With 12 points and 4-for-6 shooting from three against Barcelona, Grigonis gave Zalgiris a timely boost while taking an important step towards rediscovering his role in the EuroLeague.
Zalgiris were trailing by 10 points at the end of the third quarter at the Palau Blaugrana, but they left Barcelona with a memorable victory. They came from behind to secure an impressive 88-81 win, with Marius Grigonis among the key figures in their comeback.
The former Panathinaikos player finished the game with 12 points, four rebounds and 4-for-6 shooting from beyond the arc. His late three-pointer to put Zalgiris up 80-76 also gave his team a valuable cushion in a game that was still very much up for grabs.
For the 32-year-old guard, this performance meant more than simply putting up good numbers. His return to Zalgiris in the summer of 2026, five years after leaving Kaunas, came with a clear objective: to rediscover his place at the highest level of European basketball.
His four-year stint at Panathinaikos included winning the EuroLeague title in 2024, but also a difficult final period marked by injuries and limited playing time. During the 2025-26 season, he appeared in just 15 EuroLeague games, averaging 0.8 points in 5.4 minutes per contest. For a player who had already shown that he could perform for teams with high ambitions, returning to his home country represented an opportunity for a fresh start.
The early signs of the new season have been encouraging. Through the first four rounds of the EuroLeague, Grigonis is averaging approximately 7.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. Even more telling is the improvement in his outside shooting: after going 3-for-11 from three-point range in his first three games, he improved to 7-for-17 following his performance in Barcelona, good for 41.2%.
His impact, however, extends beyond his shooting. Against Barcelona, Grigonis played more than 23 minutes, providing valuable contributions on a night when Zalgiris needed composure and character to complete their comeback. His experience at the highest level could prove invaluable to a team looking to remain competitive throughout the season.
One performance is not enough to erase everything that came before, nor does it guarantee that Grigonis will consistently produce at the same level. It is, however, a meaningful first step. Zalgiris do not need to rediscover the player he was five years ago, but rather make the most of the player he can be today: an experienced guard who can score, read the game and make a difference when it matters most.
The Palau is not yet the definitive answer to questions about his role, but it is a promising starting point as he looks to reclaim the place he wants in the EuroLeague.