Former UA forward Azuolas Tubelis to play for Lithuania in exhibition vs. Wildcats

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Arizona is about a week away from heading overseas for a trip to Lithuania, where along the way it will play three exhibition games including ones against a pair of national teams preparing for FIBA World Cup qualification. And one of those squads will feature a much-loved ex-Wildcat.

Former UA forward Azuolas Tubelis is part of the 14-man squad for Lithuania that is set to face Turkey and Bosnia & Herzegovinia in late August. To help them warm up for those contests they’ll take on the Wildcats on Aug. 22.

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The 6-foot-10 Tubelis has carved out a nice career for himself in Europe, both at the club level and for his national team. He played 77 games during the 2025-26 season for Zalgiris in the Euroleague and other events, averaging 12.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.1 assist while shooting 61.5 percent, and in July suited up for Lithuania in qualifier games against Great Britain and Italy.

Tubelis spent three seasons at the UA, from 2020-23, averaging 15.6 points and 7.5 rebounds in 97 games. He led the Pac-12 in scoring (19.8) and rebounding (9.1) as a junior before turning pro. He went undrafted in 2023 and, after signing a 2-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers and playing in the NBA Summer League, opted to play in Europe.

Lithuania has opted not to put any of its NBA players on the roster for its next games, including Domantas Sabonis, Matas Buzelis, Kasparas Jakucionisor even Jonas Valanciunas. Sabonis played for UA coach Tommy Lloyd at Gonzaga.

Arizona will have a pair of its own Lithuanians suiting up in senior big men Motiejus Krivas and Ugnius Jarusevicius. Jarusevicius is a 6-foot-10 transfer from Nebraska who has also played for Cal State Bakersfield and Central Michigan.

“Not not every player can say that, like especially Europeans, that they’re going back to their country to play against their national team,” Krivas said Friday.

Arizona’s trip, which will include stops in Kaunas and Palanga, runs from Aug. 14-23. It will play Lithuania in Alytus, Jarusevicius’ hometown, after contests against the Lithuania B Team on Aug. 19 in Jonava and the Ukraine National Team on Aug. 20 in Kedaninai. Ukraine is also set to play qualifying FIBA World Cup matches, facing Greece and Montenegro later this month.

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