2023–24 LKL season

Betsafe-LKL
Season2023–24
Duration16 September 2023 – 9 May 2024
(Regular season)
12 May – 12 June 2024
(Playoffs)
Games played191
Teams12
Regular season
Season MVPLithuania Ąžuolas Tubelis
Finals
ChampionsRytas (7th title)
  Runners-upŽalgiris
Third place7Bet–Lietkabelis
Fourth placeWolves Twinsbet
Finals MVPUnited States Marcus Foster
Statistical leaders
Points United States Nick Ward 20.23
Rebounds Lithuania Giedrius Staniulis 8.41
Assists Israel Amit Ebo 7.63
Index Rating United States Nick Ward 21.23
Records
Biggest home winRytas 113–64 Nevėžis–Optibet
(10 February 2024)
Biggest away winPieno žvaigždės 72–115 Šiauliai
(8 January 2024)
Highest scoringNeptūnas 114–112 Žalgiris
(17 April 2024)
Winning streak14 games
Žalgiris
Losing streak14 games
Pieno žvaigždės
Highest attendance13,791
Žalgiris 92–78 Rytas
(14 April 2024)
Lowest attendance139
Pieno žvaigždės 77–116 Cbet
(1 May 2024)
Average attendance2,176
Seasons

The 2023–24 Lietuvos krepšinio lyga season, also called Betsafe–LKL for sponsorship reasons, was the 31st season of the top-tier level professional basketball league of Lithuania, the Lietuvos krepšinio lyga (LKL). Rytas won their seventh championship after defeating defending champions Žalgiris in the finals 3–1.

Teams

12 teams participated in the 2023–24 season. On 22 May 2023, league's license was granted to M Basket.[1] On 25 January 2024, Gargždai declared bankruptcty and during the meeting on 29 January, it was officially confirmed that the team would not play the remaining games of the season.[2][3]

Location and arenas

Wolves Twinsbet played in the Avia Solutions Group Arena after spending their inaugural season playing in Alytus, during the reconstruction of the venue. On August 26, Rytas agreed to also return to the venue for a limited amount of matches.

Two newest members of the league played home games out of town, due to a lack of suitable venues. Gargždai shared the Švyturys Arena with Neptūnas after failing to agree terms to extend the lease of the Palanga Arena. M Basket-Delamode played in Telšiai, after the final refurbishments of the Telšiai Sports Arena managed to satisfy minimum LKL requirements.

class=notpageimage|
Location of teams in 2023–24 LKL
Team Location Arena Capacity
7Bet–Lietkabelis Panevėžys Kalnapilio Arena 5,950
Cbet Jonava Jonava Arena 2,200
Gargždai Klaipėda Švyturys Arena 6,200
M Basket-Delamode Telšiai Telšiai sports arena 1,000
Neptūnas Klaipėda Švyturys Arena 6,200
Nevėžis–Optibet Kėdainiai Kėdainiai Arena 2,200
Pieno žvaigždės Pasvalys Pieno žvaigždės Arena 1,500
Rytas Vilnius Avia Solutions Group Arena 10,000
Jeep Arena 2,500
Šiauliai Šiauliai Šiauliai Arena 5,700
Uniclub Casino – Juventus Utena Utena Arena 2,000
Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius Avia Solutions Group Arena 10,000
Žalgiris Kaunas Žalgiris Arena 15,415

Regular season

League table

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Qualification or relegation
1 Žalgiris 30 26 4 2647 2228 +419 Advance to playoffs
2 Rytas 30 24 6 2791 2410 +381
3 Wolves Twinsbet 30 22 8 2613 2397 +216
4 Uniclub Casino – Juventus 30 18 12 2624 2464 +160
5 7Bet–Lietkabelis 30 16 14 2538 2533 +5
6 Neptūnas 30 14 16 2541 2605 −64
7 Cbet 30 11[a] 19 2454 2590 −136
8 M Basket-Delamode 30 11[a] 19 2335 2530 −195
9 Nevėžis–Optibet 30 10 20 2525 2746 −221
10 Šiauliai 30 8 22 2456 2622 −166
11 Pieno žvaigždės 30 5 25 2469 2868 −399
12 Gargždai 0 0 0 0 0 0 Excluded
Source: LKL.lt
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Cbet are ahead of M Basket-Delamode on head-to-head record: Cbet 2–1 M Basket-Delamode.


Results

Home \ Away LIE JSK GAR MAZ NEP NEV PZV RYT SIA JUV WOL ZAL
7Bet–Lietkabelis — 84–79 84–66 82–81 76–78 100–79 95–92 77–89 92–85 72–73 108–105 68–80
— 90–80 — 88–82 — 92–93 90–63 — — 78–91 — 77–83
Cbet 74–92 — 105–73 87–96 88–77 94–77 84–89 89–101 85–84 84–73 71–83 67–75
— — — — 78–81 — — 85–98 81–80 — 81–68 —
Gargždai — 86–80 — 82–93 73–92 97–84 — 82–98 89–94 74–97 — 55–107
— — — — — — — — — — — —
M Basket–Delamode 64–82 79–82 77–66 — 70–68 88–81 100–74 60–77 73–78 88–86 73–84 69–73
— 62–79 — — — 81–93 79–73 63–89 — 73–71 — —
Neptūnas 91–81 69–64 100–81 84–87 — 97–74 112–87 70–77 85–76 78–91 66–98 75–95
88–84 — — 91–89 — 79–92 77–88 — — — 85–86 114–112
Nevėžis–Optibet 106–94 92–86 92–80 72–83 96–92 — 90–91 85–97 89–84 64–90 78–99 70–76
— 116–83 — — — — — 79–88 86–94 88–93 — —
Pieno žvaigždės 78–84 92–93 103–76 107–88 83–86 91–101 — 77–101 72–115 75–85 88–91 71–98
— 77–116 — — — 74–76 — 89–124 — 83–89 — —
Rytas 94–73 110–88 110–79 90–54 93–75 113–64 106–90 — 91–78 93–88 74–84 67–81
113–100 — — — 83–84 — — — 83–74 — 99–83 —
Šiauliai 74–88 89–86 79–97 81–90 90–82 85–77 91–95 75–99 — 66–103 66–68 73–87
79–87 — — 91–94 104–98 — 98–89 — — — 65–91 69–92
Uniclub Casino – Juventus 88–91 96–63 — 81–74 112–102 106–74 119–78 96–103 88–68 — 96–68 69–79
— 88–85 — — 83–96 — — 88–78 96–93 — — —
Wolves Twinsbet 73–78 85–96 104–68 84–74 92–73 89–74 94–79 72–89 86–77 77–71 — 75–64
109–72 — — 104–78 — 102–83 111–79 — — 100–88 — 97–93
Žalgiris 69–63 86–69 — 103–75 76–88 102–98 78–68 97–94 89–74 101–63 79–55 —
83–77 101–57 — 95–68 112–114 102–78 97–77 92–78 92–69 92–62 93–97 —
Source: LKL.lt
Legend: Blue = home team win; Red = away team win.
Matches with lighter background shading were decided after overtime.

Playoffs

Main article: 2024 LKL Playoffs

Quarterfinals will be played in a best–of–three format, while the semifinals, third place game and final in a best-of-five format.

Bracket

 
QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinals
 
                      
 
 
 
 
Žalgiris9776–
 
 
 
M Basket-Delamode6158–
 
Žalgiris939088––
 
 
 
7Bet–Lietkabelis728979––
 
Uniclub Casino – Juventus778999
 
 
 
7Bet–Lietkabelis8488100
 
Žalgiris88949187–
 
 
 
Rytas891048188–
 
Rytas11096–
 
 
 
Cbet7790–
 
Rytas85113868692
 
 
 
Wolves Twinsbet9675789786 Third place
 
Wolves Twinsbet917691
 
 
 
Neptūnas849580
 
7Bet–Lietkabelis86739198–
 
 
Wolves Twinsbet84818487–
 


2023–24 LKL champions
Rytas
(7th title)

Final standings

Pos Team Pld W L Qualification or relegation
1 Rytas (C) 41 32 9 Qualification to Champions League regular season
2 Žalgiris 39 32 7 Already qualified to EuroLeague
3 7Bet–Lietkabelis 40 21 19 Qualification to EuroCup
4 Wolves Twinsbet 42 27 15
5 Uniclub Casino – Juventus 33 19 14 Qualification to Champions League qualifying rounds
6 Neptūnas 33 15 18
7 Cbet 32 11 21
8 M Basket-Delamode 32 11 21
9 Nevėžis–Optibet 30 10 20
10 Šiauliai 30 8 22
11 Pieno žvaigždės 30 5 25
12 Gargždai 0 0 0 Excluded
Source: LKL.lt
(C) Champions

Statistics

Average attendances

Pos Team Total High Low Average Change
1 Žalgiris 104,303 13,791 909 4,966 +8.4%†
2 Rytas 75,282 9,149 1,597 3,764 +111.7%†
3 Wolves Twinsbet 70,863 8,522 386 3,221 +63.4%†
4 7Bet–Lietkabelis 45,242 5,251 959 2,262 +2.3%†
5 Neptūnas 35,491 4,736 1,029 2,087 +31.7%†
6 Šiauliai 29,419 5,507 898 1,838 +5.0%†
7 Uniclub Casino – Juventus 22,797 2,496 663 1,424 +12.0%†
8 Nevėžis–Optibet 15,295 2,279 639 1,092 +22.8%†
9 Cbet 15,125 2,200 659 1,008 −21.1%†
10 M Basket-Delamode 11,500 1,098 451 766 n/a1
11 Gargždai 6,033 2,056 323 754 +12.7%†
12 Pieno žvaigždės 5,795 1,200 139 413 +20.1%†
League total 428,719 13,791 139 2,176 +30.5%†

Source: LKL.lt
Notes:
1: Team played last season in NKL.

Individual statistics

Rating

Rank Name Team Games Rating PIR
1. United States Nick Ward Gargždai 13 276 21.23
2. Lithuania Ąžuolas Tubelis Neptūnas 26 529 20.35
3. United States Kadeem Jack Pieno žvaigždės 20 379 18.95

Source: LKL.lt

Points

Rank Name Team Games Points PPG
1. United States Nick Ward Gargždai 13 263 20.23
2. United States Brandon Tabb Pieno žvaigždės 16 309 19.31
3. Lithuania Ąžuolas Tubelis Neptūnas 26 448 17.23

Source: LKL.lt

Rebounds

Rank Name Team Games Rebounds RPG
1. Lithuania Giedrius Staniulis M Basket-Delamode 34 286 8.41
2. Nigeria Francis Okoro Nevėžis–Optibet 22 175 7.95
3. Lithuania Ąžuolas Tubelis Neptūnas 26 187 7.19

Source: LKL.lt

Assists

Rank Name Team Games Assists APG
1. Israel Amit Ebo Nevėžis–Optibet 16 122 7.63
2. Lithuania Žygimantas Janavičius Neptūnas 34 214 6.29
3. United States L.J. Thorpe Šiauliai 31 195 6.29

Source: LKL.lt

Other statistics

Category Player Team Games Average
Steals United States Brandon Tabb Pieno žvaigždės 16 2.75
Blocks Slovakia Tomaš Pavelka Šiauliai 32 1.78
Turnovers Israel Amit Ebo Nevėžis–Optibet 16 3.63
Fouls drawn United States Nick Ward Gargždai 13 6.54
Minutes Serbia Strahinja Mićović Cbet 29 32:20
FT % Lithuania Evaldas Šaulys Uniclub Casino – Juventus 33 92.11%
2-Point % Lithuania Šarūnas Beniušis Uniclub Casino – Juventus 34 76.19%
3-Point % United States Deante Johnson Pieno žvaigždės 29 62.50%

Source: LKL.lt

Individual game highs

Category Player Team Opponent Statistic
Rating Lithuania Ąžuolas Tubelis Neptūnas Cbet (Apr 8, 2024) 49
Points United States Zane Waterman Nevėžis–Optibet Uniclub Casino – Juventus (Mar 18, 2024) 35
Rebounds Lithuania Regimantas Miniotas Wolves Twinsbet Šiauliai (Dec 3, 2023) 19
Assists Israel Amit Ebo Nevėžis–Optibet Cbet (Apr 18, 2023) 21
Steals Lithuania Arnas Butkevičius Žalgiris M Basket-Delamode (Oct 9, 2023) 8
Blocks Lithuania Justas Furmanavičius Gargždai Šiauliai (Oct 22, 2023) 7

Source: LKL.lt

Team statistics

Category Team Average
Rating Rytas 108.80
Points Rytas 93.20
Rebounds Rytas 40.05
Assists Neptūnas 21.76
Steals Uniclub Casino – Juventus 8.73
Blocks Šiauliai 3.80
Turnovers Pieno žvaigždės 14.80
FT % Žalgiris 77.83%
2-Point % Rytas 60.08%
3-Point % Wolves Twinsbet 37.62%

Source: LKL.lt

Awards

All official awards of the 2023–24 LKL season.

Regular Season MVP

Pos. Player Team Source
PF Lithuania Ąžuolas Tubelis Neptūnas [4]

LKL Finals MVP

Pos. Player Team Source
SG United States Marcus Foster Rytas [5]

Breakthrough of the Year

Player Team Source
Lithuania Ignas Sargiūnas Neptūnas [6]

Coach of the Year

Coach Team Source
Serbia Oliver Kostić Uniclub Casino – Juventus [7]

All-LKL Team

Pos. Player Team Source
PG United States Scoochie Smith Uniclub Casino – Juventus [8]
SG United States Rasheed Sulaimon Wolves Twinsbet
SF Lithuania Deividas Sirvydis 7Bet–Lietkabelis
PF Lithuania Ąžuolas Tubelis Neptūnas
C Lithuania Laurynas Birutis Žalgiris

Player of the month

Month Player Team PIR Source
2023
September Lithuania Gytis Masiulis Rytas 24.5 [9]
October United States Nick Ward Gargždai 27.7 [10]
November United States Brandon Tabb Pieno žvaigždės 26.7 [11]
December United States Zane Waterman Nevėžis–Optibet 24.5 [12]
2024
January–February United States Marcus Foster Rytas 21.8 [13]
March United States Zane Waterman Nevėžis–Optibet 27.4 [14]
April Israel Amit Ebo Nevėžis–Optibet 27.3 [15]

LKL clubs in international competitions

Euroleague Basketball competitions
Team Competition Progress Result W–L
Žalgiris EuroLeague Regular season 14th place out of 18 teams 14–20
7Bet–Lietkabelis EuroCup Regular season Group B 9th place out of 10 teams 7–11
Wolves Twinsbet Regular season Group A 7th place out of 10 teams 8–10
FIBA competitions
Team Competition Progress Result W–L
Rytas Champions League Regular season Group B 2nd place out of 4 teams 4–2
Play-ins Loss vs. Greece Peristeri bwin 0–2
Cbet Qualifying tournament 3 Loss vs. France SIG Strasbourg 0–1
FIBA Europe Cup Regular season Group C 1st place out of 4 teams 4–2
Second round Group L 4th place out of 4 teams 0–6
Nevėžis–Optibet Qualifying tournament B 3rd place out of 3 teams 0–2

Lithuanian clubs in regional competitions

Team Competition Progress Result W–L
Uniclub Casino – Juventus European North Basketball League Regular season Group A 1st place out of 8 teams 6–1
Quarterfinals Loss vs. Belgium Royal Liege Basket (180–182) 1–1
Šiauliai Regular season Group B 1st place out of 8 teams 6–1
Quarterfinals Win vs. United Kingdom Bristol Flyers (174–155) 2–0
Semifinals Loss vs. Denmark Bakken Bears 0–1
Third place Loss vs. Belgium Royal Liege Basket 0–1

References

  1. ^ "Mažeikių komandai suteikta "Betsafe-LKL" licencija". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 22 May 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  2. ^ "LKL susitraukė: sužinojusi tikrąjį "Gargždų" skolų dydį savivaldybė numynė stabdžio pedalą". delfi.lt (in Lithuanian). 30 January 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Oficialu: "Gargždų" komanda traukiasi iš Lietuvos krepšinio čempionato". 15min.lt (in Lithuanian). 30 January 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Su trenksmu į Lietuvą grįžęs Ą. Tubelis – reguliariojo sezono MVP". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 14 May 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Finalo serijos MVP – M. Fosteris". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 12 June 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Metų proveržiu pripažintas „Neptūne" sužibėjęs I. Sargiūnas". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 3 June 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Metų treneris – per plauką nuo ketvertuko su uteniškiais likęs O. Kostičius". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 4 June 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  8. ^ "Paaiškėjo "Betsafe-LKL" sezono simbolinis penketas". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 5 June 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  9. ^ "Rugsėjo MVP – susiklosčiusias aplinkybes puikiai išnaudojantis G. Masiulis: "Žaisdamas "centru" jaučiuosi natūraliau"". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 6 October 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  10. ^ "Spalio MVP laurus nuskynęs N. Wardas: "Tikriausiai varžovų skautinge mano pavardė dabar labiau matoma"". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 2 November 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  11. ^ "Lapkričio MVP tapęs B. Tabbas: "Nėra daug trenerių, kurie man leistų išmesti tokius metimus"". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 1 December 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  12. ^ "Gruodžio MVP tapęs Z. Watermanas negailėjo gražių žodžių Kėdainių klubui: "Tai geriausia patirtis mano karjeroje"". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  13. ^ "Sausio–vasario MVP tapęs M. Fosteris apie artėjantį savaitgalį: „Kaip nugalėtojai galime išeiti tik tokiu atveju, jei išliksime kartu"". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Kovo mėnesio MVP tapęs Z. Watermanas: „Ateityje noriu pasiekti Eurolygą"". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  15. ^ "Balandžio MVP – rekordinį pasirodymą surengęs ir lietuviškas šaknis atradęs A. Ebo". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 2 May 2024.