos suteiktos 10 klubu". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 3 August 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  8. ""Nevėžį-Optibet" ir toliau krečia permainos – klubą palieka Kiltinavičius". basketnews.lt (in Lithuanian). 29 November 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  9. "Su Valančiūnu konsultavęsis "Nevėžis" išsirinko naują vyr. trenerį". basketnews.lt. 7 December 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  10. "Permainos sostinėje: skiriasi "Ryto" ir D.Kairio keliai". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 16 January 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  11. ""Rytas" apsisprendė dėl vyr. trenerio". basketnews.lt (in Lithuanian). 1 February 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  12. ""Šiaulių" atradimu tapęs Fridrikssonas – LKL sezono MVP". basketnews.lt (in Lithuanian). 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  13. ""Betsafe-LKL" finalo serijos MVP – Th. Walkupas". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 7 June 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  14. "Metų džentelmenu išrinktas A. Butkevičius prieš antrąją finalo akistatą Vilniuje: "Tai bus žūtbūtinės rungtynės"". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 5 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  15. "Metų proveržiu tapęs M. Normantas: "Neseniai supratau, kad galiu kažką nuveikti krepšinyje"". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 3 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  16. "Geriausiai besiginančiu pripažintas Th. Walkupas: tai visos komandos, kurią esu įsimylėjęs, nuopelnas". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 2 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  17. "Geriausias "Betsafe-LKL" jaunasis žaidėjas – R. Jokubaitis". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 29 May 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  18. "Geriausias sezono treneris M. Šernius: "Kelios klaidos ir niekas nebūtų manęs prisiminęs"". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 28 May 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  19. "Išrinktas "Betsafe-LKL" pirmasis simbolinis penketas". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 1 June 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  20. "Mėnesio MVP tapęs D. Jacksonas – "Mano galvoje žodžiui pralaimėjimas vietos nėra"". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 1 October 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  21. "Spalio mėnesio MVP tapęs R.Miniotas: "Galvoti apie karjeros šuolį dar nesinori"". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 3 November 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  22. "Lapkričio mėnesio MVP tapęs E. M. Fridrikssonas: "Jaučiu, kad mūsų žaidimas gerėja"". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 30 November 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  23. "Gruodžio mėnesio MVP E.Želionis "Esame ne ką prastesni už pirmaujančias komandas"". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 6 January 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  24. "Sausio MVP tapęs Ž. Skučas: "Geras žaidimas prasidėjo tada, kai nustojau galvoti apie krepšinį"". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 4 February 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  25. "Vasario mėnesio MVP tapęs V. Kariniauskas: "Skaičiai dabar tikrai neeiliniai"". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 2 March 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  26. "Kovo MVP laurus susižėręs T. Lekūnas: "Apdovanojimas būtų malonesnis prie dešimties pergalių iš eilės"". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 1 April 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  27. "Mėnesio MVP tapęs M. Kupšas: "Atrodo, kad vis dar turiu papildomų rezervų"". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 4 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
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