The history of BC Rytas begins from the founding of the club with a name BC Statyba in 1963, in Lithuania's capital city Vilnius. The BC Statyba was renamed to BC Statyba-Lietuvos rytas in 1997, when Gedvydas Vainauskas, the owner of the daily newspaper Lietuvos rytas, had purchased the club, and in 1998, the old name Statyba was removed completely when the club was renamed to BC Lietuvos rytas. The final name change of the club to BC Rytas occurred in 2018, when its owners has changed and Gedvydas Vainauskas left the club, therefore the new owners of the club sought to remove the affiliation of the club with the newspaper Lietuvos rytas, however the club was domestically and internationally well known as Rytas, thus its name remained similar.
Domestically BC Rytas is known for its long-term rivalry in the Lietuvos krepšinio lyga (Lithuanian Basketball League) with the BC Žalgiris of Kaunas, the second largest Lithuanian city. The BC Rytas is the only Lithuanian men's basketball club other than BC Žalgiris which managed to win the Lithuanian Basketball League since its foundation in 1993. Six out of seven BC Rytas titles of the Lithuanian Basketball League (2000, 2002, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2024) were achieved in victorious LKL Finals against the BC Žalgiris and one against the BC Lietkabelis of Panevėžys in 2022. Moreover, the BC Rytas won three LKF Cup titles (1998, 2009, 2010) and two King Mindaugas Cup titles (2016, 2019) where it also competed against BC Žalgiris.
The BC Rytas throughout its history has achieved success internationally as it had won two EuroCup Basketball titles in 2005 and 2009, and was the 2nd Lithuanian men's basketball club to compete in the EuroLeague, the top-tier men's league in Europe, in which only two other Lithuanian men's basketball clubs competed (BC Žalgiris and BC Neptūnas). The BC Rytas had debuted in the EuroLeague during the 2005–06 season and in total participated in six EuroLeague seasons. Furthermore, the BC Rytas also had won once the North European Basketball League (2001–02 season) and three Baltic Basketball League Elite Division titles (2006, 2007, 2009). On 21 October 2008, the BC Rytas became only the second Lithuanian men's basketball club (after BC Žalgiris) to play against a National Basketball Association team when a friendly game was held against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California (the Warriors had won the game 126–106).
Origins (1963–1997)
In 1963, the first basketball team from Vilnius, called Žalgiris, was formed. The following year it changed its name to Plastikas. In that same year, 1964, Plastikas players joined a new team, called Statyba. This name was used for over 30 years.Statyba history , bcstatyba.lt
Jonas Kazlauskas, Rimas Girskis, and then-head coach Rimantas Endrijaitis led Statyba to third place in the 1979, Soviet Union Championship.Lietuvos rytas Euroleague page, euroleague.net, accessed 31 December 2010. Three years later, Šarūnas Marčiulionis joined the team and became its leader. In 1987, Artūras Karnišovas joined the team at the age of 16. In 1994, Statyba won bronze medals in their first LKL season.
In 1995, Lietuvos rytas began sponsoring Sūduva Marijampolė, a basketball club from Marijampolė, Lithuania. The partnership lasted for two seasons, during which the team was known as Lietuvos rytas Marijampolė and played in the second-tier Lithuanian league, the LKAL. A notable player for the team was teenager Darius Songaila. However, after the 1996–97 season the partnership ended.Jonas Vainauskas about beginnings of Lietuvos rytas , krepsinis.net
At the same time, Statyba was faced with financial difficulties and was on the verge of bankruptcy. The team needed new investors and in 1997, Lietuvos rytas bought the club. However, the new owners did not want to continue the team's history and renamed it Statyba-Lietuvos rytas, then just Lietuvos rytas. The newspaper's investment helped the club to establish itself as one of the two best in Lithuania, the other being Žalgiris from the country's second-largest city Kaunas.
First successes (1997–2004)
During its first season, BC Rytas won a bronze medal in the LKL. In the following season, Rytas won LKL silver, losing to reigning EuroLeague champions Žalgiris Kaunas. The team also took second place in 1997, William Jones Cup.
In 2000, Ramūnas Šiškauskas, Andrius Giedraitis and Eric Elliott, combined with Arvydas Macijauskas and Robertas Javtokas, managed to win LKL. The team was coached by Šarūnas Sakalauskas. It was the first time in the history of the Lithuanian Basketball League that Žalgiris Kaunas did not win the LKL title. Also, Rytas reached the Saporta Cup semifinal, where they met last season's EuroLeague runner-up Kinder. After a home win of 70–60, Lietuvos rytas lost in Italy 83–71, with Šiškauskas missing a three-pointer which would have won the two-game series for his team.
The next season, due to the split between the FIBA and ULEB, Rytas played in the FIBA SuproLeague, making it to the quarterfinals, but losing to Anadolu Efes S.K. The team won third place in the NEBL. In the LKL finals, Žalgiris Kaunas defeated Lietuvos rytas in a tough five-game series 3–2.
In 2002, Lietuvos rytas won the LKL again, this time in a seven-game final series with the last game decided in overtime. The team played without center Robertas Javtokas, who was seriously injured in a motorbike crash.Javtokas injured, delfi.lt Lietuvos rytas also won the NEBL title in 2002, becoming the last team to win the tournament. The team held first place in the group stage of the Saporta Cup but lost in the quarterfinals to Hapoel Jerusalem.
Over the next two seasons, Lietuvos rytas lost in the LKL finals to Žalgiris Kaunas. They had more success in Europe, though, finishing in second place in the FIBA Champions Cup regional stage (though losing to Hemofarm Vršac in the final stage). The team also debuted in the ULEB Cup, getting to the quarterfinals but losing to Hapoel Jerusalem.
Success in the ULEB Cup and Euroleague (2004–2008)
2004–05: ULEB Cup champions After not winning any titles in the past two seasons, Lietuvos rytas recruited Vlade Đurović as a new coach. Midway through the season, Frederick House, the team leader, suffered a season-ending injury., eurocupbasketball.com, Đurović later resigned and was replaced by Tomo Mahorič. Tyrone Nesby, Roberts Štelmahers and Robertas Javtokas, Simas Jasaitis and Tomas Delininkaitis led the team to victory in the 2005 ULEB Cup, beating Pamesa Valencia in the semifinals and Makedonikos in the final. This victory granted them a place in the EuroLeague, the continent's primary basketball club tournament. Lietuvos rytas won second place in both the LKL and BBL finals, losing to Žalgiris Kaunas.
2005–06: EuroLeague debut Before the 2005–06 season, Neven Spahija became the head coach of the team. After losing their first two matches, Lietuvos rytas matched the EuroLeague record by winning seven consecutive EuroLeague fixtures, defeating as FC Barcelona, champions Maccabi Tel Aviv (twice) and Efes Pilsen Istanbul. Those wins allowed Rytas to advance to the Top 16 phase, where they won three times out of six, beating Tau Ceramica Vitoria once and Brose Baskets Bamberg twice. However, Lietuvos rytas was eliminated from that year's EuroLeague.
After winning the Baltic Basketball League title, Lietuvos rytas defeated Žalgiris Kaunas 4–0. Despite winning the Lithuanian title, Lietuvos rytas did not acquire the country's spot for 2006–07 EuroLeague that was reserved for Žalgiris Kaunas.
2006–07: ULEB Cup finalists Although the coach and three leading players Robertas Javtokas, Simas Jasaitis and Fred House had left the team during the interseason, the 2006–07 ULEB Cup season was rather successful for Lietuvos rytas. Two coaches were replaced during the season: Sharon Drucker from Israel was replaced by Slovenian Zmago Sagadin and the latter by his assistant coach Aleksandar Trifunović from Serbia. NBA player Kareem Rush arrived to lead the team to the ULEB Cup final where Real Madrid defeated Lietuvos rytas. However, Real Madrid's victory at the ACB semifinals, and of one of four spots reserved for Spain, allowed Lietuvos rytas to take part in the 2007–08 EuroLeague as the ULEB Cup finalist. On 27 April 2007, Lietuvos rytas won their second consecutive BBL title; Kareem Rush was named the Final Four MVP. The LKL finals and LKF Cup finals were both unsuccessful, though, as Žalgiris Kaunas won both tournaments.
2007–08: Back to EuroLeague Lietuvos rytas had a successful season during 2007–08 EuroLeague, defeating Unicaja Málaga and Armani Jeans Milano. Lietuvos rytas defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv, the future EuroLeague finalist. On 1 November, Lietuvos rytas defeated Maccabi by 18 points at home for a third time in a row as Artūras Jomantas led the team with 19 points and became the week's co-MVP with Erazem Lorbek, both having performance index ratings of 29. Hollis Price (19 points) and Chuck Eidson (28 points) played a major role in scoring the fourth victory in a row against Maccabi (away, by 5 points).
Lietuvos rytas completed a road victory against Cibona Zagreb on 31 January 2008, which completed the Euroleague regular season for them allowed them to remain in the first spot in the Group B securing a favorable position in the first pool before the Top 16 draw together with CSKA Moscow, Real Madrid and Panathinaikos Athens. Their 11–3 record was the team's best regular season performance ever, and the best by a Lithuanian team in Euroleague at the time. However, the team was not as successful in the Top 16 and with record of 2–4 did not advance to the playoffs.
Lietuvos rytas were the runner-up in the Lithuanian Basketball League, the Baltic Basketball League and the Lithuanian Cup, losing each time to Žalgiris Kaunas.
Rimas Kurtinaitis era (2008–2010)
During The 2008–09 season, Lietuvos rytas had a significantly lower budget. Also, they put a greater emphasis on prospective local players. Lietuvos rytas won the first Baltic Basketball Presidents Cup during this season. On 21 October 2008, Lietuvos rytas had its first chance to play against an NBA basketball club the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. Lietuvos rytas lost the game 126–106.
Lietuvos rytas was affected by the 2008 financial crisis in late 2008 and early 2009. Even if they lost two of its leading foreign players, Lietuvos rytas still managed to reach the second phase of EuroCup, finishing second in their group with three home wins and three away losses. Head coach Antanas Sireika resigned and was replaced by Rimas Kurtinaitis, a former Lietuvos rytas player, for the second half of the season. The team started the second phase of the EuroCup with only two foreign players, Chuck Eidson (a teammate of Petravičius at South Carolina) and Milko Bjelica. Several Lithuanian basketball players joined the team's roster, and Rytas successfully advanced to the Final 8. Chuck Eidson was named the regular season MVP.
The Final 8 began with a victory against Benetton Treviso in the quarterfinal on 2 April 2009. Two days later the team won its semifinal against Hemofarm Vršac and made its third consecutive appearance in the EuroCup finals. Mindaugas Lukauskis has made a decisive three-pointer which allowed him to become the only player to participate in the final three times in total and, later, the only two-time EuroCup champion. Going into the finals, Rytas was considered an underdog against BC Khimki of Russia. However, the performances of Steponas Babrauskas (18 points) and Marijonas Petravičius (20 points) allowed the team to win the final. Lietuvos rytas made a 15–0 run, having left their rivals scoreless for six straight minutes in the third and fourth quarters. Rytas became the first team to reclaim the EuroCup title; Marijonas Petravičius was selected the Final 8 MVP.