Basketball Club Neptà «nas (), commonly known as Neptà «nas or Neptà «nas KlaipÃÂda, is a Lithuanian professional basketball club based in KlaipÃÂda, Lithuania. The club participates in the Lithuanian Basketball League. It was founded in 1962 under the name BC Maistas (English: food) and in 1964, BC Maistas's name was changed to BC Neptà «nas. The club carries the name of the Roman sea god Neptune. Neptà «nas participated in the 2014âÂÂ15 EuroLeague season and is only the third Lithuanian club to participate in the premier European basketball league, after à ½algiris and Rytas.
In 1966 Neptà «nas won the à ½algiris friendship championship and next year with the same roster became runners-up.
Since 1970 there have been many changes in the team: coaches and players left the team and were replaced with new team members, so the team did not achieve better results. In 1975 KlaipÃÂda's community decided to change the team from its foundations based on people from KlaipÃÂda and the Samogitia region, who also finished studies in the cities of Vilnius and Kaunas. There were young and prospective players, whose energy helped to reach better results in a period of two years, including 3rd place in Lithuanian Spartakiada; in 1981 and 1982 they became runners-up of newspaper Sports championship, and also in 1983 they became champions of the Soviet Union Professional Union championship.
The Lithuanian Basketball Association was founded in 1993, when eight of the strongest Lithuanian basketball clubs' officials met with the representatives of the à  arà «nas MarÃÂiulionis basketball fund. Neptà «nas was among that eight. This association would soon announce their basketball league that would start in the upcoming fall.
During the founding 1993âÂÂ1994 LKL season, Neptà «nas finished last, reaching only 4 victories per 36 games, despite the tireless efforts shown by Gintautas Bendà ¾ius, who averaged almost 20 points per game and was the third best scorer in the whole league. In the following season Neptà «nas slightly improved, reaching 10 victories and suffering 30 defeats, with the help of a 21-year-old native Eurelijus à ½ukauskas, who quickly started becoming the star of the team and later was even nicknamed the "Lithuanian king of blocks".
In the 1995âÂÂ1996 LKL season, Neptà «nas progressed even further. With Svajà «nas Airoà ¡ius, Aloyzas Vasilià «nas, and Artà «ras Jakubauskas averaging double-digits in points and Eurelijus à ½ukauskas often adding solid double-doubles, the team qualified into the LKL playoffs for the first time with 17 victories as the 7th seed. But they were eliminated by the Lithuanian powerhouse à ½algiris Kaunas 0âÂÂ2, after failing to guard the Lithuanian star and Olympic champion Rimas Kurtinaitis, who averaged 25.5 points over these games.
Neptà «nas continued to show progress in the 1996âÂÂ1997 season, qualifying for the LKL playoffs again by accomplishing a solid 19âÂÂ17 record, the first with over 50% victories ratio in the club's LKL history. Despite losing the first series game versus BC à  iauliai 80âÂÂ69, on April 4, 1997, Neptà «nas achieved their first-ever victory in the LKL playoffs in a dominating fashion 88âÂÂ60. Yet after à  iauliai's 88âÂÂ73 revenge two days later, the series was lost 1âÂÂ2. It was the last game for Eurelijus à ½ukauskas in a Neptà «nas jersey, who, after averaging 15.7 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.1 blocks, joined à ½algiris and soon became a EuroLeague champion and a multiple medalist with the Lithuania men's national basketball team. Another Neptà «nas leader Artà «ras Jakubauskas left the team as well.
Following the loss of two long-term leaders, the team failed to compete with the same form during the 1997âÂÂ1998 LKL season. Neptà «nas finished as the 8th seed during the regular season with a 6âÂÂ12 record, but after an unsuccessful second round they finished just 9th among 10 teams. The only consolation of the season was notable progress demonstrated by an 18-year-old Arvydas Macijauskas, who would later become one of the primary faces of Lithuanian basketball.
The 1998âÂÂ1999 season was remarkably different as on October 6, 1998, Neptà «nas debuted in the FIBA KoraàCup, their first European tournament during a game versus the Espoon Honka, which they lost 93âÂÂ73. But afterwards the team, led by Svajà «nas Airoà ¡ius, Arà «nas Seferis and Arvydas Macijauskas, finished with a 4âÂÂ2 record, claimed the second place in the group and advanced into the sixteenth-finals. They were stopped at that stage by Darüà Âà Âafaka, losing the series 0âÂÂ2. Neptà «nas also returned to the LKL playoffs that season after finishing 5th during the regular season. They were eliminated by BC à  iauliai yet again, this time 1âÂÂ2. After the season, Arvydas Macijauskas signed with the Lietuvos rytas Vilnius.
During the 1999âÂÂ2000 FIBA KoraàCup season, Neptà «nas had less fortune than in the previous year. They were drawn into the group H, finished with just a 1âÂÂ5 record, and after taking the 3rd spot in the group did not advance further. In the LKL, Neptà «nas finished 8th and failed to challenge à ½algiris Kaunas in the first round of LKL playoffs, losing the series 0âÂÂ2 with an average of 30 points difference.
After the 1999âÂÂ2000 season, Neptà «nas became a constant LKL playoffs participant, though at first they were unable to overcome the quarter-finals barrier. During the 2000âÂÂ2001 LKL season, Neptà «nas, led by one of the LKL's best scorer and playmaker Vidas GineviÃÂius (19.59 points, 4.32 assists per game), finished in a desired 3rd seed during the regular season, but was shockingly eliminated 0âÂÂ2 by the Alita Alytus in the quarter-final. During the following 2001âÂÂ2002 LKL season, Neptà «nas triumphed just 10 times per 32 games, but that was enough to qualify for the LKL playoffs as the 8th seed, although they were quickly wiped out 0âÂÂ2 by an uprising Lithuanian powerhouse Lietuvos rytas Vilnius, led by young and hungry Ramà «nas à  ià ¡kauskas, Robertas Javtokas, Simas Jasaitis, Rimantas KaukÃÂnas and a former Neptà «nas player Arvydas Macijauskas. The 2002âÂÂ2003 LKL season was only slightly different; this time the Neptà «nas squad finished 6th in the regular season, but yet again was smashed 0âÂÂ2 in the quarter-final by BC à  iauliai, in spite of all of Tomas Delininkaitis's efforts. In the 2003âÂÂ2004 season, Neptà «nas reached the all-time bottom by winning just 6 times per 36 games and finishing last in the league (10th), including an absolutely disastrous 22 game losing streak.
The 2004âÂÂ2005 season was a bit more positive page in the club's history. During it, Neptà «nas finished 4th during the regular LKL season and advanced to the TOP 5 teams of the league group, however Neptà «nas was once again eliminated by BC à  iauliai in the knockout stage 1âÂÂ2 and finished 5th in the final rankings. During the 2005 LKL All-Star Day, Petras à  alvis won the club's third LKL Three-point Shootout title. The team also participated in the Baltic Basketball League Elite Division for the first time as well, finishing 5th. Neptà «nas slightly regressed again in the following 2005âÂÂ2006 season, finishing 6th during the regular LKL season and, as previously, lost the first round of the LKL playoffs to BC à  iauliai 0âÂÂ2 and finished only 10th in the BBL, with the only consolations being the club's fourth LKL Three-point Shootout title captured by Marius KasiuleviÃÂius and the club's first-ever LKL Slam Dunk Contest champion title by Antonio Grant.
In the 2006âÂÂ2007 season, Neptà «nas finished 3rd during the regular LKL season for the second time in the club's history. Furthermore, they also finally sailed through the quarter-final stage of the LKL playoffs by overcoming the NevÃÂà ¾is KÃÂdainiai 2âÂÂ0. But Neptà «nas' journey was again stopped by Lietuvos rytas at semi-finals 0âÂÂ2, and Neptà «nas qualified for their first historical LKL bronze final. The aspiration for the first-ever LKL medal was crushed by gallingly losing the series 0âÂÂ3 to BC à  iauliai, with two home games being lost by just three and two points. In BBL, the team finished 2 places lower than in the previous season (12th).
Before the 2007âÂÂ2008 season, Neptà «nas signed with 19-year-old Deividas Gailius, who would soon lead Neptà «nas during some of the club's most historic moments. However that season the team did not have much luck on the court. They ended up 5th during the regular LKL season and were once more eliminated in the quarter-final, this time by BC Alytus 1âÂÂ2. The first series game, which could have made the series completely opposite, was dramatically lost by just three points in Alytus. Moreover, Neptà «nas disappointingly finished only 16th in the BBL Elite Division. This was the club's worst and the last appearance in the elite division of the league.
The first part of the 2008âÂÂ2009 LKL season finished almost identically when the club finished as the 5th seed, however the playoffs were drastically different. Neptà «nas overcame the LKL quarter-final for the second time in history, beating NevÃÂà ¾is 2âÂÂ1. And after losing the semi-final to à ½algiris 0âÂÂ2, Neptà «nas returned to the bronze final for another try where they yet again faced a long-term rival BC à  iauliai. Despite the militant efforts and the thirst for a long-awaited revenge, the series was lost 2âÂÂ3 following another dramatic defeat of 73âÂÂ80 in à  iauliai, with Valdas Vasylius and Arvydas EitutaviÃÂius scoring more than half of the team's points (45).
In the 2009âÂÂ2010 LKL season, Neptà «nas, led by a future team's manager Osvaldas Kurauskas, clinched the 5th spot during the regular season for a third straight year and was eliminated by the Juventus Utena 0âÂÂ2 in the quarter-final. The 2010âÂÂ2011 LKL regular season achieved just one less victory than the previous season, however this resulted in finishing only 8th and facing off the upcoming champions à ½algiris Kaunas in the first round of the playoffs. Regardless of being smashed 61âÂÂ96 in Kaunas during the first series encounter, the team, led by a captain Martynas Maà ¾eika, mightily fought in their home arena, this time losing only 82âÂÂ88. Nevertheless, with the à  vyturys Arena being built in the city, the historical victories and achievements were yet to come.
2012 was a memorable year for Neptà «nas as they were invited to VTB United League, despite the fact that they only took 6th place in LKL the previous season. Club director Osvaldas Kurauskas said that they are not going to be group outsiders and that they will raise the club's budget for the next season. Neptà «nas debuted in VTB United League on October 7, 2012, against CSKA Moscow. Despite a powerful opponent Neptà «nas won two quarters by one point (23âÂÂ22, 14âÂÂ13), however it was not enough to win the game as Neptà «nas lost 72âÂÂ83. After the season in the VTB United League, they were last in the group, however they were invited to continue playing in this league for another season. Despite poor results in the VTB League, where they finished with a dismal 3âÂÂ15 record, Neptà «nas recovered in the LKL, thanks to very solid play from leader Deividas Gailius, finishing 3rd and winning the bronze medals for the first time in club history, in a competitive series against BC Prienai, winning 3âÂÂ2.
The 2013âÂÂ14 season was not less memorable for Neptà «nas. During the regular season, Neptà «nas defeated LKL champion and constant EuroLeague participant à ½algiris Kaunas several times, with the results 81âÂÂ73 at à  vyturys Arena and 79âÂÂ88 at à ½algiris Arena. In the regular LKL season Neptà «nas took third place and met à  iauliai in the quarter-finals, who they eliminated with a series result of 2âÂÂ1. Neptà «nas also won the semi-finals against Prienai TonyBet with a result of 2-0 and qualified to the LKL finals for the first time in club history. In the finals Neptà «nas met previously defeated à ½algiris. Despite two former victories during the regular season, basketball experts were widely skeptical that Neptà «nas could win any games there. Nevertheless, the militant Neptà «nas showed that they can fight against à ½algiris and won their first LKL final series game with a 71âÂÂ59 score in crammed à  vyturys Arena, however then Neptà «nas lost three games to à ½algiris and almost lost all the chances of winning the series. In spite of that, Neptà «nas did not give up and won the fifth series game with a score of 87âÂÂ86, however they failed to do that again in the sixth series game and after being crushed 90âÂÂ70, lost the LKL final series with a result of 4âÂÂ2. Despite a sufficiently successful LKL season, Neptà «nas had tough times in international competitions. In the second-tier European league EuroCup Neptà «nas won four games out of ten and after taking fifth place of sixth in the group did not qualify into the second stage. Neptà «nas also participated in VTB United League, however there, after winning five of eighteen games, Neptà «nas did not qualify into the playoffs and took eighth place out of ten in the group. Following the best LKL season in club history, on June 25, 2014, Neptà «nas was invited to join the prestigious EuroLeague as an LKL vice-champion for the 2014âÂÂ15 season.
Before their debut in the EuroLeague, Neptà «nas recalled former team leader Deividas Gailius. Multiple LKL champion Donatas Zavackas and UBL champion Michailas Anisimovas were signed as well. However, Anisimovas left the team shortly afterward without debuting in the EuroLeague due to the Russo-Ukrainian war. On October 15, 2014, Neptà «nas played their first EuroLeague game against the Laboral Kutxa, which they lost 69âÂÂ88 despite playing more than two quarters point-to-point. On October 23, 2014, Neptà «nas achieved the club's first EuroLeague victory against KK Crvena zvezda with a score of 83âÂÂ81 after the Valdas Vasylius winning shot 3 seconds away from over-time. This was the first EuroLeague game played in the Neptà «nas home-court. On October 31, 2014, Neptà «nas lost their third EuroLeague game only after OT 81âÂÂ85 against one of the strongest tournament teams, Olympiacos Piraeus, two times EuroLeague champion over the past three years. Despite being competitive and cherishing a chance of qualifying for the TOP16 stage, Neptà «nas failed to accomplish this in their debut EuroLeague season, winning 4 games of 10 total and taking 5th place in the group. It was just one step from the TOP16's qualifier Galatasaray, who also finished with a 4âÂÂ10 record. As a result, Neptà «nas was transferred to the EuroCup Last 32 stage. The EuroCup was just a terrible place for Neptà «nas. There they won only once against Paris-Levallois Basket, suffered five defeats and took last place in the group. A promising season in international competitions was finished painfully.
On February 20âÂÂ22, Neptà «nas participated in the 2015 LKF Cup. They surprisingly lost the quarter-finals game to à  iauliai 71âÂÂ73 and ended the appearance in competition early.
Neptà «nas recovered in the LKL, playing very solidly, even splitting the season series with à ½algiris. They defeated the Lithuanian powerhouse twice in two weeks: 67âÂÂ65 in KlaipÃÂda and 90âÂÂ86 in Kaunas. Deividas Gailius led Neptà «nas during these two games. But they took only the third spot during the regular season due to the unfavorable results versus Lietuvos rytas. Neptà «nas defeated Dzà «kija with the series result of 3âÂÂ1, losing only once in Alytus 56âÂÂ65. The semi-finals began unsuccessfully for the team versus Lietuvos rytas. Despite holding up close to the opponents the whole game, Neptà «nas lost during the final minutes 88âÂÂ79 in Vilnius. But Neptà «nas, led by Deividas Gailius (22 points) and Arnas ButkeviÃÂius (20 points), successfully got revenge in KlaipÃÂda, overcoming Rytas 107âÂÂ101 after OT. The semi-final series was tied at 1âÂÂ1. But Neptà «nas lost another thriller 96âÂÂ89 two days later in Vilnius and ended up on the edge of the precipice. Furthermore, primary Neptà «nas center Simas Galdikas suffered a painful leg injury, after stepping on Kà ¡yà ¡tof LavrinoviÃÂ's feet. Despite that, the team's coach Kazys Maksvytis said that "we will meet in Vilnius again". This promise did not came true following the 87âÂÂ92 loss at home. Neptà «nas lost the semi-final series 3âÂÂ1 to Lietuvos rytas. And then Neptà «nas suffered the biggest fiasco of the season. They shockingly lost to Juventus in the LKL bronze medals series 2âÂÂ3, including an embarrassing defeat in the decisive game 69âÂÂ84 in the home arena.
Neptà «nas had the highest attendance rate in all of LKL during this season (3,022 spectators per game).
Following the lost LKL semi-final and the bronze final last season, Neptà «nas did not automatically qualify into the EuroCup. But on June 29, 2015, they received the wild card to the tournament. For the first time in history, three Lithuanian basketball clubs were invited to participate in the second-tier European league. Krasta Auto (authorized BMW dealer in Lithuania) became one of the club sponsors, giving brand-new cars for the club members.
Neptà «nas began the summer by losing former leader Deividas Gailius, who signed with Lietuvos rytas Vilnius. Gailius was replaced with one of the last season Juventus leaders Arvydas à  ikà ¡nius. Furthermore, former Juventus head coach Dainius Adomaitis signed a two-year deal with Neptà «nas as well. Past Lithuania men's national basketball team head coach KÃÂstutis Kemzà «ra, Olympic champion Valdemaras ChomiÃÂius, Lithuania national team head coach assistant Darius Maskolià «nas and Gediminas Petrauskas were other solid candidates to replace Kazys Maksvytis. Neptà «nas captain Martynas Maà ¾eika signed a new two-year contract with the club. It was his 11th season at Neptà «nas. Vytautas à  arakauskas and Simas Galdikas stayed with Neptà «nas as well, both signing two-year contracts with the club. One of BK Ventspils's leaders Jerai Grant became the club's first foreigner in the summer of 2015. University of Rhode Island graduate Gilvydas Biruta, who represented the Denver Nuggets during the 2015 NBA Summer League, also joined BC Neptà «nas. Three times Polish league champion and experienced EuroLeague player Daniel Ewing became Neptà «nas' main point guard on August 15, 2015. Neptà «nas also signed multiple NCAA three-pointers record holder Travis Bader to strengthen the shooting guard position.
On October 14, 2015, the new 2015âÂÂ16 EuroCup season began with a loss to the powerful Galatasaray S.K. squad 90âÂÂ94 in KlaipÃÂda. The second game versus the Hapoel Jerusalem was not successful either, losing it 74âÂÂ59. But afterwards the team began showing a very solid form. They won 6 of 7 games, including the noteworthy away games victories versus the BC Nizhny Novgorod 78âÂÂ82 and Galatasaray S.K. 76âÂÂ82, both of them being EuroLeague Top 16 participants last season. During the last match of the regular season versus the AEK, Neptà «nas was even able to guarantee the first place in the group, but after dissipating a 16-point advantage in the third quarter, lost it 75âÂÂ71 and finished second. Just before the start of the EuroCup's Last 32 stage, Trent Plaisted replaced Simas Galdikas. Despite a very successful first stage, the Last 32 phase began with a desperate loss to Aris 84âÂÂ58 in Thessaloniki. However, the team then created a feast in KlaipÃÂda, defeating Alba Berlin 73âÂÂ65. Following it, Neptà «nas suffered two close defeats to the Italian powerhouse EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (79âÂÂ71 in Milan and 73âÂÂ74 in KlaipÃÂda). The pleasant 72âÂÂ68 rematch with Aris left the Neptà «nas hopes for the playoffs alive, though it vanished after losing to Alba 62âÂÂ76 in Berlin and finishing with a 2âÂÂ4 record in the second round.
On 19âÂÂ21 February, Neptà «nas competed in the newly formed Karaliaus Mindaugo tauràtournament. The team easily overcame BC à  iauliai 96âÂÂ58 at the quarter-final, but was powerfully stopped at the semi-final by the upcoming champions Lietuvos rytas Vilnius 97âÂÂ79. Still, they rehabilitated by winning the club's first Lithuanian Cup bronze medals after crushing Vytautas Prienai-Birà ¡tonas 88âÂÂ51. Shortly after the competition, Gilvydas Biruta was replaced with Angus Brandt.
In LKL, Neptà «nas finished the regular season with a third seed and a 19âÂÂ17 record. à  vyturys Arena had the most spectators in the LKL for a second straight season, this time with 3,474 per game. In the quarter-final, Neptà «nas eliminated BC à  iauliai 3âÂÂ1. The semi-final series versus Lietuvos rytas Vilnius was one of the most dramatic in the league's history. Neptà «nas began it by shocking Rytas in their home arena with an 83âÂÂ71 victory. Afterwards, the team also secured their home court in Game 2, winning 70âÂÂ68. The fate of the historic series was to be determined in Game 5, following two dramatic Rytas victories: 66âÂÂ64 and 74âÂÂ73. During Game 5, Daniel Ewing led Neptà «nas to another stunning upset of the Lithuanian powerhouse 73âÂÂ72, surprisingly won the intense series 3âÂÂ2, and advanced into the LKL final just for a second time in club history. The final series was begun with an 83âÂÂ72 loss to à ½algiris Kaunas. Just three days later, Neptà «nas by surprise swept à ½algiris 76âÂÂ54 to tie the series 1âÂÂ1. In spite of that, later Neptà «nas failed to compete in the series, losing the next three games by an average of 25 points and the series 1âÂÂ4.
On October 21, 2016, Neptà «nas decided to choose the FIBA Basketball Champions League instead of the EuroCup. On July 10, Neptà «nas re-signed with the efficient center Jerai Grant for another season. On July 27, Larry Drew II, son of the prominent NBA player and coach Larry Drew, joined the team to replace Daniel Ewing who left the team. On August 4, former Lithuania men's national basketball team member Tadas KlimaviÃÂius signed a two-seasons deal with the club. On August 10, Matas Jucikas signed a long-term (three-seasons) deal. On August 24, another Lithuanian, Mindaugas KaÃÂinas, fresh out of the NCAA Division I US college basketball system at South Carolina, was signed. On August 26, Jimmy Baron became the last addition to the team's roster before the beginning of the season. On November 3, the front line was strengthened with Omari Johnson.
On October 19, Neptà «nas started the 2016âÂÂ17 Basketball Champions League season with a close 67âÂÂ65 away victory over Uà Âak Sportif. Neptà «nas ended up as the second team in the group, with a 10âÂÂ4 record and a first round playoff bye.
In January, Tadas KlimaviÃÂius left after terminating his contract and signed with BC Vytautas. While the KlimaviÃÂius departure was not as significant, team star and leader Jimmy Baron signed with BC Lietuvos rytas in February, shocking both the team and its fans. On February 10, just one day after Baron's departure, the team released Drew and Johnson, after reported discipline violations. Club director and longtime former player Osvaldas Kurauskas was fired as well. The departures affected the team, who were easily defeated in the first round of the King Mindaugas Cup by BC à ½algiris 58âÂÂ81. However, by the end of February, good news struck the team - Daniel Ewing returned to Neptà «nas from Israel, replacing Larry Drew at the point guard position, and Neptà «nas also signed Chris Lofton to a deal, to replace Jimmy Baron. The changes did not help the team in the Champions League, ending with a loss on aggregate to MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg in the quarterfinals 119âÂÂ125 (61âÂÂ73 away and 58âÂÂ52 home).
While the season was over in the Champions League, Neptà «nas went on a win streak in the LKL, climbing up the standings. They finished the regular season in fourth seed with 21 victories and 15 defeats balance. During the 2016âÂÂ17 LKL Playoffs quarter-final Neptà «nas eliminated Juventus Utena 3âÂÂ0, and advanced into the semi-finals where they faced Lithuanian champions à ½algiris Kaunas. Game 1 of the series did not provide much intrigue in Kaunas, with à ½algiris desperately crushing Neptà «nas 83âÂÂ54. The view was completely different during Game 2 in KlaipÃÂda where Neptà «nas defeated à ½algiris 73âÂÂ70 to even the series 1âÂÂ1. In Kaunas, à ½algiris won again, 83âÂÂ60 and finished the series in KlaipÃÂda, where Neptà «nas lost the game 53âÂÂ69 and the series 1âÂÂ3. During the LKL bronze final Neptà «nas faced Lietuvos rytas Vilnius for the intense series. Both teams successfully defended their home courts with Neptà «nas losing the opening game on May 29, 2017, in Vilnius 79âÂÂ60, but winning 83âÂÂ70 on June 1 in KlaipÃÂda. Later the series continued in the same order with Lietuvos rytas defeating Neptà «nas 71âÂÂ54 for the second time in Vilnius on June 4, and Neptà «nas doing the same 70âÂÂ65 in KlaipÃÂda on June 7 to force the Game 5 of the series. Neptà «nas lost the series on June 10 in Vilnius after losing the crucial game 75âÂÂ66 and the series 3âÂÂ2, mostly because of two former Neptà «nas players Jimmy Baron and Deividas Gailius who combined for more than a half of Rytas' points (39). A very promising season at the beginning ended on a very disappointing note.
On June 28, 2017, it was announced that Neptà «nas will compete in the 2017âÂÂ18 Basketball Champions League season without participating in the qualifying tournament. On the same day former head coach Kazys Maksvytis returned to the team, replacing the newly chosen Lithuania men's national basketball team head coach Dainius Adomaitis due to the difficulties to match two coaching positions. Edgaras à ½elionis became club's first player addition for the upcoming season on July 5, 2017. Afterwards, the team has signed two long-term Lithuania national team members Tomas Delininkaitis and Renaldas Seibutis. On July 27, 2017, Neptà «nas reached an agreement with Laimonas Kisielius and signed a two-years deal. On August 10, 2017, the team signed Juan Palacios to replace Jerai Grant. On August 14, 2017, former team member Simas Galdikas returned to the team. Due to the departure of the previous long-term captain Martynas Maà ¾eika, Simas Galdikas was chosen to replace him in the position.
On September 21, 2017, Neptà «nas began the 2017âÂÂ18 LKL season by defeating BC à  iauliai 73âÂÂ82. On the next day, Malcolm Armstead, known for his scoring ability, was signed. After a solid 5âÂÂ1 LKL season start, including a 73âÂÂ64 victory versus the reigning champions à ½algiris Kaunas, on October 10, 2017, Neptà «nas successfully started the 2017âÂÂ18 Basketball Champions League season with a last seconds 75âÂÂ73 victory over the French League champions ÃÂlan Chalon. On October 25, 2017, Malcolm Armstead was replaced with Jerry Johnson due to his poor sport form. On November 1, 2017, Neptà «nas crushed Gaziantep Basketbol during the Champions League away game 114âÂÂ73 and achieved their highest victory in the history of the tournament. More wins followed - a dominating away against Betaland Capo d'Orlando 90âÂÂ60, and a home win against P.A.O.K. BC - 82âÂÂ69. Neptà «nas also picked up home wins over Lietuvos rytas Vilnius 81âÂÂ76 and Lietkabelis PanevÃÂà ¾ys 86âÂÂ76, and moved up to 2nd place in the LKL standings. However, financial problems surfaced - Neptà «nas was badly beaten in the Champions League by defending league champion Iberostar Tenerife 67âÂÂ90, and lost team leaders Mindaugas Girdà ¾ià «nas and Arnas ButkeviÃÂius, who left the team to sign with Lietuvos rytas. On December 14, 2017, team manager Artà «ras à ½alys was fired and was replaced by a prominent Lithuanian basketball agent Virginijus Bulotas. This proved to be false, as the man that wanted to hire Bulotas, Artà «ras Jakubauskas, was fired and was replaced by Giedrius VasilkeviÃÂius. Sigitas AmbrazeviÃÂius became the new team owner. After some more bad news - Palacios leaving for Beà Âiktaà  J.K., some good news arrived - Neptà «nas signed Vytautas à  ulskis and new point guard Brandon Fields, who replaced the departed Girdà ¾ià «nas. In the second round of the Champions League, Neptà «nas struggled - they lost to ÃÂlan Chalon 81âÂÂ86, but won the away game against Ventspils 84âÂÂ69 (Neptà «nas had won at home 87âÂÂ80 in the first round). Neptà «nas suffered their first loss of the season at home against MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg 71âÂÂ87 (Neptà «nas lost the first round away game 83âÂÂ95). In an away game against Gaziantep, Neptà «nas were down by double digits for most of the game - but managed to force overtime, and lost 94âÂÂ98 after coach Maksvytis got ejected. After a dominating home win against Betaland Capo d'Orlando 99âÂÂ62, Neptà «nas lost the final two games of the regular season against P.A.O.K. 70âÂÂ91 in Thessaloniki and against Iberostar at home, 67âÂÂ83. Neptà «nas finished the regular season with a 7âÂÂ7 record, but made the playoffs. On February 13, Neptà «nas suffered one of the most embarrassing losses of the season, losing to BC Dzà «kija 77âÂÂ85 in the quarterfinals of the King Mindaugas Cup. The loss was especially painful, because the final four of the tournament was held in KlaipÃÂda. In the Champions League playoffs, Neptà «nas suffered another heartbreak, losing the SIG Basket on aggregate 151âÂÂ158, winning the first match at home 73âÂÂ68, but losing a thriller at Strasbourg in overtime, 78âÂÂ88. In the LKL, Neptà «nas rebounded and defeated Lietuvos rytas 99âÂÂ86 in Vilnius, thus showing signs of improved play. Neptà «nas then signed center Jameel McKay, to help the team in the LKL. McKay, however, played poorly and was released in May.
Neptà «nas finished 3rd in the regular season in the LKL, and defeated BC Pieno à ¾vaigà ¾dÃÂs 3âÂÂ1 in the quarterfinals, including a dominating 101âÂÂ64 win in the deciding game four in Pasvalys. Neptà «nas faced rival BC Lietuvos rytas in the semifinal. After winning the first game 84âÂÂ79 in Vilnius and taking the series lead, Neptà «nas had one of the worst shooting performances of all time, losing 49âÂÂ67 in KlaipÃÂda, with Rytas tying the series 1âÂÂ1. Rytas then won the third game in Vilnius 74âÂÂ67, and took a 2âÂÂ1 lead in the series. Led by à ½elionis, Seibutis, Delininkaitis and Galdikas, Neptà «nas tied the series with a 74âÂÂ70 win in KlaipÃÂda. In the decisive fifth game in Vilnius, Neptà «nas lost a close game 82âÂÂ88, and lost the series 2âÂÂ3. In the series for 3rd place, Neptà «nas faced previous year's finalist, BC Lietkabelis. Having home court advantage, Neptà «nas started the series with an embarrassing 69âÂÂ83 loss - Lietkabelis had led by 29 points at one point and only when young players like Matas Jucikas and Laurynas Beliauskas were in, did Neptà «nas cut the deficit. Down 0âÂÂ1 in the series, Neptà «nas was down for much of the game in PanevÃÂà ¾ys, including an 11-point deficit in the 2nd quarter, before coming from behind and winning the game 71âÂÂ69, after a last second layup by Seibutis. The series was tied 1âÂÂ1. In the third game at home, Neptà «nas took the lead in the first quarter and never looked back, winning 79âÂÂ71 and taking a 2âÂÂ1 series lead. In the fourth game in PanevÃÂà ¾ys, Neptà «nas started slowly, but led by à ½elionis, who scored 27 points in the game, Delininkaitis and Johnson, took the lead by half-time, and went on to win the game 89âÂÂ78, winning the series 3âÂÂ1 and winning the bronze medals for the second time in club history. After all the turmoil all season long, the win helped the team finish the season on a high.
After the season ended, Neptà «nas entered the off-season with uncertainty. Team leaders Seibutis and à ½elionis departed, and players like Fields, Johnson, à  ulskis and KaÃÂinas were released. Coach Maksvytis remained with the team, and all the chaos with the management was sorted out. Neptà «nas signed Paulius Dambrauskas and Lorenzo Williams from rival BC Lietkabelis, as the new point guards. Neptà «nas then signed back Jerai Grant, who returned after a one-year absence, at center. à ½algiris loaned Neptà «nas Gytis Masiulis, one of the team's top prospects, to get more playing time. Neptà «nas also signed Osvaldas OliseviÃÂius, the leader of BC Pieno à ¾vaigà ¾dÃÂs, to a one-year deal. Kyle Weaver signed with Neptà «nas in August. Neptà «nas showed a lot of promise during the pre-season, winning a couple of tournaments. On January 14, 2019, Deividas Gailius returned to Neptà «nas, signing for the rest of the season. On April 4, 2019, Weaver was released by Neptà «nas.
Neptà «nas started the 2018âÂÂ19 LKL season with a 100âÂÂ76 home win over BC NevÃÂà ¾is. On October 14, Neptà «nas shocked champions BC à ½algiris with a dominating 75âÂÂ60 win in Kaunas, and climbed to first place in the LKL standings. On November 3, Neptà «nas picked up another shocking away win, beating rivals BC Rytas in Vilnius, 78âÂÂ66. The seven game win streak ended on November 18, in a home defeat against BC Rytas, 78âÂÂ93, also losing the 1st place in the standings to à ½algiris. Neptà «nas recovered from the loss by crushing rival BC Lietkabelis 100âÂÂ76 in PanevÃÂà ¾ys, tying Rytas for second place in the standings. On January 6, the first game of the new year, Neptà «nas shocked à ½algiris again, this time winning a double overtime thriller at home, 98âÂÂ93. This win helped Neptà «nas retain the second place over Rytas in the standings. A shocking loss to BC Pieno à ¾vaigà ¾dÃÂs at home, 77âÂÂ80, lead to Neptà «nas giving the spot up to Rytas. Neptà «nas returned to the second place the next week, after Rytas suffered a loss themselves. On March 3, Neptà «nas shocked à ½algiris again, with an 81âÂÂ71 win at home, and becoming the first team in since 2014 to beat à ½algiris in a season series. The win helped Neptà «nas retain second place in the standings over Rytas. On March 30, however, after a very poor fourth quarter, Neptà «nas lost to Rytas in Vilnius, 52âÂÂ70, and lost the second place to Rytas. On April 11, Neptà «nas picked up a dominating home win over Rytas, 89âÂÂ74, continuing the battle for second place. An 8-game win streak followed, and even after an 80âÂÂ90 loss to à ½algiris on May 9 snapped it, Neptà «nas had already secured second place and homecourt advantage in the playoffs. Neptà «nas finished with a 28âÂÂ8 record. Neptà «nas defeated SkyCop Prienai 2âÂÂ1 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Neptà «nas faced rivals Rytas. Having homecourt advantage for the first time, Neptà «nas started the series at home â however, Neptà «nas played the worst game of the season, with Rytas taking a lead at halftime, and increasing it by the end, taking a 75âÂÂ46 win in KlaipÃÂda, with Neptà «nas even hearing boos from the fans. In the second game, Neptà «nas desperately needed the win, to take the series back to KlaipÃÂda - in a tension filled match, where team captain Galdikas even received an ejection, Neptà «nas started poorly, with Rytas taking a huge lead at halftime. By the end, Neptà «nas was only able to cut down the deficit â 70-83 and a very disappointing 0âÂÂ2 loss. In the 3rd place series, Neptà «nas faced Lietkabelis, in a rematch from last season, which Neptà «nas won, and the King Mindaugas Cup of 2019, where Neptà «nas lost. Neptà «nas won the series 3âÂÂ0, with wins at home 89-77 and 84âÂÂ77, and away 88âÂÂ75.
At the star of the 2018âÂÂ19 Basketball Champions League, Neptà «nas lost to Virtus Bologna in an away game, 78âÂÂ83. Neptà «nas got their first win by defeating Beà Âiktaà  Sompo Japan 78âÂÂ63 at home the next week. After a hard-fought away loss to B.C. Oostende, 89âÂÂ91, Neptà «nas rebounded by scoring two wins - a home victory and revenge over SIG Strasbourg 92âÂÂ83, and finally, an away win against KK Olimpija, 97âÂÂ88, being led by Jerai Grant and a resurgent Delininkaitis. The win streak was stopped at home by Promitheas Patras B.C., with Neptà «nas losing the match 82âÂÂ83 after some turnovers in the end. In the final game of the first round, Neptà «nas suffered one of the worst losses in European competitions, losing to Medi Bayreuth 78âÂÂ102 in an away loss, finishing with a 3âÂÂ4 record. Neptà «nas recovered at the start of the second round, handing Virtus their first loss in the competition with an 88âÂÂ85 home win. In Istanbul, Neptà «nas lost to Beà Âiktaà  70âÂÂ77. Another heartbreaking loss to Oostende, this time at home, 77âÂÂ79, plummeted Neptà «nas to a disastrous 7th place in the standings. However, Neptà «nas recovered - sparked by the return of Gailius, Neptà «nas finished the regular season with four consecutive wins - an away win over SIG Strasbourg 90âÂÂ80, a home win over KK Olimpija 82âÂÂ74, getting revenge over Promitheas Patras with a dominating 82âÂÂ69 away victory, and defeating Medi Bayeruth 83âÂÂ73 at home, finishing with an 8âÂÂ6 record. After Oostende lost at home to SIG, Neptà «nas qualified to the playoffs for the third consecutive season, and finished 3rd in standings. In the playoffs, Neptà «nas faced Hapoel Jerusalem, one of the top teams in the competition. In the first game at home, Neptà «nas lost 74âÂÂ86. In the rematch, Neptà «nas lost 64âÂÂ84, losing the series on aggregate 138âÂÂ170.
The third-place finish helped Neptà «nas directly qualify for the 2019-20 Basketball Champions League. Coach Maksvytis, team leader Grant, Williams, Dambrauskas, Bieliauskas, Kisielius and Mikalauskas left during the summer. Assistant coach Tomas RinkeviÃÂius was named as Maksvytis replacement. Neptà «nas signed Andre Williamson as the new center to replace Grant, while Darrin Dorsey was a replacement for Williams as the new point guard. à ½ygimantas JanaviÃÂius was also signed to strengthen the point guard position. Masiulis was loaned for one more season by à ½algiris, while another Euroleague team, Kirilobet Baskonia, loaned Tadas Sedekerskis for Neptà «nas. Matas JogÃÂla signed just before the season started. Team veterans Gailius and Delininkaitis remained with the team. Neptà «nas won the Vladas Garastas Cup, defeating BC Dnipro 75âÂÂ63 in the finals, which also served as the club's 55 year anniversary tournament. Longtime captain Martynas Maà ¾eika returned to the team in January.
Neptà «nas started off the 2019âÂÂ20 LKL season by defeating BC Juventus 80âÂÂ67 at home. Neptà «nas struggled in the LKL, and in February, with an 11âÂÂ9 record and 5th place in the standings, and an early exit in the Champions League also, replaced coach RinkeviÃÂius with assistant Jurica à ½uà ¾a. Under à ½uà ¾a, Neptà «nas qualified for the King Mindaugas Cup, by beating BC Dzà «kija 92âÂÂ89 away and 73âÂÂ72 at home, avenging the loss in 2018, and qualifying for the Final Four tournament, held on Neptà «nas homecourt à  vyturio Arena. Despite promising statements from the management and coach à ½uà ¾a, the tournament ended with Neptà «nas finishing in a disappointing 4th place, suffering a blowout loss in the semifinals to BC Rytas 71âÂÂ96, and a loss in the 3rd place game to BC Lietkabelis, 73âÂÂ84. Coach à ½uà ¾a was then replaced by the coach of the reserve team Neptà «nas-Akvaservis, Tomas GaidamaviÃÂius. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the LKL season was ended prematurely, with Neptà «nas finishing in 4th place.
In the Basketball Champions League, Neptà «nas defeated Happy Casa Brindisi 81âÂÂ71 in the home opener. In the second game, Neptà «nas faced JDA Dijon, also at home - despite the best efforts from Neptà «nas, JDA Dijon took a huge lead at halftime, and won the game 89âÂÂ75. Tied at 1-1, Neptà «nas won the first away game of the tournament, beating PAOK 94âÂÂ72 in Thessaloniki. Neptà «nas then defeated Casademont Zaragoza 91âÂÂ73 at home. Neptà «nas lost to Telekom Baskets Bonn, 85âÂÂ97, in an away game. Neptà «nas finished the first round with a home win over Beà Âiktaà  J.K. 86âÂÂ80, and an away loss to Falco KC, 73âÂÂ97, tied for 3rd place with a 4âÂÂ3 record. The second round, however, ended up with failure - Neptà «nas suffered away losses to both Brindisi and JDA Dijon, 82âÂÂ96 and 71âÂÂ92, a very painful home loss to PAOK 80âÂÂ86, and lost to Casademonet Zaragoza, 70âÂÂ86, losing 5 consecutive games for the first time in the competition. While Neptà «nas defeated Telekom Baskets 93âÂÂ68 at home, an away loss to Beà Âiktaà Â, 69âÂÂ76, ended any hope for Neptà «nas to reach the playoffs, for the first time since joining the competition. Neptà «nas finished the competition with a win at home over Falco KC, 87âÂÂ83, finishing 6th with a 6âÂÂ8 record.
Neptà «nas faced off with the financial difficulties when the rest of the 2019âÂÂ20 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, therefore the club formed its next season roster mostly from young Lithuanian players and had no foreign players. Starting the 2020âÂÂ21 season, Neptà «nas participated in the 2020âÂÂ21 Basketball Champions League season Qualification Group D, where it defeated the London Lions 77âÂÂ73 in the semi-finals, however the team failed to qualify to the regular season after losing the qualification final to the BC Tsmoki-Minsk 69âÂÂ59, and played only in the Lithuanian League. In the LKL, Neptà «nas became the surprise team of the year. Under coach Tomas GaidamaviÃÂius, the young team with some veteran leadership, led by players like Martynas Maà ¾eika, à ½ygimantas JanaviÃÂius and Matas JogÃÂla, were in playoff contention all season long. Benas Gricià «nas, Evaldas à  aulys, Dà ¾iugas Slavinskas, among others, also had good seasons. Deividas Gailius returned near the end of the season to Neptà «nas, immediately becoming the team leader and leading Neptà «nas to the 6th seed in the regular season. In the King Mindaugas Cup, Neptà «nas also reached the semifinals. Neptà «nas nearly upset the heavily favored Lietkabelis PanevÃÂà ¾ys in the playoffs, and while getting swept in the playoffs, gave Neptà «nas fans hope for the future.
Before the 2021âÂÂ2022 season, Neptà «nas largely kept the same core as in the previous season, re-signed Deividas Gailius, and also signed the returning Edgaras à ½elionis, one of the best players for Neptà «nas back in the 2017âÂÂ2018 season. Neptà «nas, having higher expectations for the season, expected to continue where they left off the previous season. However, the season began disastrously for Neptà «nas. By December, Neptà «nas was coming off a losing streak, which included many blow-out loses, and was out of playoff contention in the LKL. Needing changes, coach GaidamaviÃÂius was released by Neptà «nas, and in a surprising move, Dainius Adomaitis returned as the head coach of Neptà «nas. Neptà «nas regained their form - in the LKL, by April, Neptà «nas had risen up to the 7th seed in the standings. Neptà «nas finished the LKL regular season with a memorable 93âÂÂ88 win over Rytas Vilnius in the regular season final. In the playoffs, Neptà «nas faced à ½algiris Kaunas, now coached by former Neptà «nas head coach Kazys Maksvytis. Neptà «nas surprised all critics â they managed to stretch the series out to all five games, with à ½algiris winning 92-88 and 87âÂÂ71 in Kaunas, and Neptà «nas winning 70-68 and 87âÂÂ78 in KlaipÃÂda, and only in the deciding fifth game did à ½algiris finish off Neptà «nas, 89âÂÂ60 in Kaunas, to win the series 3âÂÂ2. Gailius and Benas Gricià «nas, along with the biggest surprise of the series, Nojus Mineikis, all shined during the series. After the season, Adomaitis once again left Neptà «nas.
In the King Mindaugas Cup, Neptà «nas dominated the group stage, and came close to eliminating future LKL finalists, Lietkabelis PanevÃÂà ¾ys - Lietkabelis were the heavy favorites, but a narrow win in KlaipÃÂda, 73âÂÂ69, barely saved them from elimination as Neptà «nas lead for most of the game in PanevÃÂà ¾ys - where Lietkabelis had very few losses all season - before finishing the game with an 80âÂÂ80 tie - the tie meaning Lietkabelis advancing on aggregrate, 153âÂÂ149. Lietkabelis later went all the way to the finals, where they lost to à ½algiris.
During the summer, coach Adomaitis left the team. Neptà «nas decided to promote assistant coach Mindaugas Brazys to the head coaching position. Neptà «nas rebuilt much of the team. Neptà «nas initially struggled during the beginning of the season, going 0âÂÂ4 at the start of the LKL season, before strong play from players like the returning Mindaugas Girdà ¾ià «nas, Deividas Gailius, career seasons from Matas JogÃÂla and Oskaras Pleikys, Austin Wiley, the best of the new arrivals, brought Neptà «nas back to LKL playoff contention, and having competitive matches against all top LKL teams. Neptà «nas finished the regular season with a 16âÂÂ17 record, and 7th place in the regular season. In the LKL quarterfinals, Neptà «nas faced long time rivals and defending LKL champions Rytas Vilnius - Rytas beat Neptà «nas in a very tough, very competitive series, needing overtime to beat Neptà «nas at home 107âÂÂ99, and finishing Neptà «nas 95âÂÂ91 in KlaipÃÂda, to win the series 2âÂÂ0. In the King Mindaugas Cup, Neptà «nas won the group stage over the newly established and heavily favored BC Wolves. However, in the quarterfinal stage, Neptà «nas could not beat CBet Jonava, who beat Neptà «nas both in KlaipÃÂda 85âÂÂ80, and in Jonava 76âÂÂ75. Long time player Martynas Maà ¾eika, whose number was retired by Neptà «nas during the season, also returned to the team, this time as club director.
For the 2023âÂÂ2024 season, Brazys remained as Neptà «nas head coach. Neptà «nas signed Sterling Gibbs and Ignas Sargià «nas as the new point guards, Tommy Rutherford and Tim Lambrecht, one of the biggest stars of the LKL the previous season with BC NevÃÂà ¾is, as well as re-signing Girdà ¾ià «nas and Gailius. JogÃÂla, Wiley and Pleikys became the biggest departures for the team. The renewed Neptà «nas started the LKL with a big win over 7-Bet Lietkabelis, 91âÂÂ81, at home. In November, Neptà «nas was also loaned, from Rytas, who had signed Pleikys during the summer, ÃÂà ¾uolas Tubelis, who quickly became team leader for Neptà «nas. Neptà «nas went on a four-game win streak during NovemberâÂÂDecember, including a big win over BC à ½algiris in Kaunas.
The mid-season retirement by Gibbs, however, shocked Neptà «nas - Neptà «nas was eliminated in the King Mindaugas Cup by Lietkabelis, after winning the first game 91âÂÂ89 in KlaipÃÂda, lost in PanevÃÂà ¾ys 76âÂÂ79, losing by just one point on aggregate. In the LKL, at the start of March, Neptà «nas had just a 6âÂÂ12 record, just barely in the playoffs. Needing changes, Neptà «nas made the decision to replace Brazys with longtime Panathinaikos Athens assistant and head coach Georgios Vovoras. Some roster changes also included signings of forward Zsombor Maronka, point guard Josh Newkirk and shooting guard Georgios Kamperidis. The changes instantly changed Neptà «nas - who went on a club record eight-game win streak in the LKL, including wins over Lietkabelis (twice to sweep the season series), à ½algiris (a double overtime thriller) and also an amazing win in Vilnius over BC Rytas, 84âÂÂ83, on a game winning basket by Tubelis. Attendances at the à  vyturio Arena once again started to rise. Neptà «nas finished the LKL regular season with a 14âÂÂ16 record, in 6th place in the standings. Tubelis was named the MVP of the LKL regular season and his duo with Sargià «nas was considered as one of the very best in the LKL.
In the LKL playoffs, Neptà «nas faced off the heavily favored BC Wolves - one of the assistants for the Wolves was Mindaugas Brazys, signed after getting released by Neptà «nas. Wolves beat Neptà «nas in Vilnius 91âÂÂ84, before Neptà «nas beat the Wolves, 95âÂÂ76, in KlaipÃÂda to tie the series 1-1. Despite a monster performance by Sargià «nas, who scored 27 points, Neptà «nas succumbed in the deciding third game of the quarterfinals - Wolves beat Neptà «nas 91âÂÂ80 in Vilnius to win the series 2âÂÂ1. Despite the loss, the amazing performance by Neptà «nas in the second half of the season led to Neptà «nas re-signing Vovaros.
Due to the good finish to the previous year, Neptà «nas had high expecations for the 2024âÂÂ2025 season. Vovaros was re-signed at the end of the previous season. Neptà «nas changed up much of the roster, with Tubelis and Sargià «nas leaving for BC Rytas being the biggest departures. Neptà «nas signed guards Nate Johnson and Desure Buie, who quickly emerged as the new team leaders, forward Arnas BeruÃÂka from the Wolves, Zane Waterman, leader of BC NevÃÂà ¾is and TomÃ¡à ¡ Pavelka from BC à  iauliai to form the front court with Martynas PaceviÃÂius, who remained with Neptà «nas during the summer. Neptà «nas also resigned Gailius, Girdà ¾ià «nas and JanaviÃÂius to new contracts. During the year, Dimitrios Agravanis had a short stint with Neptà «nas while replacing the injured PaceviÃÂius, and Neptà «nas also signed Myles Hesson to strengthen the front-court. Neptà «nas also returned to the European competitions, playing in the 2024âÂÂ25 FIBA Europe Cup qualifiers - while Neptà «nas lost to Surne Bilbao Basket, 66-74 and 59-95, it can be considered just bad luck as Bilbao went on to win the whole competition.
In the LKL, Neptà «nas started the season with a big away win over defending champions Rytas in Vilnius, 90-84. Neptà «nas started the LKL with a 4âÂÂ0 start, including wins over the Wolves-Twinsbet and 7-Bet Lietkabelis. Neptà «nas had a 6âÂÂ3 record after the first round of the LKL. In the King Mindaugas Cup, Neptà «nas barely qualified for the playoffs, before going on an amazing run - in the playoffs, Neptà «nas faced off Rytas - with Rytas winning the first game in KlaipÃÂda, 78-67. The second game in Vilnius was largely considered a formality. By the second half, Neptà «nas had taken the lead from Rytas, and in the fourth quarter, lead by Buie, proceeded to give one of the biggest upsets in the competition's history by beating Rytas 92-77 and winning on aggregate, thus eliminating Rytas from the competition - with Neptà «nas fans managing to quiet down the Rytas fans in Vilnius - Neptà «nas returned to the Final Four, held in Vilnius, for the first time since 2021. In the semifinals, Neptà «nas, again huge underdogs, faced the Wolves, hosts of the competition - supported by their own fans Neptà «nas defeated the Wolves 87âÂÂ83 to reach the finals for the first time in club history. In the finals, again massive underdogs, Neptà «nas faced BC à ½algiris - the absolute competition favorite. Supported by now thousands of Neptà «nas fans in the Vilnius, Neptà «nas took fight to the defending champions, including a double-digit lead, before à ½algiris came back and even took a double-digit lead of their own in the final quarter. This time, Neptà «nas fought back - in the closing seconds, after a three-pointer by Gailius, Neptà «nas took a slim lead, before à ½algiris regained the lead - Gailius missed the deciding three-pointer and à ½algiris defeated Neptà «nas 91âÂÂ89 to win the finals. The silver-medal finish became the best finish ever by Neptà «nas in the competition. Buie lead Neptà «nas throughout the competition.
For the rest of the season, however, Neptà «nas fell apart - winning the next 3 out of 14 games, Neptà «nas plummeted in the standings in the LKL, going from leading the league to barely fighting for a spot in the playoffs. In April, Neptà «nas made a very unpopular decision to replace Vovaros, the architect of the King Mindaugas Cup silver medal, with his assistant Vidas GineviÃÂius - the results under GineviÃÂius were mixed, while Neptà «nas qualified for the LKL playoffs, a 14âÂÂ22 record and an 8th place in the standings meant Neptà «nas was forced to face à ½algiris in the LKL playoffs. Facing a à ½algiris team that was on a 30-game win streak, few thought Neptà «nas would be a suitable match - while à ½algiris did face a fight from Neptà «nas in Kaunas, winning 88-75, in KlaipÃÂda, the match was a pale imitation the battle in the King Mindaugas Cup finals - à ½algiris won 98-70 and ended a very disappointing year for Neptà «nas with a 2âÂÂ0 series win.
Board Representative
Sigitas AmbrazeviÃÂius
Board members
Arunas Tuma<br> Alvydas Vaiciunas<br> Edvinas Vaickus<br> Vytautas Lygnugarys<br> Vidmantas Dambrauskas
Director of the Club
Sigitas AmbrazeviÃÂius
Neptà «nas closely works with Vladas Knaà ¡ius Basketball School as a ladder for youth to professional basketball. Players such as Arvydas Macijauskas, Eurelijus à ½ukauskas, Tomas Delininkaitis, and many players of the current Neptà «nas roster attended V. Knaà ¡ius Basketball School.
Neptà «nas basketball club was featured in the NBA 2K16 video game.