Team 2008-09: MONTEPASCHI SIENA (Italy-Lega)
Career: Seton Hall University (USA-NCAA, 1996-00), Galil Elion Hapoel (Israel-Premier League, 2000-01), Lietuvos rytas Vilnius (Lithuania-LKL, 2001-02), Telindus Ostende (Belgium-D1, 2002-03), Telekom Baskets Bonn (Germany-Bundesliga, 2003-04), Vertical Vision Cantu (Italy-Lega, 2004-05), Montepaschi Siena (Italy-Lega, 2005-09)

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His return to the national team last summer after four years out was a joyful experience for Rimantas Kaukenas. Following his first Lega-winning campaign at Montepaschi Siena (he has won two more since then). He started at shooting guard for Lithuania at EuroBasket 2007 and helped them capture a bronze medal to qualify for the Beijing Games. His dream of making it to the Olympics was thrown into serious jeopardy in January 2008 when he tore his knee ligament. Yet after surgery and almost five months of rehabilitation, Kaukenas returned on time to make it to Beijing. One of numerous Lithuanian who opted for a NCAA experience, Kaukenas succeeded in Seton Hall but, as with Jasikevicius, that was not enough to make it to the NBA. At 32, Kaukenas is probably one of the most reliable players in Europe.