Lithuanian national team forward Jonas Maciulis joined Lokomotiv-Kuban earlier this week. Here are some of the most interesting things to know about the 33-year-old VTB United League rookie.
#1: Maciulis has won championships in every league in which he’s competed
As a pro, Jonas Maciulis has played in four of Europe’s top leagues, winning at least one title in each competition. He has three Lithuanian titles (2006, 2007, 2008), one Italian title (2012), and two each in Greece (2013, 2014) and Spain (2015, 2016). That’s an incredible run of success.
You can also add a EuroLeague trophy to his collection. Maciulis helped Real Madrid to a championship in 2015, scoring nine points in the title game.
#2: Maciulis is the Lithuanian national team’s most decorated active player
Jonas Maciulis has also enjoyed tremendous success with the national team.
He’s won four medals with Lithuania: two EuroBasket silvers, one EuroBasket bronze and one World Championships bronze. That’s the highest total among active players and ranks in the top-four all-time (Stombergas, Einikis and Javtokas each have four medals as well). He only needs one more podium finish to become Lithuania’s most decorated player ever!
As for individual awards, Maciulis was named to the EuroBasket First Team in 2015. Coupled with EuroLeague, Spanish league and Spanish Cup titles, he was also named Lithuanian Player of the Year in 2015.
#3: Maciulis played for free for the second-to-last place team in the Lithuanian league
A serious knee injury in 2011 knocked Maciulis out of action for nine months. Recovery was difficult, both physically and emotionally. His team at the time, Olimpia Milano, chose not to extend his contract and other top teams in Europe were afraid to gamble mid-season on a player who hadn’t seen the court in nearly a year.
Maciulis returned to Lithuania and, on February 8, 2012, became a member of Baltai Kaunas. Shockingly, one of Lithuania’s top players agreed to play for free for a team in second-to-last place in the national league. He scored 16 points in his debut, leading Baltai to a win over Kalev.
He ultimately played two and a half months for Baltai, before receiving an offer from Montepaschi Italy to finish out the season.
#4: He was twice close to signing with UNICS
In 2009, UNICS Kazan was coached by Lithuanian boss Valdemaras Chomicius, who immediately announced he would like to sign several Lithuanian players, including Jonas Maciulis. But it didn’t work out. The two parties could not agree on a contract and Maciulis ended up joining Olimpia Milano.
Five years later, Kazan once again tried to ink the Lithuanian forward. Well-known Italian sports outlet Sportando even announced his transfer to UNICS, but the deal fell apart at the last minute and Maciulis signed with Real Madrid. According to Sportando, the parties were unable to agree on a deal because Maciulis ultimately decided he wanted to play in a country with a warmer climate.
#5: Maciulis became a football fan in Spain
Early in his career, it may have been difficult to imagine Jonas Maciulis having anything to do with football, but once he signed with Real Madrid, he quickly became one of the biggest football fans in European basketball, at least judging by his Instagram. The Lithuanian regularly attended games at the San Bernabeu, bringing along his family, friends and teammates.
The football club even organized a meeting between Cristiano Ronaldo and Jonas Maciulis, where the Lithuanian basketball star received his own signed Ronaldo jersey.
#6: Maciulius is the son of a forest ranger
Jonas Maciulis has a beautiful wife and three daughters. He’s also the son of a forest ranger. Surprisingly, his father continues to work in Karmelava, not far from Kaunas. It’s an unusual story for someone whose son has become one of Lithuania’s most decorated and well-compensated athletes.
