Arnas Velička Named Regular Season MVP

As the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL) sponsored by Betsson regular season drew to a close, the player set to etch his name into the league’s history books as the campaign’s Most Valuable Player has been revealed.

The 2025-2026 regular season MVP trophy is heading to Klaipėda, courtesy of Neptūnas' standout leader, Arnas Velička.

The 26-year-old, 195 cm guard returned to his homeland after a one-year stint in Germany and quickly established himself as the cornerstone of Gediminas Petrauskas’ squad.

Thanks to the efforts of Velička and his teammates, the port-city club secured a third-place finish in the regular season for the first time in seven years. Evading any major slumps in form, the guard’s consistency was rewarded with two monthly MVP awards, claiming the honors in both December and April.

Back at the start of the season—with memories of his spectacular performance in the EuroBasket Round of 16 thriller against Latvia still fresh—Velička made it clear he was ready for a more prominent role and greater responsibility than ever before.

"I’ve had good seasons and good stretches in the past. There have also been worse periods with plenty of ups and downs. Right now, I’m focused on maintaining that consistency. Playing in different countries prepared me for the moment I got a solid opportunity, and I seized it. All those years were preparation—both mentally and skill-wise. I now find myself in plenty of situations that I can read and solve, allowing me to perform at a higher level," Velička told LKL.lt back in September.

The Lithuanian’s statistics speak volumes. Missing just one out of 32 games, the playmaker averaged 14.4 points over 27.5 minutes on the floor, shooting 50% from two-point range, 41% from beyond the arc, and 65% from the free-throw line. He also dished out 7 assists, grabbed 4 rebounds, and recorded 1.5 steals per game.

Statistically, Velička was the most efficient player in the league, boasting a stunning efficiency rating (PIR) of 21.5. This mark stands as the highest in the league since the 2008-2009 season, when a few elite Lithuanian big men crossed that threshold: Nerijus Varnelis (27.5), Donatas Motiejūnas (22), and Paulius Jankūnas (21.6).

A Night to Remember

While the guard put on several unforgettable performances throughout the regular season, one masterclass stood out above the rest. On January 31st, Velička put on a clinic to sink Rytas Vilnius.

Facing the very club with which he previously celebrated a Lithuanian championship, the point guard racked up 24 points (4/8 2PT, 4/5 3PT, 4/5 FT), dished out a whopping 15 assists, collected 7 rebounds, and amassed a massive efficiency rating of 47. A spectacular output that was only surpassed later in the season by a miraculous performance from Ignas Sargiūnas.

In the past, basketball pundits often pointed to Velička’s inconsistent perimeter shooting as the primary area of his game needing improvement. This year, however, his precision has forced opposing defenses to rethink their strategy. According to advanced data from the "Genius IQ" platform, the guard was at his most lethal from mid-range and the 45-degree angles. From these spots on the court, his Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%)—which factors in the added value of three-pointers—reached an incredible 64%.

Yet, the Neptūnas talisman's impact extends far beyond his individual scoring threat; this season, he morphed into the ultimate floor general. Velička averaged an astonishing 70 passes per game, outstripping his closest competitor, Makai Ashton-Langford, by a margin of 15 passes.

"I just focus on the game, and the numbers take care of themselves," Velička noted earlier this year. "I have a significant role, the ball is in my hands, and there are many situations I try to read and react to. I don't look at the stats—they self-regulate. If you play well and the team wins, you don't really pay attention to that. I just try to bring whatever I can to the table in every single game."

The Playoff Curse?

The Kaunas native becomes only the second Lithuanian to claim the league MVP title over the past seven years. Concurrently, he is the second Neptūnas representative to take home the prize. Interestingly, both criteria were met by Ąžuolas Tubelis, who earned the same distinction two years ago.

However, recent history suggests that the regular season’s top individual honor offers no guarantees come playoff time. Just like Tubelis, the two most recent MVPs—Ahmad Caver and Anthony Cowan—suffered shocking first-round exits, missing out on the medal rounds entirely.

For their part, Neptūnas are making no secret of their ambitions to return to the podium this year.

"I think the ultimate goal is still to be in the finals at the end of the season and push past the semifinal hurdle," the guard asserted a few weeks ago.

The first obstacle on the road for the Klaipėda side will be Gargždai, as they tip off their best-of-three quarterfinal series on Thursday evening.