There are players who stand out for their performances on the court, and others who stand out for their behavior both on and off it. Marius Grigonis is a blend of both. A true “knight,” as Panathinaikos fans used to call him.
The Lithuanian guard has now taken a different path, one more familiar to him of course, returning to his homeland to play for Žalgiris. All of this comes four years after his move to Panathinaikos. Grigulica has been, throughout his entire career, a model professional and a true gentleman.
A very useful modern forward/guard with size, he was even established in Panathinaikos as a reliable shooter during the season of their 7th EuroLeague title. But let’s start from the beginning, because his journey with the “greens” was anything but easy, and nothing was simply handed to him.
It all began in 2022, when he joined the team for the first time under Dejan Radonjić. For various reasons, Grigo didn’t convince the Montenegrin coach and spent a long period sidelined on the bench, until Christos Serelis took over, and later Ergin Ataman in the following season.
In the summer of a full roster rebuild, with over 10 players leaving and a similar number arriving, Grigonis was one of the few who stayed—something that surprised many. Ataman, however, was ultimately justified in keeping him.
Because in the 2023/2024 season, the Lithuanian became a crucial “X-factor” for Panathinaikos, playing an important role in Ergin Ataman’s tight rotation. In every game, even statistically speaking, his three-pointers felt almost guaranteed—like a lock bet. You knew that at some point the system would find him open, and he would deliver from beyond the arc.
This was proven in the December 2023 game in Monaco, when he hit a game-winning buzzer-beating three-pointer for Panathinaikos. The Greens won the game, but what Grigonis truly achieved was something bigger: he made every Panathinaikos fan and every member of the team believe in what, until then, still felt like a dream.
Throughout that season, up until the EuroLeague and domestic title, Grigonis was decisive. However, the following season brought difficulties. Back problems escalated into a serious injury, surgery, and a long recovery journey. From October 21, 2024, until September 30, 2025, Grigo was away from the court. Yet his professionalism and patience throughout this period, staying close to the team, stand as an example to follow.
As much as he tried, upon returning, to be the old “good Grigonis,” it unfortunately didn’t quite come back. And so we arrive at today, where Marius is expected to return to his homeland to finish his career there. Still, for Panathinaikos, he will always remain the dignified and honorable knight of the green family.
