Photo: fiba.basketball

Lithuania enters EuroBasket 2025 brimming with ambition and determination, anchored by the experience of NBA veteran Jonas Valanciunas.

As the sole NBA player on the roster, Valanciunas carries not only his skills but also the responsibility of leadership, guiding a young, energetic team through the challenging Group B.

Lithuania will face host nation Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Sweden, and Montenegro – each matchup crucial in a tournament defined by its fast pace and intense schedule.

For the national team anchor, representing Lithuania goes far beyond basketball.

“I’ve always felt honored to represent my country, play for my country. Every time I step on the court with a green or white jersey, I feel amazing, I feel honored, and I want to do this as long as I’m capable,” he told FIBA, underlining the pride and emotional connection he brings to the court.

He emphasized that EuroBasket carries a unique feeling compared to other international competitions: “It’s closer to our region, to our base. Every tournament is important, but the European championship feels more like home, so I’m glad to be here.”

The big man also highlighted the grueling nature of the tournament’s format.

“There’s always a minimum of rest and a lot of games. But that’s what makes it interesting. You don’t just have to play well – you have to recover and be ready the next day. Only the stronger survive,” he said, pointing to both the physical and mental demands of consecutive high-level games.

Mental preparation, according to Valanciunas, is just as critical as physical readiness: “Every tournament is a challenge – mental, body, basketball. To perform at your best, you have to put everything together: recovery, mental stage, dedication. Everything comes into one if you want to win.”

He described the Lithuanian squad as full of energy and commitment: “We’re fighters. We come in to fight, not just look pretty. We’re here to give everything on the court.”

When discussing other teams in the competition, the player stressed respect and caution.

“Every team is dangerous. Basketball is unpredictable. One day you’re the toughest team, the next you can lose to someone you didn’t expect. We respect every opponent, but we also respect ourselves and are here to fight until the last whistle.”

While global stars like Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo add excitement and attention to EuroBasket, Valanciunas believes every team is capable of making an impact.

“I think every team is capable. We have some big names coming. Serbia, Turkey, Germany, we have Slovenia with Luka and, Greece with Giannis… We have a lot of a lot of a lot of big names, but that feel like every team is capable and every team can make some shake.”

Ultimately, fans can expect Lithuania to bring high-level, entertaining basketball.

“We’re here to put up the show, put up the great basketball for 40 minutes. Every night we play. So that’s why we’re here and that’s what we’re going to do,” Valanciunas concluded, promising intensity and dedication from start to finish.

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