Cyber EuroLeague Heartbreak: Bryant Dunston Gets Relegated? Martynas Valaitis’ Panathinaikos Crushes Zalgiris
- Euroleague
- Jun 1
- 2 min read
Cyber EuroLeague: Martynas Valaitis’ Panathinaikos Ends Bryant Dunston’s Zalgiris Run in Dominant Fashion
In a story packed with drama and bittersweet irony, Lithuanian gamer Martynas Valaitis, a lifelong Zalgiris Kaunas fan, delivered the final blow to Bryant Dunston—the real-life Zalgiris big man and now-relegated gamer in the Cyber EuroLeague Online League. Valaitis’ Panathinaikos AKTOR ran riot in this regular season finale, hammering Dunston’s squad 77-55 in NBA2K25 play and eliminating Zalgiris from playoff contention.
Valaitis now stands at 15-2, securing the 1st seed heading into the playoffs. Dunston, meanwhile, finishes the season with a 2-17 record, cementing 17th place and falling short of the top 16 playoff cut. Unless Dunston signs with a real-life EuroLeague team next season to retain Cyber League licensing rights, this could mark the end of his virtual tenure.
A One-Sided Duel: Panathinaikos Dominates in All Facets
The game began with fireworks, as Martynas’ Panathinaikos set the tone early with a 22-14 first quarter, followed by a blistering 23-14 run in the third that put the game out of reach. While Zalgiris held close in the second (15-13), their offense completely fizzled in the fourth, scoring just 12 points.
Valaitis’ side was relentless, shooting 49% from the field and a lethal 44% from three (12/27). His players shared the ball efficiently, tallying 13 assists and racking up 40 bench points—a testament to his tactical rotation and depth.
In contrast, Dunston’s Zalgiris struggled mightily. They shot just 33% from the field and a rough 29% from deep. Despite an energetic 27 fast break points, they were ice cold in the half-court and finished with only 12 assists. Zalgiris also missed 6 free throws and were out-rebounded 42 to 36.
Player Breakdown: Sloukas and Nunn Light It Up
Panathinaikos was carried by the hot hands of Kostas Sloukas, who exploded for 32 points, shooting 12-of-24 overall and draining 8 threes. Kendrick Nunn added 20 points of his own, slashing through the defense and adding pressure all game long.
Zalgiris' top scorer was Bryant Dunston himself, putting up 11 points with 3 rebounds and 1 steal, but without consistent support. A. Smailagic added 6 points and 6 boards, and Sirvydis managed 4 points and 2 assists—but none were efficient.
What’s Next: Martynas Eyes EuroLeague Glory, Dunston Awaits His Fate
For Martynas Valaitis, the road ahead looks golden. As the 1st seed, the Lithuanian gamer enters the Cyber EuroLeague playoffs as a top contender. With Panathinaikos executing both offensively and defensively, he looks poised for a deep run.
But for Bryant Dunston, the path is uncertain. With no playoffs, and only 2 wins across 19 games, he exits the regular season at the bottom places. His only chance to return lies in signing with a real EuroLeague team next season—a unique rule that ties Cyber League licenses to real-life affiliations.
