# 2021–22 LKL season

The 2021–22 Lietuvos krepšinio lyga, also called Betsafe-LKL for sponsorship reasons, was the 29th season of the top-tier level professional basketball league of Lithuania, the Lietuvos krepšinio lyga (LKL). Žalgiris was defending champions.
For the first time since league's inception, Žalgiris failed to reach finals, after losing semifinal series to Lietkabelis 3–1
Rytas after 12 years break won Betsafe–LKL championship and achieved their 6th title overall.

## Teams
### Location and arenas

On 27 April 2021, during 2020–21 LKL season LKL board decided to expand the number of participating teams in tournament. The number of teams has been expanded to 11 teams. 2020-21 NKL season champions Cbet Jonava will join the other 10 LKL teams.
| Team | Location | Arena | Capacity |
| Cbet Jonava | Jonava | Jonava Arena | 2,200 |
| Dzūkija | Alytus | Alytus Arena | 5,500 |
| Labas Gas | Prienai | Prienai Arena | 1,500 |
| 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 |
| Rytas | Vilnius | Avia Solutions Group Arena | 10,000 |
| Šiauliai-7bet | Šiauliai | Šiauliai Arena | 5,700 |
| Uniclub Casino – Juventus | Utena | Utena Arena | 2,000 |
| Žalgiris | Kaunas | Žalgiris Arena | 15,415 |

### Managerial changes

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Replaced with | Date of appointment |
| Nevėžis–OPTIBET | Marius Kiltinavičius | Signed by Sūduva-Mantinga | 21 June 2021 | Pre-season | Gediminas Petrauskas | 21 June 2021 |
| Pieno žvaigždės | Gediminas Petrauskas | Signed by Nevėžis–OPTIBET | 21 June 2021 | Pre-season | Mantas Šernius | 22 June 2021 |
| Labas Gas | Mantas Šernius | Signed by Pieno žvaigždės | 22 June 2021 | Pre-season | Marius Leonavičius | 16 August 2021 |
| Dzūkija | Nikola Vasilev | Mutual consent | 15 August 2021 | Pre-season | Ramūnas Cvirka | 15 August 2021 |
| Žalgiris | Martin Schiller | Sacked | 08 October 2021 | 1st (4–0) | Jure Zdovc | 08 October 2021 |
| Neptūnas | Tomas Gaidamavičius | Mutual consent | 11 December 2021 | 9th (2–7) | Dainius Adomaitis | 18 December 2021 |
| Uniclub Casino – Juventus | Žydrūnas Urbonas | Resigned | 30 March 2022 | 6th (11–12) | | |
| Žalgiris | Jure Zdovc | Mutual consent | 11 April 2022 | 2nd (22–3) | Kazys Maksvytis | 11 April 2022 |

## Regular season
### League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Rytas | 30 | 26 | 4 | 2685 | 2257 | +428 | Advance to playoffs |
| 2 | Žalgiris | 30 | 26 | 4 | 2578 | 2247 | +331 | Advance to playoffs |
| 3 | Lietkabelis | 30 | 23 | 7 | 2522 | 2233 | +289 | Advance to playoffs |
| 4 | Cbet Jonava | 30 | 16 | 14 | 2373 | 2451 | −78 | Advance to playoffs |
| 5 | Šiauliai–7bet | 30 | 15 | 15 | 2459 | 2464 | −5 | Advance to playoffs |
| 6 | Uniclub Casino – Juventus | 30 | 15 | 15 | 2526 | 2485 | +41 | Advance to playoffs |
| 7 | Neptūnas | 30 | 14 | 16 | 2332 | 2390 | −58 | Advance to playoffs |
| 8 | Dzūkija | 30 | 11 | 19 | 2291 | 2427 | −136 | Advance to playoffs |
| 9 | Pieno žvaigždės | 30 | 9 | 21 | 2423 | 2615 | −192 | |
| 10 | Nevėžis-OPTIBET | 30 | 7 | 23 | 2349 | 2635 | −286 | |
| 11 | Labas GAS | 30 | 3 | 27 | 2310 | 2644 | −334 | |

### Results

| Home \ Away | CBE | DZU | GAS | LTK | NEP | NEV | PIE | RYT | SIA | JUV | ZAL | CBE | DZU | GAS | LTK | NEP | NEV | PIE | RYT | SIA | JUV | ZAL |
| Cbet Jonava | — | 85–63 | 93–77 | 74–66 | 64–89 | 88–76 | 77–69 | 79–94 | 58–69 | 86–80 | 80–86 | — | — | 100–84 | — | — | — | 91–82 | 67–91 | 62–79 | 65–71 | 100–97 |
| Dzūkija | 86–62 | — | 72–69 | 65–76 | 67–79 | 81–66 | 92–86 | 61–88 | 75–66 | 83–80 | 100–105 | 73–81 | — | — | 86–90 | 64–65 | 93–76 | — | — | — | — | 63–74 |
| Labas GAS | 68–81 | 70–77 | — | 65–92 | 62–87 | 93–102 | 79–87 | 68–82 | 88–109 | 80–74 | 78–81 | — | 62–72 | — | — | 63–73 | 86–97 | — | — | — | 88–81 | 71–88 |
| Lietkabelis | 88–69 | 94–63 | 87–69 | — | 83–62 | 60–67 | 88–70 | 83–80 | 87–76 | 92–89 | 69–73 | 103–71 | — | 82–73 | — | — | — | 82–87 | 86–90 | 71–66 | — | 85–67 |
| Neptūnas | 75–87 | 70–85 | 88–82 | 53–81 | — | 94–87 | 75–71 | 81–89 | 86–94 | 79–88 | 60–77 | 75–78 | — | — | 73–83 | — | 95–61 | 91–95 | 93–88 | — | — | 57–77 |
| Nevėžis–OPTIBET | 95–100 | 83–78 | 90–80 | 77–78 | 83–88 | — | 73–79 | 68–100 | 66–79 | 73–75 | 69–77 | 88–92 | — | — | 60–85 | — | — | 85–92 | 85–109 | 93–83 | — | 64–72 |
| Pieno žvaigždės | 76–80 | 75–81 | 78–81 | 97–107 | 69–82 | 87–88 | — | 66–76 | 108–90 | 76–90 | 69–85 | — | 101–78 | 106–102 | — | — | — | — | — | 67–89 | 92–84 | 83–102 |
| Rytas | 76–60 | 81–65 | 106–77 | 85–71 | 97–76 | 108–73 | 91–75 | — | 79–76 | 89–111 | 67–72 | — | 88–68 | 86–70 | — | — | — | 99–66 | — | 101–68 | 82–74 | 87–74 |
| Šiauliai-7bet | 93–87 | 97–85 | 86–80 | 74–97 | 75–77 | 91–77 | 84–62 | 77–89 | — | 80–66 | 64–97 | — | 84–83 | 96–93 | — | 84–87 | — | — | — | — | 91–94 | 86–89 |
| Uniclub Casino – Juventus | 89–86 | 101–84 | 88–75 | 75–92 | 76–64 | 94–77 | 94–82 | 92–103 | 70–79 | — | 71–78 | — | 95–78 | — | 93–94 | 82–79 | 96–73 | — | — | — | — | 76–84 |
| Žalgiris | 93–70 | 78–70 | 103–77 | 84–70 | 98–79 | 102–77 | 99–70 | 75–84 | 90–74 | 101–77 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |

## Playoffs

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

### Bracket

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| Rytas | Rytas | Rytas | 76 | 73 | 87 | 92 | – | | | | | | | | |
| Dzūkija | Dzūkija | Dzūkija | 63 | 80 | 59 | 66 | – | | | | | | | | |
| Dzūkija | Dzūkija | Dzūkija | 63 | 80 | 59 | 66 | – | Rytas | Rytas | Rytas | 97 | 72 | 94 | 87 | – |
| | | | | | | | | Šiauliai–7bet | Šiauliai–7bet | Šiauliai–7bet | 75 | 84 | 79 | 77 | – |
| Cbet Jonava | Cbet Jonava | Cbet Jonava | 82 | 66 | 70 | 65 | – | Šiauliai–7bet | Šiauliai–7bet | Šiauliai–7bet | 75 | 84 | 79 | 77 | – |
| Šiauliai–7bet | Šiauliai–7bet | Šiauliai–7bet | 79 | 88 | 72 | 79 | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Šiauliai–7bet | Šiauliai–7bet | Šiauliai–7bet | 79 | 88 | 72 | 79 | – | | | | | | | | | Rytas | 68 | 88 | 85 | 78 | 79 | – | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Lietkabelis | 77 | 66 | 63 | 77 | 76 | – | – |
| Žalgiris | Žalgiris | Žalgiris | 92 | 68 | 87 | 78 | 89 | | | | | | | | | Lietkabelis | 77 | 66 | 63 | 77 | 76 | – | – |
| Neptūnas | Neptūnas | Neptūnas | 88 | 70 | 71 | 87 | 60 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Neptūnas | Neptūnas | Neptūnas | 88 | 70 | 71 | 87 | 60 | Žalgiris | Žalgiris | Žalgiris | 71 | 55 | 69 | 75 | – | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | Lietkabelis | Lietkabelis | Lietkabelis | 70 | 79 | 73 | 86 | – | Third place | Third place | Third place | Third place | Third place | Third place | Third place | Third place |
| Lietkabelis | Lietkabelis | Lietkabelis | 102 | 95 | 92 | – | – | Lietkabelis | Lietkabelis | Lietkabelis | 70 | 79 | 73 | 86 | – | Third place | Third place | Third place | Third place | Third place | Third place | Third place | Third place |
| Uniclub Casino — Juventus | Uniclub Casino — Juventus | Uniclub Casino — Juventus | 101 | 73 | 87 | – | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Uniclub Casino — Juventus | Uniclub Casino — Juventus | Uniclub Casino — Juventus | 101 | 73 | 87 | – | – | | | | | | | | | Žalgiris | 92 | 90 | 85 | 89 | – | – | – |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Šiauliai–7bet | 75 | 85 | 70 | 76 | – | – | – |

## Final standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Rytas (C) | 43 | 36 | 7 | Qualification to Champions League regular season |
| 2 | Lietkabelis | 42 | 30 | 12 | Qualification to EuroCup |
| 3 | Žalgiris | 43 | 34 | 9 | Already qualified to EuroLeague |
| 4 | Šiauliai–7bet | 42 | 19 | 23 | Qualification to Champions League qualifying rounds |
| 5 | Cbet Jonava | 34 | 17 | 17 | |
| 6 | Uniclub Casino – Juventus | 33 | 15 | 18 | |
| 7 | Neptūnas | 35 | 16 | 19 | |
| 8 | Dzūkija | 34 | 12 | 22 | |
| 9 | Pieno žvaigždės | 30 | 9 | 21 | |
| 10 | Nevėžis-OPTIBET | 30 | 7 | 23 | |
| 11 | Labas GAS | 30 | 3 | 27 | |

## Attendance
### Average attendances

| Pos | Team | Total | High | Low | Average |
| 1 | Žalgiris | 39,091 | 5,603 | 1,000 | 2,299$^†$ |
| 2 | Rytas | 49,141 | 9,006 | 806 | 2,137$^†$ |
| 3 | Šiauliai–7bet | 44,412 | 4,867 | 720 | 2,115$^†$ |
| 4 | Lietkabelis | 42,048 | 6,480 | 510 | 1,911$^†$ |
| 5 | Neptūnas | 17,228 | 2,578 | 355 | 957$^†$ |
| 6 | Uniclub Casino – Juventus | 14,131 | 1,957 | 378 | 883$^†$ |
| 7 | Cbet Jonava | 14,098 | 1,700 | 382 | 783$^†$ |
| 8 | Nevėžis-OPTIBET | 8,810 | 1,322 | 305 | 551$^†$ |
| 9 | Dzūkija | 6,310 | 780 | 180 | 371$^†$ |
| 10 | Pieno žvaigždės | 5,180 | 1,000 | 150 | 345$^†$ |
| 11 | Labas GAS | 4,733 | 1,100 | 130 | 316$^†$ |
| | League total | 245,182 | 9,006 | 130 | 1,239$^†$ |
Source: LKL.LT

## Awards

All official awards of the 2021-22 LKL season.

### Regular Season MVP

| Pos. | Player | Team | Source |
| C | Ivan Buva | Rytas | |

### LKL Finals MVP

| Pos. | Player | Team | Source |
| SF\PF | Arnas Butkevičius | Rytas | |

### All-LKL Team

| Player | Team |
| Lukas Lekavičius | Žalgiris |
| Jon Elmore | Šiauliai-7bet |
| Arnas Butkevičius | Rytas |
| Gediminas Orelik | Lietkabelis |
| Ivan Buva | Rytas |

### Coach of the Year

| Player | Team | Source |
| Giedrius Žibėnas | Rytas | |

### Best Defender

| Player | Team | Source |
| Vytenis Lipkevičius | Lietkabelis | |

### Breakthrough of the Year

| Player | Team | Source |
| Panagiotis Kalaitzakis | Lietkabelis | |

### Player of the month

| Month | Player | Team | PIR |
| 2021 |||||
| September | Jon Elmore | Šiauliai–7bet | 19.7 |
| October | Patrick Miller | Uniclub Casino – Juventus | 28 |
| November | Giedrius Staniulis | Šiauliai-7bet | 26 |
| December | Đorđe Gagić | Lietkabelis | 26.3 |
| 2022 |||||
| January | Manu Lecomte | Cbet Jonava | 28 |
| February | Manu Lecomte | Cbet Jonava | 32.5 |
| March | Ivan Buva | Rytas | 21 |
| April | Juan Palacios | Cbet Jonava | 27.6 |

## Statistics
### Individual statistics
#### Rating

| Rank | Name | Team | Games | Rating | PIR |
| 1. | Ivan Buva | Rytas | 34 | 626 | 18.41 |
| 2. | Patrick Miller | Uniclub Casino – Juventus | 29 | 531 | 18.31 |
| 3. | Amar Sylla | Nevėžis–OPTIBET | 29 | 498 | 17.17 |
Source: LKL.LT

#### Points

| Rank | Name | Team | Games | Points | PPG |
| 1. | Patrick Miller | Uniclub Casino – Juventus | 29 | 520 | 17.93 |
| 2. | Ivan Buva | Rytas | 34 | 560 | 16.47 |
| 3. | Deividas Gailius | Neptūnas | 31 | 500 | 16.13 |
Source: LKL.LT

#### Rebounds

| Rank | Name | Team | Games | Rebounds | RPG |
| 1. | Amar Sylla | Nevėžis-OPTIBET | 29 | 221 | 7.62 |
| 2. | Juan Palacios | Cbet Jonava | 24 | 182 | 7.58 |
| 3. | Benas Griciūnas | Neptūnas | 34 | 229 | 6.74 |
Source: LKL.LT

#### Assists

| Rank | Name | Team | Games | Assists | APG |
| 1. | Žygimantas Janavičius | Neptūnas | 32 | 219 | 6.84 |
| 2. | Speedy Smith | Rytas | 40 | 229 | 5.73 |
| 3. | Jon Elmore | Šiauliai–7bet | 30 | 165 | 5.50 |
Source: LKL.LT

#### Other statistics

| Category | Player | Team | Games | Average |
| Steals | Randy Culpepper | Pieno žvaigždės | 18 | 2.50 |
| Blocks | Amar Sylla | Nevėžis–OPTIBET | 29 | 2.17 |
| Turnovers | Ignas Sargiūnas | Labas Gas | 30 | 2.87 |
| Fouls drawn | Patrick Miller | Uniclub Casino – Juventus | 29 | 5.24 |
| Minutes | Arnas Beručka | Pieno žvaigždės | 31 | 33:23 |
| FT % | Mindaugas Girdžiūnas | Rytas | 24 | 90.24% |
| 2-Point % | Edgaras Želionis | Neptūnas | 32 | 71.32% |
| 3-Point % | Lukas Lekavičius | Žalgiris | 36 | 47.46% |
Source: LKL.LT

### Individual game highs

| Category | Player | Team | Opponent | Statistic |
| Rating | Ivan Buva | Rytas | Cbet Jonava (Jan 13, 2022) | 49 |
| Points | Juan Palacios | Cbet Jonava | Labas Gas (Apr 27, 2022) | 36 |
| Rebounds | Juan Palacios | Cbet Jonava | Šiauliai–7bet (Mar 6, 2022) | 18 |
| Assists | Vaidas Kariniauskas | Rytas | Nevėžis–OPTIBET (Feb 13, 2022) | 15 |
| Steals | Markell Johnson | Pieno žvaigždės | Nevėžis–OPTIBET (Nov 20, 2021) | 6 |
| Steals | Randy Culpepper | Pieno žvaigždės | Labas Gas (Mar 27, 2022) | 6 |
| Steals | Juan Palacios | Cbet Jonava | Šiauliai–7bet (May 6, 2022) | 6 |
| Blocks | Amar Sylla | Nevėžis–OPTIBET | Žalgiris (Apr 14, 2022) | 6 |
Source: LKL.LT

### Team statistics

| Category | Team | Average |
| Rating | Rytas | 102.58 |
| Points | Rytas | 87.47 |
| Rebounds | Neptūnas | 36.63 |
| Assists | Žalgiris | 20.96 |
| Steals | Lietkabelis | 8.49 |
| Blocks | Labas Gas | 3.55 |
| Turnovers | Neptūnas | 15.77 |
| FT % | Žalgiris | 79.09% |
| 2-Point % | Neptūnas | 57.52% |
| 3-Point % | Žalgiris | 39.36% |
Source: LKL.LT

## Lithuanian clubs in European competitions

| Team | Competition | Progress |
| Žalgiris | EuroLeague | Regular Season |
| Lietkabelis | EuroCup | Eighthfinals |
| Rytas | Champions League | Round of 16 |
| Juventus | Champions League | Qualifying rounds |