Lithuanian Guard Rokas Jokubaitis Confirms Knee Ligament Injury, Vows Return
COLOGNE, GERMANY – Lithuanian national team star rokas Jokubaitis has confirmed a left knee ligament injury sustained during Monday night’s EuroBasket match against Finland, sidelining him for at least six months. The injury casts a shadow over Lithuania‘s strong performance in the tournament thus far, but Jokubaitis has already expressed determination to recover and return to the court.
The diagnosis, delivered Tuesday following thorough examination, is a notable blow to both Lithuania’s championship aspirations and Bayern Munich, Jokubaitis’ club team. He was a pivotal force in Lithuania’s Group B campaign, averaging 17.3 points, 8.5 assists, and 2.5 rebounds across 24 minutes per game, while shooting 55.6% from three-point range. His injury occurred early in the fourth quarter when his leg twisted awkwardly near an opponent’s foot.
The Lithuanian Basketball Federation announced that Jokubaitis will travel to Munich imminently to begin treatment,coordinated between Bayern Munich and the Federation. Despite the severity of the injury, Jokubaitis shared a message of resilience via Instagram, signaling his commitment to a full recovery.
Lithuania has already secured a place in the EuroBasket playoffs with a 3-1 record in Group B. While the team will proceed without its leading playmaker, they remain a competitive force in the tournament. The long-term impact of Jokubaitis’ absence will be felt throughout the remainder of the EuroBasket competition and into the upcoming club season.
