Basketball in Lithuania
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (August 2021) |
Basketball in Lithuania | |
---|---|
Country | Lithuania |
Governing body | Lithuanian Basketball Federation |
National team(s) | Lithuania men's national basketball team Lithuania women's national basketball team |
First played | 1919 |
Clubs | 162 (Men)[1] |
National competitions | |
King Mindaugas Cup | |
Club competitions | |
International competitions | |
Following the country's
At the professional
, in 2005 and 2009.While basketball started being played in Lithuania by women, the women's national team has not achieved the same success as the male one, despite a title at EuroBasket Women 1997.
History
Interwar period (1920–1940)
Basketball was introduced in Lithuania indirectly through the European variety of Netball, featuring a smaller ball and no boards, brought by the Germans. In 1919 Lithuanian women athletes started organizing, and in 1920-1921 they started playing the game in public.[4] The female pioneerism delayed basketball's widespread popularity until the 1930s as it kept being considered a woman's sport.[5][6] In the meantime, in 1922 Karolis Dineika released the book Krepšiasvydis vyrams (English: Basketball for men), and in 1926 pilot Steponas Darius, who would later be known for his transatlantic flight, published the first basketball rules in Lithuania.[7][8]
Despite the fact that women were the first basketball players in Lithuania, the first official game was played by men. It took place on 23 April 1922 when Lietuvos Fizinio Lavinimo Sąjunga (English: Lithuanian Physical Education Union) played a game against Kaunas team, winning 8–6. That day is regarded as the beginning of basketball in Lithuania. The press at the time described the match by writing: "The game was very interesting and left positive impression on the spectators. The observers were fascinated by the game so much that they felt living in a quite cultured country by watching our quick, joyful players. ... The audience heartily rejoiced at the gameplay of the excellent basketball players and applauded after shots and passes by Steponas Darius and Viktoras Dineika. ... Krepšiasvydis game, organized for the first time in Lithuania, gave beautiful hopes that in the future this game could lead our sportsmen to greater achievements".
From 1926 to 1933, basketball saw its popularity decrease and get overshadowed by football. Basketball was played only during the summer period because there was no suitable indoor arena, and the game was mostly played by representatives of other sports, who allocated little time to it. The number of games played decreased, and the national championship was not even contested between 1929 and 1932.[11] It started to change on 10 October 1934, the day where the Physical Culture Palace was opened in Kaunas. The building had a spacious hall with 200 seats, designed and built for tennis. To increase grip for tennis players, the hall had expensive cork floor installed, which cost over 30,000 LTL (over $5,000) when average teacher salary at the time was around 350–500 LTL and 150–180 LTL for an ordinary worker.[12] Being suitable for indoor basketball, the Hall hosted its first game on 16 November 1934, and soon became the main center for basketball events.[13]
In 1935, Lithuania decided to promote a World Lithuanian Congress in
Also in 1936, Lithuania applied to become a member of
"Physical Culture Palace director Mr. Augustauskas asked me: Could you win the European championship? I replied: Why not? Lithuanians already made significant progress and with one or two athletes from Chicago we could easily win that championship."
— Konstantinas Savickas, describing his first efforts to improve basketball in Lithuania.[21]
The preparations for the EuroBasket 1937 started slowly, with players training only 4 hours a week. At first, it was decided that the national team at the tournament would not include any Lithuanian Americans; however the decision was reversed with only one month remaining, once a Latvian newspaper had printed an extensive article about the second European championship considering Lithuania the weakest of all contestants. Lithuanian player Leonas Baltrūnas was shocked at the article and along with journalist Jonas Narbutas, used a translated version of it to request the inclusion of Lithuanian Americans to Vytautas Augustauskas, director of the Physical Culture Palace. After a telegram was sent to the USA, two players arrived one month prior to the tournament, Pranas Talzūnas and Feliksas Kriaučiūnas, the latter of whom was designated as player-coach. To keep secrecy on how Lithuanian Americans were strengthening the team, all preparation games were cancelled and instead prolonged training sessions before the trip to Riga were held behind closed doors. The national team was being prepared not only technically, but also physically. Even once the reinforcements were made public, opponents were skeptic, with Talzūnas later remembering other teams felt he and Kriaučiūnas were not quality players as "everyone thought that a good player must be tall, raising his hand and dunking into the basket."[22]
The efforts were successful—the Lithuanians became the champions of Europe for the first time, defeating all their opponents and with Talzūnas being picked as the tournament's
Lithuania was granted the right to organize the
Team dissolution during World War II
After two consecutive EuroBasket titles, Pranas Lubinas dreamed of leading Lithuania at the
During the rest of the war, with
Soviet period (1947–1990)
"Actually, Russia took over the Lithuanians technique and tactics. The last time I saw them was when I was in Prague with the French team. I wished to cry due to joy because the squad had four Lithuanians, one of them was team's captain. I spoke with Lithuanians several times, but I couldn't more."
— Mykolas Ruzgys, describing the Soviet squad in a 1968 interview.[37]
The first
Given the Soviet Union was absent from the 1948 Summer Olympics, Lithuanian basketballers could only fulfill their dreams of playing on the Olympic stage at the 1952 Olympic Games, where they qualified by winning EuroBasket 1951. The Soviets got a silver medal, losing only two games against the United States, who had a height advantage—the shortest of their players was still taller than the highest Soviet—and would soon become the USSR's biggest rival.[39][40] The team was led by Georgian player Otar Korkia (17.3 points per game), along with Lithuanians Stepas Butautas (10.6 points) and Kazimieras Petkevičius (8.1 points). Two other Lithuanians, Justinas Lagunavičius and Stanislovas Stonkus, were also in the team.[41] The four are regarded as the first Lithuania-born Olympic basketball players.[42] Years later, Modestas Paulauskas served as the Soviet Union captain starting in 1969, and would lead the USSR to an historic upset of the United States at the 1972 Olympic Games, making them the first Olympic champions other than the Americans.[16][43]
According to journalist and future LKL employee Arūnas Pakula, "We felt like an occupied nation. We had no weapons to use. The only opportunity to prove ourselves against the Soviets was in basketball."
"When after the war the Russian squad almost defeated USA, some were congratulating me, others were reproachful as they never heard that the Russians were playing basketball. After the war they were using these Lithuanians who I once trained. They took over many techniques and tactics knowledges. I was always observing from far when basketball traditions blossomed in Lithuania and gave such international stars like Arvydas Sabonis. I was proud that the Lithuanians shined more than the others in Seoul. It was mine team. Lithuanian team defeated the Americans, I was telling to the media..."
—
In 1988,
The Soviet national team failed to qualify for EuroBasket 1991 following Lithuania's declaration of independence on 11 March 1990.[51] During the 43 years where the Soviets had Lithuanian players, they managed to get with both male and female squads 17 Olympic medals (8 gold, 6 silver and 3 bronze), 17 World championship medals (11 gold, 5 silver and one bronze), and 51 EuroBasket medals (36 gold, 4 silver and 11 bronze).[52] The occupation left many painful marks in Lithuania and Lithuanians' memory. Games between Žalgiris and CSKA, as well as games between Lithuania and Russian national teams, still have extra spice in them nowadays.[53] Singing of the Lithuanian anthem before the professional club's games in Lithuania is still a rare tradition, rarely found outside the National Basketball Association in Europe.[54][55]
Notable players (men)
Notable Lithuania national basketball team members
Name | Position | Years | PPG | RPG | APG | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Feliksas Kriaučiūnas | 1937, 1939 | 3.4‡ | N/A | N/A | Notable for his efforts in coaching and popularizing basketball in Lithuania during the late 1930s. He also firmly contributed in developing nowadays basketball in Lithuania. | |
Pranas Talzūnas | 1937 | 12.2‡ | N/A | N/A | Led the team during EuroBasket 1937 and was named MVP of the tournament. Talzūnas is regarded as the first player to use hook shot .
| |
Leonas Baltrūnas | 1937, 1939 | 4.5‡ | N/A | N/A | Not very famous for his contributions during the European championships in points, but is very remarkable in the Lithuanian sport and especially the Lithuanian Australian sport history. He has firmly contributing in popularizing the sport there, being the organizer of the first Lithuanian Australian Sport Games in 1950. The games are still ongoing nowadays. He also was the Australian national team coach in 1955.
| |
Pranas Lubinas | Center | 1939 | 13.17‡ | N/A | N/A | Popularized the sport in Lithuania in the late 1930s. He was de facto MVP of EuroBasket 1939 (not officially awarded due to him being too tall). As a result, Lubinas is often regarded as the "grandfather of Lithuanian basketball".Before playing for Lithuania squad, Pranas Lubinas won the gold medal at the inaugural basketball Olympic tournament in 1936 as Team USA captain. |
Mykolas Ruzgys | 1939 | 10.2‡ | N/A | N/A | The official EuroBasket 1939 MVP. Pranas Lubinas was unable to receive the award due to his height. Later he coached the Spanish National Team during the 1950 FIBA World Championship in Argentina.
| |
Vytautas Budriūnas | 1939 | 10.4‡ | N/A | N/A | One of the hook shot pioneers, also notable for his one-handed jump shot. | |
Juozas Jurgėla | 1939 | 4.2‡ | N/A | N/A | One of the key players in EuroBasket 1939. Noted for impressive dribbling and passing. | |
Sergejus Jovaiša | Small forward | 1992 | 3.1‡ | 0.3 | 0.3 | Jovaiša won most of his titles with the Soviet Union, but he also was member of the first post-independence Lithuania national basketball team, winning a bronze at the 1992 Olympics. |
Arvydas Sabonis | Center | 1992, 1995–1996, 1999 | 20.00 | 11.4 | 2.2 | One of the best known Lithuanian basketball players, helped Lithuania win two Olympic bronze medals in 1992 and 1996, plus a European silver in 1995. He was a large contributor to the successful Portland Trail Blazers teams from 1995–2003. He was inducted into the FIBA and Naismith Hall of Fame. His son Domantas now plays for the Indiana Pacers in the NBA, and was picked for the Lithuanian squad multiple times. Arvydas and Domantas Sabonis are the first father-son duo in the national team's history. |
Šarūnas Marčiulionis | Point guard Shooting guard |
1992, 1995–1996 | 20.15 | 4.1 | 6.4 | One of the key players in the 1992 and 1996 Olympics and 1995 EuroBasket, being named tournament MVP of the latter. He helped resurrect the Lithuania national team before the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Marčiulionis is the first NBA player in Lithuania history and is also famous for bringing Euro step move to the NBA. In 2014, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
|
Rimas Kurtinaitis | Small forward Shooting guard |
1992, 1995–1996 | 13.40 | 2.6 | 1.9 | Outstanding three-point shooter. He is the only non-NBA player who participated in the NBA All-Star Three-Point Contest .
|
Valdemaras Chomičius | Point guard | 1992, 1995 | 10.30 | 1.2 | 1.6 | Won most of his titles with the Soviet Union, but was part of the 1992 Olympics and 1995 EuroBasket Lithuanian teams before retirement. |
Gintaras Einikis | Center | 1992, 1995–2001 | 9.7 | Famous for his trademark hook shot, Einikis is the all-time most capped Lithuanian (106 games), as well as the only player in all three Olympic bronze medals (1992, 1996, 2000). Gintaras also participated in four EuroBaskets, winning silver in 1995 and 2001. | ||
Artūras Karnišovas | Small forward Power forward |
1992, 1995–1999 | 18.20 | 5.1 | 2.4 | Lithuania's all-time leader in points (total 1453 points), won two Olympic bronzes (1992, 1996) and the EuroBasket silver in 1995. He averaged 18.2 points per game in all of his tournaments combined. On 15 June 2017, he became general manager of the Denver Nuggets and is the first Lithuanian in such position.[56] |
Saulius Štombergas | Small forward Power forward |
1995–2001, 2003–2004 | 10.9 | 3.2 | 1.5 | One of the best three-point shooters in Lithuania basketball history. He also was team captain during the EuroBasket 2003 title. |
Mindaugas Žukauskas | Small forward Power forward |
1996, 1998–1999, 2001, 2003–2006 | 5.3 | 2.3 | 1.3 | A long time Lithuania national basketball team captain, known for his aggressive defense. |
Eurelijus Žukauskas | Center | 1996–2001, 2003–2004 | 5.9 | 4.0 | 0.5 | Outstanding defender and shot blocker. Won a gold medal for Lithuania at EuroBasket 2003, and was also part of the Žalgiris team that won the 1999 Euroleague .
|
Šarūnas Jasikevičius | Point guard | 1997–2001, 2003–2004, 2007–2008, 2011–2012 | 10.0 | 2.3 | 4.9 | One of the most famous Lithuania players in the history. He led Lithuania to its third gold medal in EuroBasket 2003, being named MVP of that tournament. He also won a bronze medal at the 2000 Olympics, and led Lithuania in a notable win against Team USA in 2004 Summer Olympics, scoring 28 points (7/12 three-pointers). In 2015, Jasikevičius was named as one of the EuroLeague legends .
|
Rimantas Kaukėnas | Shooting guard | 2001, 2007–2008, 2011–2012 | 9.5 | 2 | 1.6 | Notable for his scoring ability. One of the key players in EuroBasket 2007. Kaukėnas number 13 was retired by Montepaschi Siena in 2009.
|
Ramūnas Šiškauskas | Point guard Shooting guard Small forward |
2000–2001, 2003–2005, 2007–2008 | 12.9 | 3.2 | 2.1 | A long time Lithuania national basketball team captain, nicknamed "Baltic Pippen" for his outstanding efficiency on court. In 2014, Šiškauskas was named as one of the EuroLeague legends. |
Darius Songaila | Power forward Center |
2000-2001, 2003–2004, 2006–2007, 2011–2012 | 9.0 | 3.7 | 0.8 | Long time NBA and Lithuania national team player. One of the key players in EuroBasket 2003. |
Arvydas Macijauskas | Shooting guard | 2003–2004, 2006 | 15.1 | 2.7 | 1.5 | Outstanding three-point shooter, earning the nickname "Kalashnikov", and one of the key players in EuroBasket 2003. |
Kšyštof Lavrinovič | Power forward Center |
2003–2009, 2011, 2013–2014 | 7.1 | 4.2 | 0.8 | An all-around power forward noted for his efficiency on court. He and his twin brother Darjuš are the first Poles to represent Lithuania national team. |
Darjuš Lavrinovič | Center | 2005–2009, 2013–2014 | 7.8 | 3.4 | 0.9 | An all-around versatile center. |
Robertas Javtokas | Center | 2001, 2004–2011, 2013, 2015–2016 | 5.2 | 4 | 0.5 | A long time Lithuania national basketball team captain notable for his efficient defense and devotion to the team, not quitting games despite pain and various injuries. Javtokas is also famous for a world dunking record, dunking into a 3.65 m high basket in 2001. |
Linas Kleiza | Power forward | 2006–2010, 2012–2013 | 13.0 | 5.6 | 1.1 | Led the team in the 2010 World Championship and the 2012 Olympics. Kleiza is also the Lithuanian who scored the most points in an NBA game, with 41 in 2008. |
Mantas Kalnietis | Point guard Shooting guard |
2006, 2009–2013, 2015–2016 | 9.1 | 2.8 | 4.5 | Led the team in EuroBasket 2013, and was tournament leader in assists for both that edition (5 per game), and the follow-up in 2015 (7.8 assists per game). |
Jonas Mačiulis | Small forward | 2007, 2008–2010, 2012–2016 | 7.7 | 3.5 | 1.1 | Led the team during the critical moments in EuroBasket 2015 and was included into the All-Tournament Team. |
Jonas Valančiūnas | Center | 2011–2016 | 9.6 | 5.7 | 0.4 | The first major star born in post-Soviet Lithuania. Before making his debut with the senior national team at 19, he led Lithuania youth basketball teams to three gold medals and was named MVP of all three tournaments. He's also the Lithuanian picked the highest on the NBA draft, being fifth overall at the 2011 NBA draft. The same year he debuted in Lithuania men's national team, being a key players in EuroBasket 2011. On 20 August 2015, Valančiūnas signed a record four-year $64 million deal with the Toronto Raptors and became the all-time best paid Lithuanian in history.[60] |
Mindaugas Kuzminskas | Small forward | 2013–2016 | ? | ? | ? | Former NBA player. In 2016, he signed with the New York Knicks. |
Domantas Sabonis | Power forward Center |
2015–2016 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | Son of the Lithuanian legend NBA All-Star.[62]
|
Notable Lithuanians who never played for Lithuania national basketball team
There have been a few notable Lithuanians who never played for Lithuania national basketball team in FIBA-organized tournaments or the Olympic Games. Most of those lived in the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic, who only competed independently in tournaments between the United Republics.
Name | Professional career | Reason | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|
Vytautas Kulakauskas | 1944–1949 | Soviet Union occupation | EuroBasket 1947 champion with the Soviet Union. |
Stepas Butautas | 1944–1956 | Soviet Union occupation | Legendary Žalgiris and Lithuania player, coach. As part of the Soviet Union, won an Olympic silver medal in 1952 and three EuroBaskets in 1947, 1951, and 1953. He was named as one of FIBA's 50 Greatest Players. |
Vincas Sercevičius | 1944–1951 | Nazi Germany, Soviet Union occupations | Legendary Žalgiris player, two times USSR tournament champion. He was a peerless center, outstanding hook shots specialist with his both hands. Often nicknamed "second Lubinas". Survived the Nazi occupation, and after the war, wound up blacklisted by the Soviet government for rebellious activities and thus vetoed for possible inclusion in the Soviet Union national team.[63] |
Justinas Lagunavičius | 1944–1957 | Soviet Union occupation | As part of the Soviet Union, won an Olympic silver medal in 1952 and three EuroBaskets in 1947, 1951, and 1953. |
Kazimieras Petkevičius |
1945–1962 | Soviet Union occupation | Legendary Žalgiris and Lithuania player, coach. Won Olympic silver medals twice in 1952 and 1956, was European champion in 1947, and won a EuroBasket bronze in 1955. |
Algirdas Lauritėnas | 1950–1963 | Soviet Union occupation | Olympic silver medalist in 1956, EuroBasket gold medalist twice (1953, 1957) and EuroBasket bronze medalist in 1955. |
Stanislovas Stonkus | 1950–1958 | Soviet Union occupation | Olympic silver medalist twice in 1952 and 1956, EuroBasket title in 1957 and bronze in 1955. |
Modestas Paulauskas | 1962–1976 | Soviet Union occupation | One of the greatest Lithuanian basketballers ever. Paulauskas was captain of the USSR team who won the Olympic gold in 1972, the World Championships of Most Valuable Player, 1967, 1969, 1971). Also got an Olympic bronze in 1968 and a European bronze medal in 1973. Named one of FIBA's 50 Greatest Players. In 2021, he was included into the FIBA Hall of Fame.[64]
|
Gediminas Budnikas | 1964–1973 | Soviet Union occupation | Notable Žalgiris big man, never represented Soviet Union and Žalgiris in foreign countries (except USSR members), as both of his parents were members of the armed anti-Soviet resistance movement.[65] |
Algirdas Linkevičius | 1968–1982 | Soviet Union occupation | Outstanding three-pointers specialist, legendary Žalgiris player. Linkevičius played 81 games for Lithuania national team, but only in USSR-organized tournaments. Was denied entry in the Soviet Union team for being born in Siberia, where his parents were deported.[66] |
Algimantas Pavilonis | 1973–1985 | Soviet Union occupation | Legendary Statyba player. LKF president in 1994-2001.[67] |
Žydrūnas Ilgauskas |
1994–2011 | Personal circumstances, injuries | One of the most successful Lithuanian NBA players, being the first Lithuanian to participate in NBA All-Star game (twice, 2003, 2005). Despite impressive NBA career, he never played for the Lithuanian national team in official major tournaments due to various personal circumstances or injuries. Closest approach was in 2008, when Ilgauskas showed interest in playing the Olympics and the LKF even raised the US$22 million insurance requested by the Cleveland Cavaliers,[68] but the Cavaliers still vetoed due to his injuries history.[69] His only appearance with the national team jersey was 3 games in 1995 Eurobasket qualification phase when he scored 23 points in total.[70] Ilgauskas #11 jersey was retired by the Cavaliers on 8 March 2014, being only the third European to be honored this way.[71] Ilgauskas permanently became ineligible to play for the Lithuanian national team upon acquiring American citizenship in 2013, thus relinquishing his Lithuanian citizenship, although by this time he had retired.
|
Notable Lithuanian descent basketball players
Due to various reasons (especially because of the World Wars) many Lithuanians left their country. As a result of this, there is a group of notable basketball players of Lithuanian descent. A few even expressed interest in playing for the Lithuanian squad.
Name | Professional career | Position | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|
Matt Guokas, Sr.[72] |
1938–1947 | Shooting guard Small forward |
Former father-son duo to win NBA championships as players.
|
Tony Kaseta | 1946-1948 | Center | Former PBLA and NBL player. |
Rick Barry[73] | 1965–1980 | Small forward | NBA champion in 1975, being chosen as Finals MVP. Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987, named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996, eight time NBA All-Star, and four times ABA All-Star Game. Barry is the only player to lead the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), ABA and NBA in scoring for an individual season. His 30.5 points-per-game average in the ABA stands as the highest career total for a player in any professional basketball league. |
Matt Guokas | 1966–1976 | Shooting guard Small forward |
Former NBA player. NBA champion in Matt Guokas, Sr.
|
Ed Palubinskas | 1972–1976 | Guard
|
Outstanding scorer for the Australian national team at the 1972 Summer Olympics (21.1 PPG) and 1976 Summer Olympics (31.3 PPG).[74] During the 1976 Olympics, Palubinskas achieved the record for most points scored in a single Olympics (269), which later was surpassed by Oscar Schmidt but only after the introduction of the three-point line. Following his quick retirement from the professional sport, he became basketball coach and was nicknamed as the "Freethrow master", whose clients were such NBA superstars as Shaquille O'Neal and Dwight Howard, he was also hired by Michael Jordan to work with Bismack Biyombo.[75][76] Palubinskas holds a Guinness book world record for most free throws (8) made in 2 minutes blindfolded, performed in Phoenix, Arizona at NBA All-Star weekend.[77] |
Steve Puidokas | ?–1982 | Center | Born in a Lithuanian Americans family in Chicago, in 1995, Puidokas was a dominant center while playing for the Washington Cougars in 1973–1977, earning himself a nickname of Chicago's skyscraper. He was one of the first big men to be able to shoot away from the basket. Puidokas's #55 jersey was retired by the Cougars and for a long time was the only retired jersey of the team, until in 2020 Klay Thompson's jersey was also retired.[78] |
Joe Arlauckas[79] | 1987–2000 | Power forward | Former NBA player. EuroLeague champion in 1995, leading league's scorer in 1996. Despite being born in the Rochester, New York, Arlauckas was interested in playing for the Lithuanian squad during his tenure with Real Madrid together with Sabonis and Kurtinaitis, however he never did that because the basketball citizenship rules from the period required three years playing in Lithuania.[80] |
Chuck Aleksinas[81] | 1983–1990 | Center | NCAA champion. Former NBA player. Never been a part of the Lithuania national team due to the same basketball citizenship rule issue as Arlauckas and Rautins. |
Leo Rautins[82] | 1983–1993 | Small forward | Former NBA player. Was unable to be a part of the Lithuanian squad due to the same citizenship rule violation as Arlauckas and Aleksinas. In 2014, Rautins said: "I still have Spanish newspaper with picture of me, Joe Arlauckas and Chuck Aleksinas - foreign-born Lithuanians who could have been in Lithuanian roster if not citizenship affairs".[83] |
Andy Rautins | 2010-2020 | Shooting guard | NBA player.
|
Jon Barry | 1992–2006 | Shooting guard | Former NBA player.[84]
|
Brent Barry | 1995–2009 | Guard
|
Son of Rick Barry. He is a former NBA player, who won the NBA championship twice in exhibition games in the Kaunas Sports Hall.[84]
|
Drew Barry | 1996–2003 | Shooting guard | Former NBA player. |
Canyon Barry | 2017–present | Shooting guard | Academic All-American of The Year (2017)
|
Tim Abromaitis | 2012–present | Power forward | Former NCAA star. Abromaitis tore his cruciate ligaments in the university and was never drafted to the NBA due that, but played in the EuroLeague. His Lithuanian great-grandparents emigrated to the United States and his family still follows the Lithuanian traditions. Abromaitis wished to gain a Lithuanian passport, however he did not receive it because his relatives emigrated in 1915 when Lithuania was still part of the Russian Empire and they never returned to Lithuania after its independence declaration in 1918.[85] He does not speak the Lithuanian language, but was impressed by The Other Dream Team movie and was very interested in his Lithuanian heritage during his first visit to Kaunas in 2013.[86] |
Nik Stauskas | 2014–present | Shooting guard | Current NBA player, selected eighth overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 2014 NBA draft. Has three Lithuanian grandparents, two of which emigrated to Canada. Nik attended the Lithuanian school in Toronto and he is able to understand the Lithuanian language as his Lithuanian grandparents only communicate with him in that.[87] After joining the NCAA in 2013, Stauskas stated that would consider the possibility to represent Lithuania,[88] but went on to play for his birth country, Canada.[89] In 2016, he visited Lithuania for the first time.[90][91] |
Drew Crawford | 2014–present | Shooting guard
Small Forward |
Crawford's mother is Italian league MVP in 2019.
|
Ray Ragelis | 1951-1952 | Small Forward
Power Forward |
Ragelis was born on 10 December 1928, to a family of Lithuanian immigrants.[93][94] He is a former NBA player. |
Al Guokas | 1948-1950 | Forward | Former NBA player. |
Kyle Dranginis | 2016–present | Shooting Guard | Played in NCAA, Germany and Denmark |
Terry Tarpey | 2016–present | Small Forward | In an interview Tarpey revealed that his grandpa is Lithuanian. Terry plays for the French national team. |
Basketball people of Lithuanian descent (list not including players)
Name | Description |
---|---|
Mark Cuban | Mark Cuban is an American investor and entrepreneur. He owns the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA. In an interview he said that his grandmother was Lithuanian and lived in Darbėnai. |
Lithuanians in the NBA and the WNBA
Drafted, but never played in the NBA
Player | Pos | NBA draft | Notes | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year (pick) | Team | ||||
Artūras Gudaitis | C | 2015 (47th) | Philadelphia 76ers | [110] | |
Robertas Javtokas | C | 2001 (55th) | San Antonio Spurs | Born in the Soviet Union, represented Lithuania internationally. | [111] |
Rokas Jokubaitis | PG | 2021 (34th) | Oklahoma City Thunder | [112] | |
Renaldas Seibutis | SG | 2007 (50th) | Dallas Mavericks | Born in the Soviet Union, represented Lithuania internationally. | [113] |
Eurelijus Žukauskas | C | 1995 (54th) | Seattle SuperSonics | Born in the Soviet Union, represented Lithuania internationally. | [114] |
- Female players at the WNBA
# | Player | Club | Games | Points | Seasons |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Aneta Kaušaitė | Detroit Shock | 10 | 14 | 1 |
2 | Jurgita Štreimikytė | Indiana Fever | 92 | 571 | 3 |
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