There is facts player maded or not. Not excuses on why. Please talk with facts not theories.
1 generational tallent maded and got seriuos minutes and others didnt. Exactly what happend before in LTU NT .. You dont learn nothing from history thats why you are bad predictor.
History and facts shown you were wrong.Its very difficult to be ready at 20-21 and make top 10 level NT where 80-85% team players is nba/euroleague players
2006 Kleiza 2011 Valanciunas 2016 Sabonis 2021 Jokubaitis
Thats not just made NT but was playing real minutes in top 10 level NT (being 19-21 old age) . Its very rare bread and special tallent kids ltu have such 2-3 players per decade.
For most age youth group leaders it happens at 23-24 age when maturity and body physicality already there. Thats is facts and history of multiple ltu generations
I don't question that. This tendency is correct. But you overlook certain role players who makes NT very early because of certain factors. Like the thin position, upside or else what. I don't say that many 20-22yo guys can step up instantly and make GREAT difference. That's rare occasion as you said. But I emphasize that some young players can step in for a little role and give certain benefits because of particular situation and also it's smart to integrate some young talent because of long term vision. (You underrate the importance of investment, you say IDK who takes 11-12th spots, but that's the direct forming of your rotation of next tournaments, it's a long run, next year there's always a tournament and you should think about it). There was plenty of such occasions in LTU history and other NTs.
F.e. Garastas took 20yo Pazdrazdis cause he was real talent, as well Karnisovas. Garastas was looking to the future and expected something from them instantly too (Pazdrazdis happened to screw his career with NCAA choice). In 1997 Kazlauskas took Jasikevicius as 21yo (he wasn't dropping 20ppg in NCAA as Karnisovas did, but Kazlauskas was PRO talent coach, he had boldness to integrate new talent). 22yo Songaila and Siskauskas were integrated, again, bu Kazlauskas in 2000 and he delivered. Nor Jasikevicius, nor Songaila, nor Siskauskas had clear generational upside. They were elite prospects, but not on the tier of Sabonis, Marciulionis, Kleiza, Motiejunas, Valanciunas, Sabonis or now Buzelis (lottery pick material let's say). I would compare Songaila's case with Sedekerskis case. They are similar type of talents more or less, the same tier (or Tubelis). Let's go further. Macijauskas made NT being 23yo, but he was ready for it being 21, 22 years old (thus being 23yo he became instant scoring leader of NT 2003, he was ready earlier). Again, elite prospect, but not generational. Then Jankunas 21yo made an impact to 2005 NT. Solid 11,5eff. Was he generational talent? God, no. Simply elite prospect happened to be in the right place at the right time. In 2006 20yo Kalnietis made an impact for WC team. Pocius could too, but Sireika thought he didn't need one when he had Macijauskas and Delininkaitis at 2. In 2010 22yo Gecevicius made an impact. In 2015 21yo Lekavicius made the team and despite missing shots his motor was felt. In 2016 22yo Kariniauskas and Grigonis made it.
Such guys who made NT being 22yo or younger as Pazdrazdis, Karnisovas, Stombergas, Timinskas, M.Zukauskas, Jasikevicius, Jurkunas, Songaila, Siskauskas, Kaukenas, Javtokas, Jankunas, Kalnietis, Maciulis, Gecevicius, Lekavicius, Kariniauskas, Grigonis, Jokubaitis and others who I don't remember were not generational talents, they simply were either elite or borderline elite prospects (well or simply PGs as in Kariniauskas case or 23yo Gustas in 2003).
The same Jokubaitis is not a generational prospect, simply elite prospect at very needed position so he had open path to the NT. That's why Marciulionis has a great chances to make 2024 as 22yo. If that was Kazlauskas under the wheel last year, Marciulionis most likely already would have played for the NT.
In other words, we have plenty of occasions when 20-22yo make NT and the same Sirvydis could or could not make 2022 NT (or D. Giedraitis). No-one would be shocked. The same way no-one would be shocked if either of Tubelis, Rubstavicius, Marciulionis makes the NT 2024 as elite prospects.
Speaking about generational talents it was A. Sabonis, S. Marciulionis, Ilgauskas, Kleiza, D. Motiejunas, Valanciunas, D. Sabonis and now Buzelis. Those are lottery pick material. Maybe Karnisovas and Macijauskas could be in conversation cause they were putting big numbers early, but globally wise they were not flat out world class players. I'm not even talking about Jasikevicius, Siskauskas for whom it took years to become truly elite in EL.
We have plenty of elite prospects now, more then ever most likely, great stretch, so some of them can or can't make NT early, it goes as no surprise and one generational talent Buzelis. That's how I see the situation.
Players as Jokubaitis, Rubstavicius, Jakucionis, Indrusaitis are of the same tier of Jasikevicius, Siskauskas, Macijauskas.
