The Lithuanian Basketball Federation (LKF) has officially denied rumors about plans to naturalize Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell for the national team. In a recent statement, the LKF clarified that no legal or procedural steps have been taken to include Russell in Lithuania’s basketball program.
The federation’s announcement followed reports in the Lithuanian media suggesting a potential interest in bringing the American player into the national team fold. LKF President Mindaugas Balčiūnas dismissed the speculation, stating, “There are no grounds for such an exception in the Lithuanian citizenship law, and no legal process has been initiated to enable D’Angelo Russell to represent Lithuania.”
Balčiūnas emphasized the federation’s preference for relying on local talent, saying, “It’s important to strive for results using our own potential. This issue isn’t just about basketball—it’s primarily a legal matter.”
According to Lithuanian law, foreign nationals can only obtain citizenship through special exceptions granted by the country’s president, a condition Russell does not meet.
Currently, the Lithuanian national team’s naturalized player slot is occupied by Ignas Brazdeikis, a Lithuania-born former NBA player who previously represented Canada before committing to Lithuania. The federation expressed no intention of making further changes to this policy.
