Jonas Kazlauskas spoke with the media ahead of Lithuania’s game against Croatia and referred to the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers and the conflict between FIBA and the EuroLeague.
Here is what the head coach of the Chinese club, Guangdong Southern Tigers, said, per Donatas Urbonas:
On the WC Qualifiers: “Our NT is on a set-up. You can’t treat NT like this. Three years ago I said that this system is wrong. The best players must play. We have to respect our fans. You can destroy everything so fast and it might take many years to rebuild it.”
On the conflict between FIBA and the EuroLeague: “I don’t want to blame anybody but maybe Euroleague is pushing its clubs to make FIBA look less valuable? I believe one day some federations will push FIBA to change the situation. I don’t see it any other way.”
Kazlauskas doesn't get it why NT don't get their best players in September:"I don't want to blame anybody but maybe Euroleague is pushing its clubs to make FIBA look less valuable? I believe 1 day some federations will push FIBA to change the situation. I don't see any other way"
— Donatas Urbonas (@Urbodo) September 14, 2018
Jonas Kazlauskas on FIBA – Euroleague war: "Our NT is on a set-up. You can't treat NT like this. 3 years ago I told that this system is wrong. Best players must play. We have to respect our fans. You can destroy everything so fast, but it might take many years to rebuild it."
— Donatas Urbonas (@Urbodo) September 14, 2018