Balčiūnas, having admitted about “consultations” with several coaches: “The offer was made to only one”

The Lithuanian basketball team is in such a strange position regarding the coach for the first time in history.

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It has never happened before that coaches changed in the middle of a qualifying competition, but a unique situation occurred when, after the first stage of the World Championship qualifiers marked by painful losses to Spain and Italy, it is still unclear who will lead the country’s most important basketball team before the second stage.

15min has already reported that Mindaugas Balčiūnas announced at a press conference in Kaunas on Friday that Rimas Kurtinaitis’ decision is now awaited.

According to M. Balčiūnas, head of the “Lithuanian Basketball” association, the national team coach himself submitted his resignation along with his assistant Tomas Pačėsas.

Then, according to M. Balčiūnas, “consultations” with other specialists began, but an official offer was made only to Darius Songaila.

When the coach of “Šiauliai” and the Lithuanian youth national team refused, the association decided to express support for R. Kurtinaitis. According to M. Balčiūnas, the coach should make a decision within a day, so the association plans to issue a press release on Saturday.

M. Balčiūnas received many questions about the complicated situation in the national team, relations with team leader Jonas Valančiūnas, the management of Kaunas “Žalgiris”, and his intensified personal communication on Facebook.

Now we present the entire course of the press conference, starting with M. Balčiūnas’ long introduction:

“I would like to start further back about the whole situation. I return to Italy, when expectations were high, important matches were lost, and the situation is indeed complicated. Upon returning to Lithuania, we tried to calmly understand the situation, and on July 8, we received the resignations of Rimas Kurtinaitis and Tomas Pačėsas. According to the statutes, the coach is appointed and dismissed by the Executive Committee, and I, as president, submit proposals. We did not rush to convene the Executive Committee (EC), we wanted to analyze everything thoroughly,” M. Balčiūnas said during a long monologue. “We saw that time was needed. All responsible people – both the national team manager and the association’s leaders – were free to gather information and conduct consultations. Therefore, we asked for time.

I myself contacted Darius Songaila, who was then the U20 coach. He asked for time, wanted to return. A lot of communication, many observations in the public space about who talked to whom. We look at this information not only emotionally but from various angles. We saw how the entire coaching staff reflects and communicates. We also communicated with other coaches.

We looked at the numbers, analyzed them, not for one year, but for the entire decade. We see that Rimas Kurtinaitis’ organized offense was the best in a decade. The coach, upon arrival, quite successfully handled all FIBA window situations, 4 wins and 4. He prepared the team well for the European Championship, and their performance was solid even after Rokas Jokubaitis’ injury. The coach’s win-loss ratio is one of the best in the last decade. If not for those two losses, which are difficult to explain, the ratio would probably have been the best. The coach successfully managed squad composition situations in every window. We had challenges, but the last window was excellent in terms of squad formation. Those who were healthy and best, all came. Of course, the coach, with his values, strengthened the sense of honor and responsibility of representing the national team. We see that. The coach refused to coach a club team for the national team.

The consultations were extensive, as you saw. We are constantly in contact with the teams that provide players to the national team – both “Rytas” and “Žalgiris”. We have indeed gathered a lot of information. It must be acknowledged that the chances of qualifying for the World Championship remain, although they are difficult. In 30 years, no coach has resigned or been dismissed during a cycle, and there were, it seems, nine coaches. All of them were allowed to finish. We understand that recently the coach did not have the opportunity to strengthen with potential national team leaders, such as Rokas Jokubaitis, Domantas Sabonis, Tadas Sedekerskis, and others, which, of course, would significantly raise the team’s potential. Today, a detailed preparation plan for the upcoming window has been drawn up. Everything is ready.

An important principle is to respect and cherish the name of every Lithuanian basketball coach. As the president of the association, I had to formulate a proposal to the EC today. And that proposal was felt in every sense. I would say that in this situation, each of us chooses our own approach – to condemn, criticize, hate, or to understand, support, and believe that in critical moments, the national team and Lithuanian basketball strengthen, mobilize, and inspire. The situation can change, and mistakes, which we acknowledge, must be corrected. And we must strive for more than we can.

Today’s national team needs faith, and today we unanimously express our confidence in Rimas Kurtinaitis. The EC unanimously did not approve the resignation statement and proposes to continue the agreement to perform the duties of the head coach of the Lithuanian national team. I spoke with Kurtinaitis about this situation, I said I would inform him, and so I did. The coach asked for some time for a calm decision.”

“We have agreed with very significant basketball specialists, including international ones. There was a reaction regarding additions from the NBA. These are people well-known and familiar to you, but I would not like to name them. They are already helping – both in communication and technical matters. But first, we must await coach Kurtinaitis’ decision.

We communicated a lot, listened to the thoughts of significant Lithuanian basketball coaches. You saw it, you wrote about it. You correctly noted. For various reasons – some due to clubs, others due to personal attitudes – they did not confirm joining the coaching staff today. This is a technical, solvable matter. The future concept depends on the head coach, and today we, the “Lithuanian Basketball” association, express full confidence in Rimas Kurtinaitis. This has already been formalized by the EC decision, and I presented this decision to you.

We will inform you tomorrow when we have the coach’s answer; our next actions will depend on that,” concluded M. Balčiūnas, head of “Lithuanian Basketball.”

VIDEO: Mindaugas Balčiūnas: Kurtinaitis must decide on national team work within a day

Mindaugas Balčiūnas: Kurtinaitis must decide on national team work within a day

– Five weeks remain until the next window. If Rimas Kurtinaitis’ answer is negative, do you have a Plan B?

– There are always various options, today we express full confidence in Rimas Kurtinaitis and await his decision.

As I mentioned, Rimas has given a lot of good emotions to basketball, his dedication to the national team, his sacrifice is complete. Today, the decision is this – we await his final word.

– How did Rimas Kurtinaitis himself argue his desire to resign in the statement?

– You know, the process of the past few weeks has been quite psychologically difficult. For him personally, for his staff. We sat every day, discussing for long hours. The initial state was difficult, he was very distressed.

Therefore, time was needed, and we asked for your patience so that the person could come to terms with himself. The coach’s emotional state improved over time, I saw that and was happy. I saw a perspective, and today we express confidence in his decision to continue working.

We consult and talk within the basketball community, and the official decision to join the staff was presented only to Darius Songaila.

Having contacted the club owner, the esteemed Nacickas, we tried to talk, but upon reviewing the club’s schedule and the national team’s preparation dates, we saw that there were no options. This is further confirmation that a coach cannot be active in both a club and the national team.

– Did you talk to Jonas Valančiūnas about his decision not to come to the next national team window?

– We talked to all the players, gathered information, and we have it. Whatever the core will be, one player or another, they will still be capable of fighting. The coach has proven many times that he can assemble a competitive team from various players. We do not tie ourselves to the name of one player or another.

Jonas is a talented player, always welcome, but today we have to resolve the coach’s issue.

– You mentioned that the specific offer to Darius Songaila was official. Why only to him, if you had already decided to offer it to someone?

– Darius Songaila is a current member of the men’s program.

This includes the U20 level, the reserve national team, and then the men’s national team. There would have been a merger, but it did not happen today.

– But why did you only officially offer it to Darius Songaila, and not to others?

– Because he is a participant in the internal system. And the consultations, as I mentioned, were varied. Both the national team manager (Linas Kleiza) and the general secretary (Dominykas Domarkas) were free to gather all information.

– You say that the official offer was only to Darius Songaila. What about Dainius Adomaitis or Tomas Masiulis?

– No.

– And why did you only talk to them, but not offer?

– Because we trust Kurtinaitis.

– But you did talk to Adomaitis, didn’t you?

– We did not talk.

I will say personally – I submit the proposal myself. There was one meeting with Darius Songaila.

– Did other national team or association leaders talk to other specialists?

– As I mentioned, everyone was free to consult within the community, with clubs or individual members. But if there is no real offer or decision about whom we are talking to, then it is not an offer.

– Can we understand that when R. Kurtinaitis submitted his resignation, you only made an offer to one candidate?

– Today, the EC’s decision is to trust R. Kurtinaitis, and we are not considering other options.

– Earlier on “Žinių radijas” (News Radio), you said that with this decision, which you promised to announce on July 24, you would convince the public and the basketball community that the situation would change. Can you elaborate?

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– I truly believed that Rimas Kurtinaitis’ decision would happen sooner. And I wouldn’t have to wait for the unanimous support of the Executive Committee.

Today, all organizations expressed confidence, and the addition to the staff will also be significant. We do not doubt the competencies of this staff, but the addition would provide even more potential. Those names are well known to you, but there is no point in detailing them now. They will be made public when R. Kurtinaitis agrees.

– Is there a specific date agreed upon for him to respond?

– We must have a decision tomorrow in any case, so that neither we nor others have to wait.

– Linas Kleiza’s name is no longer listed next to the national team staff on the association’s website. Will he continue his work as the national team manager?

– I don’t know why it’s gone. Whatever the staff composition was, that’s what it is. For now.

– Will he continue his work?

– Everyone continues their work until we understand whether Rimas Kurtinaitis will still be the national team coach.

– Dainius Adomaitis publicly stated that he rejected an offer. You say there was no such offer. What is the reality?

– I don’t know what offer was made. According to the association’s statutes, I must submit candidacies to the committee. And generally, both the association and national team representatives talk to specialists, which is very normal. I don’t know why it was treated as an offer, maybe something happened over coffee.

But an offer is very clearly regulated.

– Previously, the coach’s position was prestigious, now we see that it is difficult to find a replacement, players are hesitant. Do you feel your responsibility for what is happening?

– The intensity of national team activities has changed. Four windows a year – we just finish one, prepare for another. The management of national teams has become complicated worldwide. On the other hand, 7 Lithuanian clubs will play in international competitions in Europe. This shows that the coach’s responsibility has increased. Lithuanian coaches are primarily accountable to their clubs, their cities.

We have already seen that it is almost impossible for both Kazys (Maksvytis) and others to effectively carry out activities across two organizations.

Our strategy is changing – we will have a long-term national team coach who would proactively forgo the opportunity to coach a club and fully commit to national team management.

– I was asking more about your direct responsibility. Previously, there were no direct player refusals due to the situation in the federation.

– I think that if we look at previous competition windows, there were minimal refusals. Or there were objective reasons. As for what will happen in the next “window” – we will see. We currently have no official refusals to the invitations sent out. We know the attitudes of one or two players, we talked, but there is a list of 25–26 players, and coaches usually select basketball players based on two criteria – skill and motivation.

The assembled national team is competitive.

– Were there talks with Giedrius Žibėnas, who has already been an assistant in the national team and is currently without a club?

– We consulted. We consulted with Giedrius. We analyzed the possibilities, but we did not find any.

– Why was there no offer to Giedrius Žibėnas?

– Consultations, offers – these are just concepts. Discussions. I know Giedrius Žibėnas not only as a coach; we often call each other. Many significant coaches in Lithuania were spoken to. Insights on how the situation should develop are valuable.

But there’s no need to turn everything into an “offer” and a “refusal.” We communicated.

– Were those so-called consultations regarding national team coaching conducted with D. Songaila, D. Adomaitis, G. Žibėnas, T. Masiulis, or anyone else?

– With all coaches who are either free or have players. We always talk to “Žalgiris” as well, about how many players we can get. They have their perspective, and we have to solve our problems.

They roughly tell us which players could come to the national team. We can then talk to the players themselves, we know their plans, their motivation, that’s how the national team is assembled.

– Since you mentioned “Žalgiris.” A few days ago, you wrote on Facebook that one “figure continues to give advice, Euroleague clubs listened to it for several years and then couldn’t take it anymore. It cost the Euroleague a lot.” Can you say what you meant?

– There are various reactions to various criticisms. Constructive ones are one thing, hard-to-measure ones are another, and that was a reaction to such observations that were made. This story is over, I have nothing more to say.

– Your own communication has changed. Previously, you didn’t write criticism of opponents, now some communication specialists criticize your changed rhetoric. What do you think about this, and will you continue to do so?

– You know, life is dynamic, basketball is a living mechanism.

But I don’t focus on these things you mentioned, I focus on essential situations and resolve them.

– Don’t you think that such “statements” harm relations with the club, i.e., “Žalgiris” and its manager Paulius Motiejūnas?

– Generally, I would say that we all need to rethink our communication, including myself. We will draw these conclusions.

– There was a lot of criticism not only from P. Motiejūnas but also from other well-known basketball figures, not to mention online comments under your posts. Do you truly feel the trust of the basketball community?

– You know, the basketball community is clearly defined – these are clubs, leagues, and so on. They are represented through the Executive Committee. This committee represents the majority of the association’s members. I’m not saying they all think alike, that’s certainly not the case. But if the opinion of those people represents a part of that community, then I can conclude that I have their trust.

Of course, the association is a much broader field than just sports results, which are the essence, I admit. Of course, those results also pertain to our various national teams, including women’s. Many good things are happening in the association, but the core is the results of the men’s national team. Of course, I feel responsibility for that; the results are important for all Lithuanian basketball.

– Now some compare these times in basketball to those in the former Lithuanian Football Federation. There is a lot of noise. Don’t you think that early elections would silence this noise?

– The process is clearly defined. Emotional background noise cannot influence technical processes. We ourselves look very self-critically at the entire course of the process.

I want to say that the national team is currently neither victorious nor defeated. The most important thing is the coach’s determination to change the situation. Today we see that trust is gradually returning. The coach’s self-confidence and our full support – that’s what shapes the perspective and responsibilities.

– A critical situation regarding qualification for the World Championship, as the coach had already submitted his resignation. What gives you confidence that the coach will lead the national team, if he had already given up a few weeks ago?

– The resignation statement shows both his self-criticism and responsibility.

– No one is clinging to positions; it’s not like someone is making capital from coaching the Lithuanian national team or leading the association. We see that the coach, like all of us, critically assesses the situation. A difficult period awaits, but there have been difficult situations in history. This is neither the first nor the last. We failed to qualify for the World Championship twice; in 2010, we bought a spot, to be frank.

We cannot collapse; we must solve this. Today, it would be logical to trust the coach. Coach Rimas Kurtinaitis brought about many good changes.

I believe that last year we were proud of the national team at the European Championship, when we lost Rokas Jokubaitis, but the team’s game was organized.

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