Lithuanians just over a week ago lost to Italy as visitors and, having suffered their third defeat in the World Cup qualifiers, have seriously complicated their situation on the way to the 2027 tournament.
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A victory was not enough and NBA talent Matas Buzelis made his debut in the national team, whom G. Nausėda also helped to persuade to represent Lithuania a few years ago by meeting with his parents.
“First of all, I want to thank Matas’ parents for instilling in their son the understanding that playing for Lithuania is much more than just playing for another team. It is playing for the tricolor, for the nation, for that boundless Lithuanian love for basketball, so it was truly a unique opportunity to see Matas in the national team for the first time,” the country’s president said in an interview with BNS chief editor Saulius Jaukučionis. “Well, and if we look at the talents gathered in our team this time, I will not hide it, I expected much more, I expected victories, I also expected a win in Italy. That did not happen and now we probably need to very self-critically assess how it happened, why it happened, what didn’t work, what could be done differently, because, to be honest, it will now be quite difficult to correct mistakes. The situation is simply what it is.”
“As for Matas’ role on the court, of course, as a person I have made my own conclusions and have recommendations, but, you know, I don’t want to put Lithuania on the list of countries where presidents tell coaches how to play, where to put whom, what substitutions to make, and so on.”
The country’s leader was asked: in his opinion, does the situation in Lithuanian basketball require someone’s responsibility, resignation? Maybe it is not enough just to replace head coach R. Kurtinaitis, but changes should also be made in the association, which is increasingly being talked about in the basketball community?
“Well, first of all, we see that the system definitely does not work. Whose specific responsibility it is, actually a very open conversation is needed. As far as I know, such a conversation is practically taking place right now, just happened, where the reasons were analyzed, but I only state the fact,” said G. Nausėda. “Based on the resources, the human capital we put into this team, the productivity of this team simply does not meet expectations and this is not just some moral disappointment, it is simply an objective fact because the team was too strong to lose.”
