Carsen Edwards is headed to Zalgiris Kaunas after the Lithuanian club officially announced the signing of the former All-EuroLeague guard to a one-year contract with an option for the 2027-28 season. The move gives Zalgiris one of Europe’s most explosive scorers as it reshapes its roster following Sylvain Francisco’s departure.
Edwards arrives after a productive 2025-26 campaign with Virtus Bologna, where he averaged 17.3 points, 2.3 assists and 2.3 rebounds in 36 EuroLeague games. His scoring average ranked fifth in the competition despite Virtus finishing 17th with a 14-24 record.
The 28-year-old repeatedly showcased his ability to take over games offensively. He established a EuroLeague career-high with 36 points against ASVEL in Round 5, followed by a 35-point performance against Fenerbahce in Round 23 and another 32-point outing versus Real Madrid in Round 30. Edwards attempted 15.9 field goals per game, including 7.8 three-pointers, reflecting his role as Virtus’ primary offensive option.
Although his shooting percentages dipped to 39.4% from the field and 31.9% from three, Edwards remained one of the league’s highest-volume scorers. He also contributed 2.6 turnovers and 0.9 steals per contest while averaging 25.4 minutes per game.
The signing continues an aggressive offseason for Zalgiris after the club finished fifth in the 2025-26 EuroLeague regular season with a 23-15 record before losing 3-1 to Fenerbahce in the playoff quarterfinals. Francisco, who finished second in EuroLeague MVP voting, leaves a significant offensive void, and Edwards is expected to become the focal point of the new-look backcourt.
Before joining Virtus, Edwards enjoyed a breakout 2024-25 season with Bayern Munich, averaging 20.5 points and 3.3 assists while earning All-EuroLeague First Team honors. That represented a dramatic leap from his first two EuroLeague campaigns, when he averaged 7.8 points with Fenerbahce in 2022-23 and 11.5 points during his first season with Bayern in 2023-24.
Edwards originally entered professional basketball after being selected by the Boston Celtics in the 2019 NBA Draft. He spent parts of three NBA seasons with the Celtics and Detroit Pistons while also playing in the G League for the Maine Red Claws and Salt Lake City Stars before establishing himself as one of Europe’s premier scoring guards.
Zalgiris may not be finished strengthening its roster. The club has also been linked with Lithuanian center Jonas Valanciunas, whose future depends on whether the Denver Nuggets keep him for next season. If that move materializes, it would cap one of the most ambitious summers in recent Zalgiris history as the club looks to build on last season’s quarterfinal appearance.
