Dustin Sleva

Dustin Sleva
Sleva with Beşiktaş in 2025
No. 14 – Žalgiris Kaunas
PositionPower forward
LeagueLKL
EuroLeague
Personal information
Born (1995-09-23) September 23, 1995 (age 31)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Listed height
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight
224 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High schoolMontour (Robinson, Pennsylvania)
CollegeShippensburg (2014–2018)
NBA draft2018: undrafted
Playing career
2018–present
Career history
2018–2023Paris Basketball
2023Braunschweig
2023–2024UCAM Murcia
2024–2025Beşiktaş
2025–presentŽalgiris Kaunas
Career highlights

Dustin Nathaniel Sleva (born September 23, 1995) is a Lithuanian professional basketball player for Žalgiris Kaunas of the LKL and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for the Shippensburg Raiders.

Professional career

Paris Basketball (2018–2023)

On August 16, 2018, he signed with Paris Basketball of the LNB Pro B.

Braunschweig (2023)

On January 6, 2023, he signed with Braunschweig of the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL).

UCAM Murcia (2023–2024)

On July 25, 2023, he signed with UCAM Murcia of the Liga ACB. With Sleva on the team Murcia reached the finals of the 2024 ACB Playoffs, but was swept 0-3 by Real Madrid.

Beşiktaş (2024–2025)

On February 1, 2025, he signed with Beşiktaş of the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL).

Žalgiris (2025–present)

On June 27, 2025, Sleva signed with Žalgiris Kaunas in the LKL and the EuroLeague. On April 4, 2026, Sleva signed a contract extension with Žalgiris through the 2027–28 season, including a potential buyout clause in 2027. Reflecting on the extension, Sleva noted that after an initial period of adaptation in the EuroLeague, he found his rhythm and embraced the local basketball culture, describing the sport in Kaunas as a "religion".

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  PIR  Performance index rating
 Bold  Career high

EuroLeague

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG PIR
2025–26 Žalgiris 34718.2.459.420.7353.41.1.6.17.16.5
Career 34718.2.459.420.7353.41.1.6.17.16.5

EuroCup

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG PIR
2022–23 Paris Basketball 8017.0.541.36413.11.0.3.46.47.0
2024–25 Beşiktaş 191723.2.511.400.7783.51.11.8.110.310.9
Career 271721.4.518.393.8033.41.01.4.19.19.7

College

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2013–14 Shippensburg Raiders 272727.4.540.403.8144.62.6.8.58.7
2014–15 Shippensburg Raiders 292831.1.500.392.77511.02.1.5.415.8
2015–16 Shippensburg Raiders 313132.6.540.407.8087.73.4.9.821.7
2016–17 Shippensburg Raiders 333334.2.508.374.82410.83.0.91.221.4
Career 12011931.5.520.392.8068.72.8.8.817.3

Personal life

Two of Sleva's great-great-grandparents hailed from Kaunas, Lithuania and in 2026 he considered applying for the Lithuanian citizenship.

While playing in Lithuania, Sleva started dating Francesca Frericks, an American football player, playing for MFA Žalgiris-MRU in Vilnius.

References

  1. ↑ "Dustin Sleva '18 Signs Professional Contract with Paris Basketball". shipraiders.com. August 16, 2018. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Löwen verstärken Frontcourt mit US-Forward Dustin Sleva". basketball-loewen.de (in Turkish). January 6, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Dustin Sleva aterriza en el UCAM Murcia CB". ucamdeportes.com. July 25, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Dustin Sleva moves to Besiktas after exceptional campaign in UCAM Murcia". www.eurohoops.net. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
  5. ↑ Zalgiris announces the arrival of Turkish League finalist, basketnews.com, 27 June 2025
  6. ↑ "Kauno „Žalgiris" pratęsė sutartį su Dustinu Sleva". Žalgiris Kaunas (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  7. ↑ "Laimingas Sleva – apie derybas su „Žalgiriu" ir Masiulio pasitikėjimą". BasketNews.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  8. ↑ "Sleva turi lietuviškų šaknų: „Kitas žingsnis – pasas?"". BasketNews.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 22 February 2026.