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The Lithuanian national team is preparing to strengthen Rimas Kurtinaitis' coaching staff with an experienced figure. According to Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews, Alvydas Pazdrazdis is expected to join Kurtinaitis' staff for the upcoming 2027 FIBA World Cup qualification window. The 55-year-old currently works as a scout for the New York Knicks and won an NBA championship with the franchise last month.
Speaking during the Las Vegas Summer League, Kasparas Jakucionis recalled how he learned about the trade while representing Lithuania in the 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifiers. "I was with the Lithuanian national team and was just waking up in the morning," Jakucionis told Mundo Deportivo. "The trade happened at around 6 a.m. Lithuanian time. I woke up at 8, saw the messages from my agent and everything else, and that's how I found out."
Speaking to Zalgiris TV after completing the move, Valanciunas said the process had taken time but acknowledged that the opportunity to play in Lithuania was a major factor in his decision. "The process was quite long, and we had many conversations, but Lithuania, Zalgiris, and basketball in Lithuania definitely played a big role," Valanciunas said. "The fans and what Zalgiris have been building here over the past few years also really impressed me, so I wanted to be part of it."
After spending 14 years in the NBA, Jonas Valanciunas is returning to Europe, officially joining the Lithuanian and EuroLeague team Zalgiris Kaunas. Per Zalgiris' official announcement, Valanciunas signed a 2-year deal until the end of the 2027-28 season.
Krepsinis.net: It is announced: Jonas Valanciunas is coming to Kaunas. Jonas Valanciunas: You wake up, and everything has already been decided for you—you don't even really need to make any decisions yourself 😀 Thanks, chroniclers 😀😀😀
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Adam Zagoria: Valanciunas must clear waivers before becoming an unrestricted free agent. As of right now, any NBA team can claim Valanciunas within the 48-hour window. He has a standing 2-year offer from Euroleague club Zalgiris, per source
Mirin Fader: "There is so much deeper than people realize. Even going to Lithuania, he was just pulled out of high school and the same exact reputation, all those qualities that you named just now, those were the same exact things that the baggage that he had. It is crazy to say that baggage of a 15-year-old, but he has been carrying that same rep for so many years. It was so surprised being in Lithuania, showing up to the gym every single day was a small town, you could just walk in. I was there for three weeks and I was so stunned to see a mature player, somebody who is actually really thoughtful, really interesting, really obsessed with the IQ and strategy behind the game, hard-working. He was always there beyond his teammates. There is a person in there that is so much more serious about winning than I think people realize."
After 14 years in the NBA, Jonas Valanciunas is set to return to Europe and commit to Zalgiris Kaunas, according to BasketNews sources. The Lithuanian center has committed to a two-year deal with Zalgiris if he secures a release from his NBA contract with the Denver Nuggets. If the Valanciunas deal materializes, Zalgiris will complete its roster for the season, with no further additions expected, BasketNews sources confirm.
Chicago Bulls young star Matas Buzelis will have help from his club to accommodate the transition to European basketball. According to Lukas Katilius from BasketNews.lt, Buzelis will arrive at the national team camp accompanied by the Bulls assistant coach Pete Crawford and strength and conditioning coach Justin Irwin.
The Lithuanian national team has revealed its shortened 15-player roster for the July World Cup qualifying window, with three NBA players making the list. The squad includes Matas Buzelis, Jonas Valanciunas, and Kasparas Jakucionis, giving Lithuania a strong NBA presence heading into the summer window. However, one major name is missing from the candidate list. Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis was not included in the 30-man roster.
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Vladas Garastas, one of the most important figures in Lithuanian basketball history, has died at the age of 94. The Lithuanian Basketball Federation announced his passing on Wednesday, June 10. Garastas was born in 1932 in Linkuva and spent most of his childhood and youth in Birzai, where his sporting path began long before his coaching career took off. He finished Birzai Gymnasium in 1952 and later enrolled at the Lithuanian Institute of Physical Education.
Matas Buzelis, a member of the Chicago Bulls, will play for the Lithuanian national team this summer in the World Cup qualifying games. Buzelis revealed this news himself during an interview in Vilnius. “We had a good conversation. I will play for the national team this summer. It will be a lot of fun,” he said during an interview at the Buzelis Cup in Vilnius.
The Lithuanian is also hoping for that outcome, although he will not force an exit at any cost, but clearly hopes his contract will not be extended. He has already been in talks with European clubs, and may even return to his home country. “Many have paid attention to me, they have contacted me. There were talks with two teams and one Lithuanian club. The conversations are ongoing, and we will make a decision when the time comes because Denver has the final say on my contract. First of all, everything depends on whether they trade me, keep me, or not. That is their decision. Right now I think their bigger question is what they will do with the roster in general, who stays and who leaves. As far as I understand, only Nikola Jokic is untouchable, while everyone else can be traded.” he said on the show “PIKENROLAS”. “I think everything will be clear in the first week of July, maybe even earlier. I want to play, I want to enjoy basketball, and I want to win. I can do everything.
Former NBA player and current BC Siauliai head coach Darius Songaila was involved in a violent incident in Lithuania on Tuesday According to LRT, the 48-year-old was walking his family's small dog when a large and aggressive dog suddenly approached. Songaila picked up his pet to protect it, but the unleashed dog continued to attack.