Team 2008-09: ZALGIRIS KAUNAS (Lithuania-LKL)
Career: Zalgiris-2 Kaunas (Lithuania-LKAL, 2003-04), Zalgiris-Sabonis Basketball School (Lithuania-LKAL, 2004-05), Zalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania-LKL, 2005-09), Benetton Treviso (2009-...).
This talented combo-guard's route to stardom was quick and impressive: he started the 2005-06 season in Zalgiris' Junior team and finished the year with the big club, averaging nearly seven points and two assists per game in Euroleague action. In the summer of 2007 he led the U20 Lithuanian Junior Team to a silver medal at the European Championship and then travelled to Japan for the World Championship with the senior squad. Playing against the best guards in the world gave the 19-year-old plenty of great experience. But he still needs to work on many aspects of his game including how to control his up-tempo style. After slowing down a bit in 2007-08, he took advantage of Zalgiris' money problems to regain playing time and averaged 11.2 points and 4.3 assists (second in the LKL) in his domestic league. Kalnietis was listed in the reserve team right before preparation started, but could end up making the team.
