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Team Information
Lithuania Men's National Basketball Team News
Lithuania Men's National Basketball Team Bio
Lithuania currently holds the 10th position in the FIBA rankings. The team qualified for the Summer Olympics 2024 by ending in the top three positions in the FIBA Olympics Qualifying tournament. In 2024, Lithuania lost to Puerto Rico in the qualification tournament and was eliminated from the Olympics in 2024.
History
Lithuanians love basketball as the Soviet Union won the FIBA Basketball World Cup three times, is the presence of Lithuanian players in their team. After World War II, the Soviet Union took control of Lithuania and eventually, all the Soviet’s key players were from Lithuania.
In 1990, Lithuania was established as an independent state and the national team once again rejuvenated. The team continuously won three bronze medals in the Olympics (1992, 1996 and 2000). The team’s most recent achievement was in the 2010 Beijing Olympics where they won the bronze.
Top Players
Domantas Sabonis
Domantas Sabonis was the 11th overall pick in the 2016 draft and currently plays for the Sacramento Kings in the NBA. He is a 3x NBA All-Star thrice as well as the rebounding leader last season. The center is out from Lithuania's roster for the upcoming FIBA World Cup because of a hand injury, which requires minor surgery and some rehab time.
Sarunas Jasikevicius
Sarunas Jasikevicius is one of the most popular players in the Lithuanian team. His NBA career was not too successful but he has led his team at the EuroBasket several times. He most recently coached FC Barcelona, helping the younger generation to learn from his years of experience.
Arvydas Sabonis
Arvydas Sabonis is considered the best player in Lithuanian history. Despite having a major ACL injury in his early twenties, he has won every award from EuroBasket to Euroleague. He is currently the president of the Lithuanian Basketball Association.
Jonas Valanciunas
Jonas Valanciunas is another NBA player from Lithuania who plays for the Washington Wizards. He started playing for the junior national team in 2008, where he dominated the tournament, was chosen MVP and won the gold medal for the country. Since the debut of Valanciunas in the senior national team of Lithuania, he has been an important player for the team.
Rosters (2024 Olympics Qualification)
| Player | Team |
| Rokas Jokubaitis | FC Barcelona |
| Lukas Lekavicius | Zalgiris |
| Tomas Dimsa | Zalgiris |
| Deividas Sirvydis | Zalgiris |
| Marius Grigonis | Panathinaikos |
| Arnas Butkevicius | Zalgiris |
| Edgaras Ulanovas | Zalgiris |
| Mindaugas Kuzminskas | Free agent |
| Tadas Sedekerskis | Baskonia |
| Domantas Sabonis | Sacramento Kings |
| Donatas Motiejunas | AS Monaco |
| Azuolas Tubelis | Rytas Vilnius |
Team Lithuania record in FIBA, Olympics, and EuroBasket
FIBA World Cup
| FIBA Year | Position |
| 1994 | Did not qualify |
| 1998 | 7th |
| 2002 | Did not qualify |
| 2006 | 7th |
| 2010 | 3rd |
| 2014 | 4th |
| 2019 | 9th |
| 2023 | 6th |
Olympic Games
| Olympic Year | Position |
| 1992 | 3rd |
| 1996 | 3rd |
| 2000 | 3rd |
| 2004 | 4th |
| 2008 | 4th |
| 2012 | 8th |
| 2016 | 7th |
| 2020 | 9th |
| 2024 | To be determined |
EuroBasket
| EuroBasket Year | Position |
| 2003 | 1st |
| 2005 | 5th |
| 2007 | 3rd |
| 2009 | 11th |
| 2011 | 5th |
| 2013 | 2nd |
| 2015 | 2nd |
| 2017 | 9th |
| 2022 | 15th |
FAQ's on Lithuania Basketball
A. Yes, basketball is one of the most popular sports in Lithuania. The team has again achieved a spot to qualify from Europe for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
A. Yes, the small country has produced many NBA players over the years, including Domantas Sabonis, and Jonas Valanciunas.
A. Team Lithuania has won the EuroBasket three times (1937, 1939, 2003).
A. In the preliminary round of the 2004 Olympics, Lithuania beat the USA 94-90.
