2025 Lithuanian NT

[Straight forward2]

It's funny how you crying that if Grigonis won't be available next year it will be "even worse" next summer No, it won't be a tiny bit worse. We are at shit bottom, OK? It's impossible to be lower. The worst thing to happen for LTU is to stay in the same shithole and not to make single step forward in terms of upside. So coming back to the same shit is just continuation of LTU BB tragedy, but you would come hear and cry how we will "lose our best guard Grigonis"

I hope Kleiza will say yes, cause he understands we need to add true talent if we ever again want to win.

I don't see much hope for medals in 2025, but NT won't look so crappy as it looked in Puerto Rico. 100%, IMO.

 

[Straight forward2]

Lithuania lacks top class European or NBA player (except Sabonis). Even Sabonis has serious flaws but the main problem is the perimeter. LTU does not have a single European top level player. It does not even have to be EL player. A Eurocup player who is carrying the team would help a lot. IMO there is not a single player who could be labeled as "what a player". Maybe Buzelis will become one but he wont impact the game 2025 in the Eurobasket.

Aside Buzelis, Jakucionis gets such praise "what a player". Those are world class prospects. Objectively. If those 2 will pan out, we will be FORCE again. It is that simple. So Lithuania actually have them, it's just a matter of time when they will lead. Buzelis may be pretty good in EB 2025, not a game changer yet, but really impactful most likely. The depth is one of the best in Europe of quality role players and something even a bit more in such pieces as Jokubaitis, Murauskas, Indrusaitis and some others.

For example Turkey don't have Buzelis and Jakucionis in perimeter as upcoming prospects (Kutluay is too distant and yet too enigma ATM), now they don't even have "Jokubaitis". Hell, I believe you don't even have PG of current Marciulionis level and it's not a joke. And many European NTs don't have that. I'm saying this not to downgrade Turkey cause Turkey has a nice team aside empty position 1 (most important in basketball).

 

[Toruko2]

I am not that sure about Jakucionis but he is too young anyways. Its futures music. In order to be a FORCE they need to become top 3 players of an NBA team. It could happen with Buzelis but I dont see it with Jakucionis. I dont even see it with Ben Saraf.

For example Turkey don't have Buzelis and Jakucionis in perimeter as upcoming prospects (Kutluay is too distant and yet too enigma ATM), now they don't even have "Jokubaitis".

We in Germany say "do not praise the day before the evening". We are talking about Eurobasket 2025 right? But Generally spoken, we indeed have some very interesting perimeter players who will take action even this season. Kutluay is surely a top prospect and we want to implement him as soon as possible. Hopefully even in 2027 but for Eurobasket 2025 a naturalized player will be needed.

Hell, I believe you don't even have PG of current Marciulionis level and it's not a joke. And many European NTs don't have that. I'm saying this not to downgrade Turkey cause Turkey has a nice team aside empty position 1 (most important in basketball).

So you believe something wrong then but it does not matter anyway. If Marcilionis or a better player does not change anything if you need to play against top teams but my prediction is that we will have a much better perimeter team than LTU in 2027.

Even if you did I wouldnt be triggered at all.

I could explain the Turkish side of perimeter developments but this is not the place for it. Lets take us a look to the Eurobasket 2025. I would love watching a clash between Turkey and LTU.

 

[Shawshank2]

Lithuania lacks top class European or NBA player (except Sabonis). Even Sabonis has serious flaws but the main problem is the perimeter. LTU does not have a single European top level player. It does not even have to be EL player. A Eurocup player who is carrying the team would help a lot. IMO there is not a single player who could be labeled as "what a player". Maybe Buzelis will become one but he wont impact the game 2025 in the Eurobasket.

how manny eurocup level leaders you saw do anything in Olympics 2024 when 1/4 playofos stage started where literally nba all stars played ?

 

[Shawshank2]

I want best players playing thats it .They gaves us best chance to win.

oh yeah if NT will start playing uleb level players it possible to go even further down start not making fiba tournaments.

Ask Croatia since 1995 when medals stopped​ it can stop for multiple decades

 

[Toruko2]

how manny eurocup level leaders you saw do anything in Olympics 2024 when 1/4 playofos stage started where literally nba all stars played ?

Well, Kevin Punther was one in the FIBA CL. I dont say you will win it all with one. What I say is "it is better to have a leader in Eurocup than a role player play maker in the NBA or Euroleague. Example Liotopoulos, ok Greece failed but he performed better than expected.

 

[Straight forward2]

I want best players playing thats it .They gaves us best chance to win.

I don't want to see our mediocre currently best players playing necessary. A must is to MOVE FORWARD. With status quo we get shit. This "chance" to win means we are facing the shit all over. If they show up, they should be role players (Grigonis, UIanovas). The team already should be given to Jokubaitis, Buzelis, Sabonis and others (Brazdeikis, Sirvydis). The key is to get Buzelis as soon as possible and to wait for Jakucionis if he's truly real deal. Those current "best" players gives a shit of a chance and it's more than clear.

Wishing for status quo means wishing of the continuation of the worst times of LIthuanian basketball.

Toruko, I doubt Turkey will have better backcourt in 2025. I believe Jokubaitis can make another step forward and to become legitimate PG who can run the team (not on FIBA stars level, but at very intriguing level) and if Buzelis can play already we can be more dynamic than it may look now (+ Brazdeikis, Sirvydis).

What can Turkey naturalize as a game changer?

People I think don't really understand how fast can Buzelis become A PROBLEM on a basketball court. He has all the tools to just come and be a problem. It maybe be a matter of 2-3 years, but it also can be a matter of 1 year. He's that good.

 

[Shawshank2]

With Toruko i agree on that in order to do be dominnat force in 2020s fiba level that player must be top 3 nba teams level player that can carry weaker Nt to anywhere.playing 2020s elita NTs with 5-8 nba players on roster.

Giannis couldnt carry eruoleague roles players further than top 8.

Doncic carry Slovenia once to top 4 and in other tournaments top8 and he is surounded with 2-3 defenders all the time.

Jokic without Bogdanovich also failed to even make top 8 in 2022.

Im talking about literally best of best players.


So top 3 nba team level player is minimum requirement for game changer player in 2020s fiba,but in most cases average NT will need even bigger star and real help from others to make semifinal in 2020s. fiba.


Todays NT is just too smart they gonna surround best players with multiple bodies and say your roles players will have to beat us.

And for roles players those moments most often is too bright.

But NTs who has elite star and nba level players as role players they can make multiple semifinals.

 

[Straight forward2]

With Toruko i agree on that in order to do be dominnat force in 2020s fiba level that player must be top 3 nba teams level player that can carry weaker Nt to anywhere.playing 2020s elita NTs with 5-8 nba players on roster.

Lithuania is not gonna be "weaker" NT You never get the whole picture objectively, never see the whole puzzle. LTU is stacked, and the talent pool is amazing, even for European standards. The only question is how this material will ripe. You keep saying 5-8 NBA players...There's no game changing pieces in Germany or Serbia aside 2 stars (well for Serbia there will be, but not for Germany). You say this as they would have 8 players of Bogdanovic level There will be little difference between prime Tubelis and some Theis or Kleber. And you miss the point that LTU will have Sabonis, Valanciunas, Buzelis, Jakucionis, Krivas in the NBA in 2027 and likely even Murauskas/Indrusaitis be there (less likely, but surely an opportunity). Lithuania is stacked with boderline NBA players as Sedekerskis, Jokubaitis, Sirvydis, Rubstavicius, Tubelis and such. It's not a "weaker" NT Maybe we been weaker NT in 2016-2021, but ever since 2022 our talent pool is increasing and it will sky rocket with addition of Buzelis/KJ.

That doesn't guarantee medals or dominance, but Lithuania objectively looking have depth and star power (2 players is enough if they succeed as projected) to be a force again. By no means we will be thin or weaker. Even our PG section with KJ, Jokubaitis and Marciulionis is nothing short but ridiculous. We never ever have anything like this at position 1.

 

[Shawshank2]

In your horoscope prediction LTU NT is stacked where multiple talented kids ale will be become not worse than top 10 all time ltu legends in next 3-4 years

i repeat i dont buy even 50% of that nonsense.We will be lucky having one fiba star in next 8 years.

Not ridiculous 2-3 players from top 10 of all time like you horosocope predictions in next few years )


Objectively looking at top 50 euroleague players ranking today or nba players lists...Lithuania basketball is not even in top 10 today.


kids isnt reaching those levels over night.It takes 5 or more years to reach and get to such level for god gifted best of best tallents

 

[Toruko2]

Toruko, I doubt Turkey will have better backcourt in 2025. I believe Jokubaitis can make another step forward and to become legitimate PG who can run the team (not on FIBA stars level, but at very intriguing level) and if Buzelis can play already we can be more dynamic than it may look now (+ Brazdeikis, Sirvydis).​

You mean 2027... well, about Jokubaitis failed to show that he is able to make the next step in the last 3 years in Barcelona. He is not a bad player but I dont believe him to become lets say a Sloukas level player. The place where he can really lead a team is Zalgiris but he is invited to prove me wrong. Maccabi looks really bad as I said.

What can Turkey naturalize as a game changer?

Well, Kendrick Nunn is one option according to the press even though Ataman denied contact. According to Ataman there are "several options".

People I think don't really understand how fast can Buzelis become A PROBLEM on a basketball court. He has all the tools to just come and be a problem. It maybe be a matter of 2-3 years, but it also can be a matter of 1 year. He's that good.

He can be a good rotation piece but not a game changing player, at least not yet. Bulls look horrible and the team is really in bad shape. It can be a chance or a curse for him. Despite his height his defense looks not very promising and he needs to work on his shot. I also need to see his dedication

 

[Straight forward2]

In your horoscope prediction LTU NT is stacked where multiple talented kids ale will be become not worse than top 10 all time ltu legends in next 3-4 years

i repeat i dont buy even 50% of that nonsense.We will be lucky having one fiba star in next 8 years.

Not ridiculous 2-3 players from top 10 of all time like you horosocope predictions in next few years )


Objectively looking at top 50 euroleague players ranking or nba players list Lithuania basketball is not even in top 10 today.

It's not about how much players will come down as top 10 of all time (2 players are objectively projected to become so). My point is that we are not thin at all. I'm talking about depth. In 2017 you were preaching how good that we have JV and Kuz. Today we have tons of players who can be at prime Kuz level or better - Sedekerskis, Sirvydis, Rubstavicius, Murauskas, Brazdeikis, Lelevicius, Indrusaitis. Some of them will be better. My point is, Lithuania is not some kind of Slovenia, we are stacked in each position. There's no doubt from distance our current situation when Grigonis is our best player will look nearly unimaginable​. And, yes, there's huge chance that both Buzelis and KJ will come down as top 10 of all time. KJ is the best guard prospect since Marciulionis and about to become first LTU guard landed at first round or even lottery. I think he has it all cause he is hard worker.

 

[Toruko2]

In your horoscope prediction LTU NT is stacked where multiple talented kids ale will be become not worse than top 10 all time ltu legends in next 3-4 years

i repeat i dont buy even 50% of that nonsense.We will be lucky having one fiba star in next 8 years.

Not ridiculous 2-3 players from top 10 of all time like you horosocope predictions in next few years )


Objectively looking at top 50 euroleague players ranking today or nba players lists...Lithuania basketball is not even in top 10 today.


kids isnt reaching those levels over night.It takes 5 or more years to reach and get to such level for god gifted best of best tallents

Well, maybe SF is too optimistic (like always) with Lithuanian prospects but you are too pessimistic. Its not unreasonable to hope Buzelis and Jakucionis becoming leading players. They are good and not only them. With Murauskas, Krivas and Lelevicius you might have a very talented core. I dont see a big problem in the front court in the future and also the wing positions are not bad at all but you need a Giannis or different impact level player.

I do see a better LTU team in the future, surely better than this (its not very difficult btw) but I dont see a medal with this core, at least not yet.

 

[Toruko2]

For me right now Jakucionis is a late (very late) first round draftee in the best case but everything depends on the next season. A bad season and his draft stock gets serious damage. I will have an eye on him.

 

[Dreamcatcher2]

Please, let's not compare Grigonis with Siskauskas I won't even start here...

I had this feeling that you may not be smart enough to understand that i didn't compare Grigonis and Siskauskas. I compared situation pointing out similarities and emphasizing the last of them.

 

[Shawshank2]

Well, maybe SF is too optimistic (like always) with Lithuanian prospects but you are too pessimistic. Its not unreasonable to hope Buzelis and Jakucionis becoming leading players. They are good and not only them. With Murauskas, Krivas and Lelevicius you might have a very talented core. I dont see a big problem in the front court in the future and also the wing positions are not bad at all but you need a Giannis or different impact level player.

I do see a better LTU team in the future, surely better than this (its not very difficult btw) but I dont see a medal with this core, at least not yet.

I know history of the process some of those tallents wont have brain,others wont have fighting spirit,3rd will get freakish injury and never will be the same,other will start partying after fame and only some rare one will have full package ,body,brain,fighting spirit,dedication and injury luck

Im sorry i see elite NTs that dont need to predict and luck in tallents i already see 5-6 nba players they have for remaining of decade


:LTU need not just good player of fiba,but fiba stars to compete with those loaded roster of 5-8 nba players of way bigger tallent pools.

2020s level is only increasing and needed tallent to win is not going down only up and for small tallents pool it becomes very very difficult

 

[Toruko2]

I know history of the process some of those tallents wont have brain,others wont have fighting spirit,3rd will get freakish injury and never will be the same,other will start partying after fame and only some rare one will have full package ,body,brain,fighting spirit,dedication and injury luck

Im sorry i see elite NT that dont need to predict i already see 5-6 nba players they have for remaining of decade


:LTU need not just good player of fiba,but fiba stars to compete with thodr loaded roster of 5-8 nba players of way bigger tallent pools.

I agree with your last sentence.

 

[Straight forward2]

I had this feeling that you may not be smart enough to understand that i didn't compare Grigonis and Siskauskas. I compared situation pointing out similarities and emphasizing the last of them.

Your comparison that both sort of underperformed for NT is ridiculous enough to disclaim your effort completely. Siska was most ISO player and most glue guy of 2003 gold, the leader of 2007 bronze. Let alone other great tournaments. While Grigonis can't play in knock out stage literally. Nice comparison. And, no, no-one treated 4th spot in 2008 very disappointing.

 

[Straight forward2]

I know history of the process some of those tallents wont have brain,others wont have fighting spirit,3rd will get freakish injury and never will be the same,other will start partying after fame and only some rare one will have full package ,body,brain,fighting spirit,dedication and injury luck

Im sorry i see elite NTs that dont need to predict and luck in tallents i already see 5-6 nba players they have for remaining of decade


:LTU need not just good player of fiba,but fiba stars to compete with those loaded roster of 5-8 nba players of way bigger tallent pools.

2020s level is only increasing and needed tallent to win is not going down only up and for small tallents pool it becomes very very difficult

You simply never see a single step further. It takes years to get familiar with things that actually happened 2-3 years ago.

 

[Dreamcatcher2]

And, no, no-one treated 4th spot in 2008 very disappointing.

Not true. I remember that it was disappointing (not extremely of course, but still). That's why i mentioned it. Today semis would be big success. At that time not grabbing medals was disappointing. And once again, i didn't compare the level of Siska and Grigonis. You simply can't get it.