#3) Mantas Kalnietis, 6'5, Point Guard, 29.9 years old, Lithuania
EWA: 1.5
PER: 27.0
TS%: 71.8%
18.0 PTS, 2.7 REB, 7.5 AST, .8 STL, 11-26 3P%, 17-21 FT%, 60.6 FG%
Veteran Lithuanian point guard Mantas Kalnietis posted the best overall international performance of his career in Rio. Despite leading his team to a 3-0 start in group play, Lithuania struggled after that and lost its last three games, being bounced in the first round of elimination play against Australia in the quarterfinals. Lithuania has now failed to medal in the last four Olympic Basketball competitions after winning three consecutive bronze medals in 1992, 1996, and 2000.
Despite the lack of team success, Kalnietis shined on the international stage, leading the competition in assists per game at 7.5, ahead of Matthew Dellavedova who finished 2nd at 7.0. Kalnietis also led his team in scoring at 18.0 points per game, finishing in front of NBA players Jonas Valanciunas and 11th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, Domantas Sabonis. Kalnietis has been a part of the Lithuanian National team that has had success in other international competitions, winning a bronze at the 2010 World Championships, and silver at the 2013 and 2015 EuroBasket Championships. Considered a draft prospect early on in his career, Kalnietis went undrafted in 2008, but has since has a very successful career in Europe, spending the majority of his career with Zalgiris in Lithuania. Last season he finished with EA7 Armani, who finished first in top division Italy, and he will return to play for them again in the upcoming season.
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