in 2024 In the NBA draft, Matas Buzelis was selected with the 11th pick by the “Chicago Bulls” club and in 2025. Kasparas Jakučionis, who was chosen by Miami Heat with the 20th pick in the NBA draft, should make his debut in the Lithuanian men’s basketball team next Sunday. Fans and experts remain intrigued – how the newcomers will manage to adapt to the European style of basketball.
About the upcoming control matches, their importance and what face of the Lithuanian national team we will see already this summer, the portal of the association “Lietuvos krässinis” spoke with the manager of the Lithuanian men’s basketball team Linus Kleiza.
– Lina, in your eyes, how should the face of this rejuvenated and exceptionally talented national team of ours change? Maybe the gameplay will change a bit?
– We’ll see when we start playing. Our trait is always that we want to play aggressively. We will see with which five we will speed up the game, with which it is better to exchange, so that players can play in several positions, which is important in modern basketball.
The face of the national team always changes when Jonas Valančiūnas is on the pitch, where his strengths are used. I think the coaches will definitely have those faces and choices of how the national team can look like. Here is the most important thing.
The control match against the national team of Ukraine is of great importance, as it is only one control match before the official World Cup qualifiers. Some of the players finished the season earlier, some did not play together at all, for some it will be a warm-up with European experience.
So, we will try to use the entire group of players as optimally as possible so that they get to know each other. When you don’t have time, when you don’t have training, it is really very important to at least feel the atmosphere, emotions, speed of the match.
– Many basketball fans are waiting with impatience and interest for the debut of our young talents – M. Buzelis and K. Jakučionis in the Lithuanian men’s national team. Will one game be enough to get a feel for the rhythm of the game – American and European styles of basketball are different after all?
– Basketball is very similar all over the world. Of course, there is something different in Europe and America, but they are young players: Kaspars has had a lot of exposure to European basketball, so he knows everything very well, he will remember something.
It will be Mata’s first time, but I have no doubts – he will fit in… Sooner or later… All the pressure should not be placed on them alone, after all, there are older, more experienced players of the Lithuanian national team who, I think, will show that leadership and help our young people integrate. I don’t think there will be a problem with that.
Going back to the control matches, it is necessary to understand that it is not easy to find opponents during this period, everyone is minding their own business, solving their own questions, and the time until the official World Cup qualifying matches is very short.
Ukraine always has a capable team. They will have even more motivation to fight against us, and it will be a good test for us before the official World Cup qualifiers.
– As a former player of the national team, what can you say about how important the test matches before the official matches are for both players and coaches?
– When I played in the national team, there was a different national team format. I have never played one friendly match before the official match started. Now is a different thing.
On the other hand, this new national team format changes the importance of friendly matches. Coaches will see during training how the players look, who needs what. Who finished the season earlier, who later, who played more and who played less. There is no time when you can calculate players’ loads, peak form and when you need to be ready to play. Here you will need to be ready to play at full strength right away.
– You yourself communicate with basketball fans and talk to them when you meet them on the street… When it was announced that M. Buzelis and K. Jakučionis will represent the Lithuanian men’s national team, do you feel the excitement, even greater interest in our national team?
– This is a natural thing, everyone is waiting. It will be fun to see them up close. Everyone’s expectations are high – with such talents, you can’t escape from expectations and demands. The players come together to represent their country as best as possible, to please their fans with victories, and we’ll see how it turns out.
There is no need to preempt events, create pressure for them. The newcomers themselves want not to disappoint the fans, but there is simply no time to go through the preparation phases and get into a completely new style. This is a complicated process.
– Kaspars Jakučioni just turned 20 years old on May 29, Matas Buzelis turned 21. Do you remember how old you were when you first put on the shirt of the Lithuanian men’s basketball team? Were you very nervous?
– I remember. I was 21 years old. There was everything: both excitement and emotions, but at the same time there was a great desire to prove that I can do everything. And that might have hurt the debut a little… Playing for your country with the support of your fans is always a special feeling. You have to feel it to understand it. And the debut also adds additional pressure.
– You communicate a lot with our young NBA talents. How do you try to set them up, maybe inspire them, so that they don’t feel that excitement?
– There is no recipe, but there will be support from all sides. So I think everyone will be fine. As I mentioned, in the national team there is no responsibility placed on one or another player, that you have to be the leader or something like that. We will win if we play as one cohesive team. Lithuania’s strength must be team play.
– What message would you like to convey to basketball fans before the control match against Ukraine?
– It would be great if the stands of Šiauliai Arena were full. So that the debutants of the national team feel the atmosphere of the home fortress and understand why our fans are the best!
