Negotiations between 49-year-old coach Kazys Maksvytis and the FIBA Champions League winner Vilnius “Rytas” were reportedly ended by the group of the most loyal fans of the capital’s team, “B Tribūna,” who did not accept the club’s desire to hire the former Kaunas “Žalgiris” coach.
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K. Maksvytis worked at the Kaunas club from April 2022 to December 2023, and in the 2022-2023 LKL finals series, he defeated “Rytas” with a score of 3-2.
Ultimately, the former assistant of Giedrius Žibėnas, Nedas Pacevičius, became the head coach of the Vilnius team.
“There were talks, there is no secret. I consulted,” K. Maksvytis said on the “BasketNews” show “Off The Record.” “Everything ended very laughably, supposedly the main reason was that I am inexperienced. I feel more like a veteran (he coached Klaipėda “Neptūnas” for a long time), and I also worked for two years at Panevėžys “Lietkabelis,” and less than two years at “Žalgiris.” Supposedly I am inexperienced, but they also chose Artūras Gudaitis (former “Žalgiris” player) or “Žalgiris” coach’s son Gytis Masiulis, who was also there. They signed the coach of the most hated rivals, the “wolves” (Nedas Pacevičius), acquired Gytis Nemeikša who played in “Žalgiris” reserves. If you are so principled, then be principled with everyone and don’t take a single one. Another question is – would I have come? If I had come, then take me for basketball reasons, but the whole situation turned out to be ridiculous.
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If the whole situation had worked out in my favor, how can I go to a club when I don’t feel the support of the fans, probably not even the support of the management? Do I need that, do I need to stick my head in there? I would have also left the “Žalgiris” fans dissatisfied. Do I need that? If you go there, then with full backing, good conditions, a promising team where everyone looks in one direction. Many things that were not resolved, but the summary of the situation was very funny. If we are principled, then let’s be principled.”
Although it has not been officially announced yet, according to 15min, K. Maksvytis has agreed on a one-year contract with Istanbul “Fenerbahçe,” where he will continue to assist Šarūnas Jasikevičius.
“They ask me: ‘Would you have gone to “Rytas”? After all, you are inexperienced.’ Yes, I worked at that club, my relationships with players and fans were good, so I really respect “Žalgiris.” But if “Žalgiris” does not give me a job, can’t I go work at another club? If I had been interested and supported, I might have ended up there. When the situation turned out this way, it is unclear what decision I would have made, because an ugly confrontation arose out of nowhere. I don’t like working under such conditions,” said K. Maksvytis.
