Rytas Vilnius has strengthened its roster with another newcomer – 24-year-old forward from Germany, Kay Bruhnke. The 204 cm tall player joins the capital after a productive season in the Lithuanian Basketball League (Betsafe-LKL) and a short stint in Turkey. The club signed him on a 1+1 contract.
“Kay is a versatile and talented forward who can still take many steps forward in his career. We were looking for a young, hungry player capable of stretching the floor and possessing the right character traits. I have no doubt he will fit into our system, find room to improve, and become an important part of the team both domestically and internationally,” said Rytas Vilnius sports director Artūras Jomantas.
Bruhnke showcased his potential while playing for the Mažeikiai club – he led the league in efficiency (20.7) and was among the top scorers, averaging 18.8 points per game. The German forward was especially accurate – he shot 65.2 percent on two-pointers and 45.1 percent from three-point range. In addition to scoring, he contributed 4.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game. His most impressive performance in the Lithuanian league came against Vilnius Wolves, scoring 28 points and registering 34 efficiency points. Bruhnke also performed strongly in both games against Rytas, averaging nearly 34 minutes per game, scoring 26.5 points, grabbing 5.5 rebounds, dishing out 1.5 assists, and posting 26.5 efficiency points.
“I am very happy to join Rytas. I have heard many good things about the club, the city, and of course, the fans. It was always interesting to play against Rytas, but now being part of the team is an even better feeling. This is a great opportunity for me to improve and take the next step in my career, so I will give my all, pursue the team’s goals, continue growing, and most importantly, give everything for the fans, the city, and the club,” Bruhnke wrote in his statement. “I’m happy to be part of this team and very much look forward to the season and the chance to play in front of our fans!”
Mid-season, Bruhnke’s career took him to Turkey, where he joined Ankara Turk Telekom. Although he received limited minutes, he made his debut in both the Turkish league and the Basketball Champions League. In domestic competition, he averaged 7 minutes per game and scored 2.2 points, while internationally, he averaged 1.6 points and 1 rebound per 8 minutes.
It is important to note that while still playing in Mažeikiai, Kay received an invitation to represent the German national team in the European Championship qualifiers.