2023-08-17 09:19:00
Less than 10 days before the launch of the 2023 Basketball World Cup, an overview of the teams that will take part in these games from August 25 to September 10 in Asia. Today, honor to Lithuania, the small Baltic country that eats, sleeps and breathes basketball.
Le background international
Lithuania is a UFO of world basketball. A small Baltic country of 2.8 million inhabitants located south of Latvia, his love for basketball is unconditional. National sport, by far, basketball is a quasi-religion for Lithuanians who have a significant international record. Three European titles in 1937 and 1939 (yes that’s a bit old) then in 2003, two silver medals still on the Old Continent in 2013 and 2015, three Olympic bronze medals in 1992, 1996 and 2000 and a bronze medal in of the 2010 World Cup. In short, a track record as long as your arm with, in addition to historic fervor, convincing results and a unique place in the world elite of the orange ball.
The 2023 roster
Eimantas Bendzius Ignas Brazdeikis Tomas Dimsa Rokas Jokubaitis Vaidas Kariniauskas Mindaugas Kuzminskas Gabriel Maldunas Donatas Motiejuns Margiris Normantas Tadas Sedekerskis Deividas Sirvydis Jonas Valanciunas
As expected, ‘Ius’, ‘Kis’ and ‘Kas’ names are as unpronounceable as Lithuanian players are talented. Cut off from their Kings superstar, Domantas Sabonis (operated on his thumb), the Lithuanian roster remains no less qualitative. With a good backbone that evolves in top European clubs (Sassari for Bendzius, Kaunas for Dimsa and Monaco for Motiejunas for example…) the Lithuanians will also rely during this competition on their strong men. Jonas Valanciunas obviously, the very mobile and very skilful pivot of the Pelicans but also the young leader of Barça, Rokas Jokubaitis.
The player to watch: Rokas Jokubaitis, a purely Lithuanian story
We could have chosen Jonas Valanciunas or even Donatas Motiejunas. But Rokas Jokubaitis, just 22 years old, is a particularly interesting profile to follow in this Lithuanian selection. For what ? Because at his young age, he leads the game of one of the best teams in Europe: FC Barcelona. Particularly mature in his choices and skillful in his shots, Rokas Jokubaitis is a real diamond in the rough polished by… Šarūnas Jasikevičius, Barça coach and true legend of Lithuanian basketball. It is therefore not surprising to see one of the most emblematic leaders in Lithuanian history watering his disciple throughout the season on the side of Catalonia. Trained at a good school, the darling of the Palau has all the keys in hand to continue to lead his nation on the podiums of the biggest competitions. Open your eyes and admire Rokas Jokubaitis during this World Cup, I promise, it’s worth it.
Can Lithuania (reasonably) hope for a medal?
The Lithuanian hen (Poule D) is not the most difficult. Along with Montenegro, Egypt and Mexico, Valanciunas & Co have a good chance of making it out of the group stage. Arrived in the final stages, we know that Lithuania will always be a difficult team to play, very compact defensively and clinical in attack. The limits of this formation will perhaps be at the level of offensive talent where the solutions are not unlimited. Getting out of the pools and annoying more complete teams during the final stages, that’s basically the plan for the Baltics. Come what may…
The program
Friday August 25 (2:30 p.m.): Egypt – Lithuania Sunday August 27 (2:30 p.m.): Mexico – Lithuania Tuesday August 29 (2:30 p.m.): Montenegro – Lithuania
Beautiful players to watch, a beautiful basketball country and an affordable pool. Lithuania has a nice card to play in this World Cup, hoping that it does not reach its limits too quickly when facing stronger and more equipped nations.
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