2025 Lithuanian NT

[Straight forward]

LTU basketball is not just Kazlauskas and Jasikvicius and such. There's various leagues, coaches who work with kids. They like what Balciunas does. Maybe Javtokas could do even better, but he failed to convince them and he didn't even visit all voters, so who's to blame? It's an elections. Those who votes are not some random dudes who have no idea about basketball. They are the legitimate part of the community. This voting system was always the same. That's how Sabonis was elected. Majority voted for him and that's it. So don't cry because of democracy. Better candidate won that's for sure. It's not enough for Javtokas just to say "maybe I'll convince Jasikevius" and that's enough to win elections Come on. He didn't do enough of job and effort. The election was democratic and all good. On other hand, Balciunas reacts to criticism, he just adopted Spanish model into youth section (like you don't need to wait for ref to inbound and such), he gave full authonomy back to NKL and so on. I'm surprised no-one talks about exhibition stage. To me that was the main problem. I will write him a letter, he replies me back and it's shows something. Spokas would never reply me back even if I would write most intellegent, polite and smart letter I believe It's not that bad as your say.

Germany doesn't have top 10 player in the game. But they have boderline NBA star Frazn who will be an all star one day and they have legitimate NBA player Schroder. 2 true studs in the backcourt and solid depth is what it takes today to win. We can have that, but it will only be clear when we know what we getting from Buzelis, Jakucionis. Only then we will be able to talk more precisely about our chances. It's not even about medals. I just want us to be legitimate semis candidates and reach this stage in most tournaments, who knows maybe even starting with 2025 if Jokubaitis will brake out, Buzelis will come and help, Domas finally shows some really solid tournament and pieces like Brazdeikis, Sirvydis delivers. But specially I hope big leap since 2027.

[zalias]

LTU basketball is not just Kazlauskas and Jasikvicius and such. There's various leagues, coaches who work with kids. They like what Balciunas does.

exactly, soviet coaches want no changes even if lithuanian basketball is at an all time low. why bother changing things when you are already getting paid for teaching how to play pick n roll for 40 years straight.

[Straight forward]

exactly, soviet coaches want no changes even if lithuanian basketball is at an all time low. why bother changing things when you are already getting paid for teaching how to play pick n roll for 40 years straight.

I don't buy this. I mean we are at the lowest spot not because of coaching issues or style. LTU coaches also has little to do with Sabonis and Marciulionis being born in Lithuania, it just happened this way. 2 best players in Europe essentially (at that time) was born in LTU and that's it. As well as it's not "our great system" products - Stomberhas, Jasikevicius, Macijausaks, Siskauskas who took the world down in 2000 and Europe in 2003 playing extremely modern basketball. As I like to say, take Spain. They have no next Pau, and they have by far the best BB school in Europe. Nothing even close, but they don't have next Pau. You can't do anything about it. All this speculation how we would make few changes and suddenly new Saboneses would be born...no...It's simply random. We just need big names coming from time to time cause that's what generates the passion for the game. We need big names, big stories, big wins eventually. Then kids watches and goes to streets and balling. Why more kids now going to football than basketball? Because what to like in current NT? Soft ass Grigonis chucking up open threes? We don't have role models anymore, players who would inspire to play the game. The only one is how Sabonis moves on NBA court. That can be inspiring for bigs, but that's all. That's why we need true stars emerging. Without them our basketball will be declining in all spheres.

Coaches and the system is never the key. Jordan is not the product of certain coaching. Jordan is a freak of nature. Period.

[zalias]

So what you're saying is all that is happening currently is just unlucky? And all they have to do is wait for the next superstar to appear out of nowhere? It's clear we have very different opinions when it comes to this situation. Spain has not had a real superstar in a long time and even without Pau gasol they've won plenty of medals in recent history. Even Lithuania last decade managed to stay at the top without any superstars, 2015 is the best example of that. With basketball growing everywhere we're past the point where one player can decide everything, Luka doncic, who's in my opinion is the best basketball player currently, can't even qualify to the Olympics. And no one mentioned any kind of system, in fact what i said was the opposite, Lithuanian basketball schools should stop trying to force players to play in some kind of system and let players grow individually both on and off the court. You like to talk shit about grigonis but he's the last player we got with any kind of personality left, everyone else looks like a zombie with no thoughts or emotions.


What i see are clear patterns that should be fixed, i don't think it's a coincidence that we haven't had a highest level point guard develop in Lithuania for the last 20 years and things that worked 40 years ago wouldn't work now. In fact having players like Sabonis maybe even damaged Lithuanian basketball a little bit, there are plenty of stories of basketball schools trying to find "the next sabonis". Usa and spain have done more for Lithuanian basketball in the past decade than Lithuania itself and it should not be that way. In the past decade national team level players that developed in Spain/usa: sedekerskis, sabonis, brazdeikis, buzelis, grigonis, Jakučionis (?)
In Lithuania: Jokubaitis, ulanovas, Lekavičius and Sirvydis?

IS the fact that players who develop abroad are almost always more athletic and more skilled individually is also just a coincidence?

[Straight forward]

Zalias, I'm not suggesting that we shouldn't do any adjustments. But it's not like adjustments will impregnate big talents. That's very random and has a lot to do with luck. Off course, in the country where BB is passion there's much more chances to see prodigies cause most kids play ball and those most talented work harder and have bigger passion for the game. Definitely there been prodigies that failed because of bad attitude, that's also true, maybe they ceased to ball in the high-school and started to party instead as an example.

But have in mind Marciulionis, the most dominant pure Euro guard ever, was developed in old school environment, Macijauskas is the best EL shooter (or top 3 easily) and he just played in LKL and that's it (he left as finished product), then Siska and so on and on. Some talents just are naturally great. Jakucionis was a standout in Vilnius basketball school before leaving to Barca, big standout. Grigonis was a product of Lithuania purely He just left for PRO career abroad being 20 or 21yo

About Grigonis, you say he's the only one with emotions, but he always choke in key games. People so overlook that. He has been trash. No-one cares about the group stage. I guess when Sabas was president he felt too much pressure, and when Gedvilas - he lacked pressure Always some problems, some excuses. When he choked against PR he started to blame Maksvytis that they didn't prepare against double team Do you remember Kleiza blaming coaches? Dude's fucking soft ass whiner and always crying in media, but at the end of the day always a loser in the NT.

Kleiza said very well (I'm re-phrasing). "Guys you didn't win a shit, so don't act like stars, OK?" That's just straight to the point

BTW, I think 2022 Spain's success is a fluke. They really won too much that tournament. Got lucky with Brown being in extreme shape at the very right time, he's not that good on constant basis. In 2019 they still had FIBA superstar Rubio. Now they don't have Pau or even prime Rubio level players. For them it will be hard to sustain their level, actually impossible. They have some elite pieces coming as Nunez, Gonalez, but they are not as talented as Gasols, Rubio and such.

BTW, good news that Kleiza may become the head of the NT. He would be responsible for all NT system. Maybe he can spark some fighting spirit again and remind upcoming players what is all about. This dude I respect cause he literally carried NT and won medals for LTU. He has every right to talk. Not Grigonis who just whines in media, always cocky, but when it matters always end up crying and blaming others. Injuries, foods, coaches, my body...With such leaders we ain't going anywhere.

Kleiza suggest not to beg and go with players who naturally want to represent the country. I could back this up, but in my book it's simple - you have to get your best players If we will loose any of those Buzelis, KJ, Indrusaitis guys...IDK, once Jasikevicius was pissed in 2005 and 2006 stretch, and people were working on this matter, they were begging him to come back. He came back and gave Lithuania a medal in 2007 and semis of 2008 OG. The difference that it was worth to do it. You know you will get a warrior who can get things done. Now we beg for chokers and whiners to be our leaders just to chalk up another loss? I understand Kleiza, but if there will be ULTIMATE players, they will have to be brought and with them special communication will have to be available if needed. So I would love to see some flexibility also. Love what Kleiza preaching, but we may be in other era simply. What we surely have to do is to make sure the communication with top players is on the right page.

Anyway, I still think Kleiza would be perfect for this position. He is the last true medal bringer, last true leader. Last true world class carrier for the NT (JV, Sabonis failed to do that). He is the definition of NT warrior. He is a role model. So to have him in this position would be very spot on.

[Straight forward]

We almost have new coach it seems:

https://www.15min.lt/24sek/naujiena/lietuva/r-kurtinaitis-viena-koja-rinktineje-procesas-eina-link-to-kad-ateisiu-dirbti-875-2308036

Kurtinaitis to me is high risk, high award kinda coach I believe. His basketball is very loose, he never controls everything like Jasikevicius, he probably even slightly more liberal than Maksvytis or on the same page, but I hope he can define the roles better and push a bigger focus to transition basketball. When it comes to 2025 I think Kurtinaitis is not gonna be in very good situation, but if both KJ and Buzelis will be ready in 2027 he can have a very strong tournament, as well as 2028. I'm looking forward on his words when hired. He usually says things openly, so he will surely give some words on how he sees the roster and such things. Not sure if Kurtinaitis is a good communicator when it comes to talking with players. That's the main concern, but I hope Balciunas will do this job and hopefully Kleiza.

The key question - will he have guts to make proper decisions and to play best players, not oldest or most experienced players. That's where I hope bonus from Kurtinaitis, he may have the guts to do that.

[Shawshank]

Kurtinaitis will be disaster like Maskoliunas was. He has no good results at least last 5 seasons.

In 2025 Kurtinaitis will be older than Garastas was in 1996 and Kazlauskas in 2016 when they retired from coaching and he is hired to coach entire olympic cycle?

Miracle will be in my opinion if Kurtinaitis will have one good summer (making top 8) but more likely he wont manage to do that even once.

[Dreamcatcher]

We are in a trouble not even considering foreign coaches. This is the main problem and issue of a federation and NT nowadays. Exactly this. Not smth else.

[Straight forward]

DC, SS

The difference is that Kurtinaitis may have much better talent, at least in 2027, 2028. Nore Maksvytis, nore Maskoliunas didn't have individual talent. Kurtinaitis bases his game on perimeter players for whom he gives a lot of freedom to decide the game. He also wants players to be ready to shoot, do not hesitate. That's spot on. So his ass and Lithuanian basketball too is depending on a matter how strong individually players as Buzelis, KJ, Indrusaitis or even Jokubaitis will be. Also there's debate whenever he will have guts to trust players properly. We seen that Maksvytis failed with it completely. He ignored tons of talent. That cost us whole Olympic cycle (minus Sedas 2022, minues Giedraitis, Marciulionis 2023, 2024 and so on). The key will be how brave and tough will be Kurtinaitis. If he will act as random "fizrukas" who makes all trivial cautious Lithuanian scrub coach decisions as Maksvytis did, we are going straight flat. If studs will develop into ISO beasts, Kurtinaitis may be exactly what NT needs. Time will tell. I know one thing that Kurtinaitis won't be Maskoliunas. Latter was laid back, cocky and naive. Kurtinaitis will be strict and demanding. Hopefully there will be some kind of balance.

Again, the difference is - he may have real stars who can create the game. Even freakin' Sireika won the gold so...If there won't be stars, we screwed, cause Kurtinaitis acts like Phil Jackson a lot Ok, I'm not gonna compare him with Steve Kerr cause the dude literally didn't do anything, but Kurtis really doesn't grasp the whole team too much tactically, he just waits for the team to gain momentum and for that you need individually strong players.

[Shawshank]

Kurtinaitis was crap coach last 5 years everywhere he worked. Even with tallent he didnt achieve anything. Why exactly winning will start now when he turned 65 old ?


LTU roster 2020s is not worse than in 2010s but opponents rosters is alot better in 2020s and more very strong NTs than in 2010s


Not just superstars in 2020s is better but 3-4-5-6-7th best team players is also higher quality than they were in 2010s (more than half of those 3-7th players is from nba in elite NT )


We will have like 7-11th best roster and crap coach what result we can expect? maybe make once top 8 in 2025-2028.

Teams who won medals in 2021-2024 had atleast 4-5 nba players and perimeter star.

Not some upcoming tallent that makes first steps in fiba competions but already ready to win perimeter star. In most cases that star was established 15-30 pts nba scorer.

[Straight forward]

Again, it will depend on the roster. I'm not high on Kurtinaitis either, but from how he coaches he needs right players and he might get them.

I'm much more optimistic about 2027 and 2028 rosters Specially 2028, we might be legitimately among top 5-6 best world's NT. This season will answer a lot of questions. I predict that Buzelis will be one of the most effective and best rookies in the NBA if not the best. His shooting will be inconsistent, but he's deadly in transition, he works off ball effectively, high motor and effort at both ends. He will get minutes and will develop. I think we are talking about 10-14ppg as a rookie and he should come to the NT 2025. In 2027 he should something as 15-19ppg kinda player and he will have 3 NBA seasons under his belt by that time.

Jakucionis this season will show if he's transcendant guard overall. If he is, he will be one of the best guards overall and best freshman guard in entire NCAA. Then it would mean he goes to NBA straight in 2025/2026 and comes to the 2027 WC as a player having 2 seasons NBA experience, and in 2028 he will come after 3 seasons of NBA. Can he do it? We will have to wait and see. He's the most talented guard since Rooney. My only concern is that KJ was a bit heavier in the NT and wasn't moving so well as with Barca U18 where he looked amazing. World class feet work, skill, motor and mentality. I'm a bit concerned how he will cope with added muscle, and he shouldn't overdo with it. I think he will be great at the mid season when he will drop a bit of added muscle and will adjust to NCAA BB, but I expect huge role from the start. He shouldn't get too bulked. He started to play as he can only at the end of U18 when his legs became lighter. So some minor concerns, but I think he has legitimate chance to be NBA player.

Your projection about 2028 team is not spot on. Buzelis, KJ, Indrusaitis and prime Jokubaitis will be one of the best backcourts out there and we will have super stacked roster in all positions with 4-6 NBA players and tons of solid or elite EL players. This is just how our talent shapes at the moment. It will be like 80% better roster than 2024.

[Shawshank]

Its your horosocope prediction that i dont believe it sorry.

What i saw in 2024 Olympics is scary when NT with 8 nba players lost 3 of 4 games.

6-7 Elite NT dont need some magical kid to become fiba star they already have that player and some of them have top 5 worlds player

Canada will have Shai
Serbia will have Jokic
Slovenia will have Doncic
France will have Wemby
Greece will have Giannis
Germany will have Wagner
Usa will be Usa
Australia will have Giddey and their other nba players


LTU NT in 2020s decade wont have best player on the floor playing them.


There no chance unless ltu roster is getting 2 new of top 50 world players to be top 5-6 NT in 2028. Thats how things looks now and how strong fiba competion become


Give 7-11th best roster crap outdated coach that all he did last years play some kind running total chaos and no defence game

After one summer our players will start crying that old man just shouts at us and dont understand what the hell he is wants himself


We already hearing similiar remarks from journalist who have talks behind scenes with our players.

But our federation as always dont care what our main basketball names is saying ,Balciunas knows better to hire one more outdated basketball person.

[Straight forward]

Its your horosocope prediction that i dont believe it sorry.

What i saw in 2024 Olympics is scary when NT with 8 nba players lost 3 of 4 games.

6-7 Elite NT dont need some magical kid to become fiba star they already have that player and some of them have top 5 worlds player

Canada will have Shai
Serbia will have Jokic
Slovenia will have Doncic
France will have Wemby
Greece will have Giannis
Germany will have Wagner
Usa will be Usa
Australia will have Giddey and their other nba players

Your take is also horoscope, just different.

Some of the names you name here is highly questionable. FOA, Slovenia has no depth. Maybe they will get some, but it's a big question. Ever since Dragic declined, they can't win it. Doncic alone can't win, he needs teammates. Second, Jokic was huge question even now, as well as Giannis, let alone those 2 suiting after 4 years. There's tons of reasons not to be sure they will be available, healthy and so on. Specially knowing Jokic weight and his off season habits. Serbia might have new stars though, Greece not really, I don't see them at least yet. Giddey doesn't have higher upside than Buzelis. He's good, but more of a system player. Buzelis can be ISO star while Giddey never be as explosive and athletic.

The way I see it,

USA, France, Serbia and most likely Canada be 4 best NTs in 2028. Really hard to beat. Then Spain, Germany, Lithuania, Australia will follow.

Lithuania can be up there with the best in 2028, but we'll see. Buzelis will be 24yo. To truly contend maybe you would want one superstar in it's prime. But nevertheless at the very least our situation will be radically different compared to 2024. Radically and not a tiny bit less.

[Shawshank]

Not maybe 100% Lithuania role players will need fiba superstar being in total peak just to have realistic chance to be in big dog games in olympic 2028 summer where elite NT will bring 6+ nba players rosters

Its way easier to do anything for average NT will be in 2025 and 2027 ant least chances is in 2028.Where literally all top 5 world players is playing


From those 8 teams you name i see clearly lithuania 8th at best 7th, but no way top 5 like you predicting

+ 9-13 NTs with Giannis and Doncic or Markannen or Porzingis leaded NTs that can beat any 6-8th NT in one game scenerio and it wouldnt huge upset.


My horoscope prediction is biased on already established stars,your just hoping ltu will get such one soon... and you saying that there alot question on other NTs that already have real superstar+ multiple nba players and no question on ltu nt that dont even have superstar ?



And if leaders of their generation Jakucionis and Buzelis becomes just Sedekerskis and Jokubaitis levels players? Whats Lithuania NT plan if such scenerio happens?

No plan and just whishfull thinking and fights for 7-14th places like in 2021-2024.


For 7-10th best rosters coaching must be highest quality to even have fighting chances in 2020s fiba playoofs vs elite NTs.

LTU NT will not get that from 65-68 old Kurtinaitis im sorry but thats the truth

[Straight forward]

Well, France reached finals of Olympic games without prime superstar. In 4finals against CAN he added 7pts, in semis 11pts. He was not a true carrier yet. France showed that solid, deep deep matters. They have a lot of quality players as Fournier, Barum, Yabusele. The same Spain 2022 showed that with right chemistry and depth you can win. So it's no so one-sided. It's still possible to win in many ways, but off course you need real quality and talent, just that I wouldn't say one true superstar is needed necessary. It is maybe necessary to win it all. The title. But you can snatch a medal with very deep and solid team. Off course, it's even better if you have true carriers. LTU NT in 2022 I think was closer big things than we think. We were leading against Spain most of the game. If we add couple of standouts, we can be really good, besides I think we will be improving in all positions in upcoming 4-6 years. Without any exceptions. I mean even at 5, we will have prime Sabonis and some NBA material Krivas and mobile Tubelis. All this nearly equals what we had with JV/Domas, specially knowing that Krivas can play D. So the improvement is inevitable. IDK if we can win medals, it's much harder than before, but out improvement in 4-5 years will be RADICAL.

I really doubt KJ and Buzelis can be just Jokubaitis and Sedekerskis (both either are or will be very good EL player, borderline elite at least). Because both are simply better. OK, with KJ we should still wait. You can't like judge him yet as he's 18yo and still bulking and shit. But Buzelis showed in Summer League that he has it. The level of aggression and abilities on NBA court is obvious. I doubt he can completely choke. He does too many things right with that size, skill and athleticism. AT worst he's gonna be super role player, I think still highly impactful player, have in mind something between Batum/Diaw at worst and at best you get Krilenko/Franz kinda presense. s The same Jakucionis is already super matured for his age. Super. Yes, he will turn the ball over some, but at the same time he READS the game amazingly for his age and his EXPLOSIVE amazingly for Lithuanian guard. So I don't see this scenario. They are simply too gifted.

But if they would choke to certain extent, our talent pool will inevitably be better than 10's I think. Take Indrusaitis, he has more ISO game than Kalnietis, Pocius, Seibutis had. He's more gifted in terms of pure scoring. I'm not sure about the results. Today nothing is guaranteed even with really good teams, but the upcoming talent is intriguing and this gives a lot of hope.

Kurtinaitis won't screw good team hopefully. He is OK with giving players freedom. Such players as KJ, Indrusaitis, Jokubaitis, Buzelis can be our cornerstones under such system and it can be effective.

PS: Jokubaitis will have a good season I believe. He will remind people that he is really talented.

PS2: Grigonis says he will talk "with players" and will decide whenever to come. I'm not sure anymore if that's good news. Kazys maksvytis neutralized Jokubaitis and Sirvydis for the sake of giving everything to Grigonis and that he would eventually choke as always when it matters.