How a Lithuanian prospect transformed from an undrafted player into an NBL record-breaker
In short: From youth tournament standout to an MVP in the Lithuanian league, Arnas Velička's journey has been anything but linear. After missing out on the NBA draft, the Lithuanian guard has navigated multiple European leagues before making a historic impact in Australia's NBL.
Arnas Velička's professional ascent began in the youth ranks of Žalgiris Kaunas. After a standout performance at the 2015 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship, where he earned All-Tournament Team honors, he signed with Žalgiris-2 Kaunas. His early career was marked by a series of strategic moves across Europe, including stints with FC Barcelona B, Champagne Châlons-Reims in France, and various clubs in Germany and Italy. He also played for Lietkabelis Panevėžys and the University of Tartu. His early success included winning a silver medal with Žalgiris-2 Kaunas after reaching the NKL finals.
Despite being selected for the Boston Celtics for the 2021 NBA Summer League, Velička went undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft. This setback did not stall his momentum. He continued to refine his game in the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL), eventually securing a championship with Rytas Vilnius in 2024 and earning the LKL Most Valuable Player award during the 2025–26 season. During that standout campaign, he averaged 14.4 points and 7.0 assists per game while shooting 41 percent from the three-point line. His time in France included a stint with Löwen Braunschweig. He also played for Napoli Basket in Italy.
Velička's most recent breakthrough occurred in the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). Joining the Brisbane Bullets for the 2026–27 season, he made an immediate impact in his debut. In his first game against the New Zealand Breakers, he scored 23 points and set a new NBL record for the most assists by a debutant, recording 14 assists to lead the Bullets to an 88–85 victory. This performance helped the team secure an 88–85 win. He achieved this feat during his first professional match in the league.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Arnas Velička
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