Barça and Jokubaitis Agree to End Contract, Player Heads to Maccabi
Barcelona has reached an agreement with Lithuanian player Jokubaitis to end his contract, effective immediately. The 23-year-old point guard, who still had a year left on his deal, has instead signed with Maccabi.
Jokubaitis had played for Barça since 2021, featuring in 244 matches across the Endesa League, Euroleague, Copa del Rey, Super Cup, and Catalan League. He won the Endesa League and Copa del Rey with the club and was named the Best Young Player in the Euroleague in his first season.
The decision to terminate his contract was announced through the club’s social media channels, with Barcelona expressing gratitude to Jokubaitis for his efforts to resolve the situation. The club also wished him the best of luck in his future endeavors, both personally and professionally.
Far from the NBA, close to Maccabi
After initial speculation about a return to Zalgiris in his homeland, it seems that Jokubaitis’ next destination will be Maccabi. The Israeli team is in the midst of rebuilding its squad following the departure of Lorenzo Brown to Panathinaikos, and sources suggest that negotiations between Maccabi and Lithuanian clubs are well advanced.
Jokubaitis had participated in the NBA Summer League with the New York Knicks earlier this month, but it appears that he will be pursuing a career in Europe rather than attempting to break into the NBA.
244 Matches and One League and One Cup for the Blaugrana
Jokubaitis arrived in Barcelona in the summer of 2021, following a stint with his training club Zalgiris. He played three seasons with the club, earning the Best Young Player award in his first season and helping the team win an Endesa League title and a Copa del Rey.