Zalgiris Kaunas have completed their frontcourt rebuild with the signing of Nigerian center Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu, the EuroCup's leading shot-blocker last season, on a one-year contract with an option for a second season. The 26-year-old, who stands 208 cm with a 223 cm wingspan, had put pen to paper with Cedevita Olimpija earlier this summer, but a EuroLeague release clause in that agreement allowed him to move to the Lithuanian champions instead.
According to Chema de Lucas, Zalgiris will pay a buyout to the Ljubljana club for the big man, whose exit clause ran until the end of July. Akobundu-Ehiogu arrives from BAXI Manresa, where he led the EuroCup in blocks with 1.6 per game while averaging 4.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in 13 minutes of action, converting 79.1% of his field-goal attempts. In the Spanish ACB he posted 4.8 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 13 minutes per contest, shooting 81.6% from the field and finishing third in the league's blocked-shot standings.
The Nigeria-born center had previously starred in Italy, where he led Serie A in blocks with Openjobmetis Varese during the 2024-25 season, averaging 7.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game. He made his third NBA Summer League appearance this summer with the Dallas Mavericks, producing 6.4 points and 2.4 rebounds per outing across five games with several highlight-reel dunks.
