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Lithuanian national team GM Linas Kleiza met with all three Lithuanian NBA players: captain Jonas Valanciunas, Domantas Sabonis and Matas Buzelis. During conversations, Kleiza wondered if he had made a mistake by not going to the United States earlier to meet the country's stars. "Maybe I should have told Jonas (Valanciunas) and Domantas (Sabonis) earlier how important they were. It seemed to me that it was obvious that this team was theirs. Maybe that was my mistake," Kleiza admitted on the show 'Kleiza vs Tiskevicius.' "At the beginning of the season, the players don't want to talk about the national team, so the trip was left for later, it's a shame that it was against such a background. I think that as much as possible, positive steps were taken."
You actually left the NBA after your best two years, at least individually, with the Nets. Do you regret leaving the NBA at the peak of your career? Bostjan Nachbar: I get asked this question a lot. I cannot say that I regret it because it was a very interesting time. A lot of European players came back to Europe so it’s difficult to talk about regret because for me that was the best option at that moment. Sure, I wish I could have prolonged my career in the NBA but at the same time it’s not like I had equal choices that summer. Gordan Giricek returned home, Carlos Delfino went back to Europe, also Jorge Garbajosa and Josh Childress. A year later, Linas Kleiza went back… A lot of European teams were willing to offer solid contracts to Europeans or Americans who wanted to go. Unfortunately, the crisis of 2008 hit them a little bit after and that changed a lot of things in Europe. I wish I could have extended my career in the NBA, but it just wasn’t the case.
Linas Kleiza is very close to signing with EA7 Milano. The Lithuanian star is the main target of Olimpia for the power forward position and the talks between the two parts are progressing. Kleiza spent last season with Fenerbahce and he will likely wear Armani’s jersey next year.
Olimpia Milano is negotiating with Linas Kleiza for the coming season, according to multiple reports.
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Linas Kleiza signed with Fenerbahce Ulker in the offseason, returning to Europe after a four-year deal with the Toronto Raptors. Kleiza said he has no interest in returning to the NBA after being amnestied by the Toronto Raptors in July.
Emiliano Carchia: OFFICIAL: Fenerbahce announced Linas Kleiza, Luka Zoric and Nemanja Bjelica
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Marc Stein: Linas Kleiza has also cleared waivers and is a free agent. Strong possibility he heads back overseas
Linas Kleiza: “I had three good years in Toronto and I want to thank them for that. I need a new, fresh and dynamic start in my career. Can I tell you something? When I played for a season in Olympiacos, I understood even more that I have European blood on my veins. Don’t forget that I have spend many years in the States, but I am still European. What I mean is that I can spend more years in a situation where my team loses and there are not high ambitions. I am tired of losing! My first goal is to be a part of a winning situation. In a team which wins and competes for titles”.
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