Panathinaikos adds Lithuanian Olympian Maciulis

Panathinaikos Athens made its second major addition in as many days by announcing that it has come to terms with veteran forward Jonas Maciulis for the 2012-13 season. Maciulis (1.98 meters, 27 years old) missed much of last season due to injury, but returned late in the season with Italian club Montepaschi Siena, which he helped with the Italian championship. Maciulis is back in great shape with a prominent role on the Lithuanian Olympic team. He averaged 11.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Venezuela to help Lithuania seal a spot in London. Nicknamed “The Bull” for his intensity and fighting spirit, Maciulis was born in Kaunas and raised at Zalgiris, where he played four Euroleague seasons. In his time there, he helped the club to back back-to-back Lithuanian League and Cup doubles in 2007 and 2008 plus the Baltic League title in 2008. He joined Armani Jeans Milano in 2009 for two seasons, in which he continued to average double figures in points and play tough defense. In 80 career Euroleague games, Maciulis has averaged 10.4 points and 3.7 rebounds. With the Lithuanian national team, Maciulis has collected bronze medals at the 2010 World Championships and EuroBasket 2007 and reached the 2008 Olympic semifinals.

“I feel ready to be part of this great team. It is an honor for me to play for Panathinaikos and I want to continue to win titles, as it has for so many years. It’s what we all are accustomed to and Panathinaikos certainly does not want to change that,” Maciulis told the club’s web site. “I know that circumstances are different compared to previous years. One might say this is a reboot and it is my pleasure to help in this effort. We want to be really good and effective on the court from the first year. I know the players already on the team. I’ve never played with them, but I know that they are really good players. With the players already with the team, and we expect them to come, we will manage to achieve our goals. I have played in OAKA as an opponent and I think it’s much better to have the fans on your side and not against you.”