Photo: 12up.com

FIBA World Cup campaign is over for Lithuania after elimination by France. Now the focus is on the future of the national team who will not only be looking for a new coach but also for possibility to improve its roster. The name of Ignas Brazdeikis surfaced again.

Kaunas-born forward, who holds Canadian citizenship, is wanted by the Lithuanian Basketball Federation. For Brazdeikis himself it has been a personal goal to join the national team of his native country.

Due to strict Lithuanian laws on citizenship, Brazdeikis best chance to get Lithuanian citizenship is by getting it from the President who has the right to give by exception.

Recently elected President Gitanas Nauseda stated that he would consider giving the citizenship to Brazdeikis if such request was given to him. The President has such right if a person has accomplishments, achievements and has connections, roots in Lithuania.

Brazdeikis was born in Kaunas, Lithuania, but his parents went to Chicago (United States) when he was just two years old.

After switching place of residence several times, his family finally settled in Oakville (Canada) which is near Toronto.

Brazdeikis has some basketball roots in his family, as his second aunt, Lina Brazdeikyte, won the 1997 EuroBasket Women with the Lithuania women’s national team.

In June Brazdeikis was drafted 47th overall in the 2019 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings, who then traded him to the New York Knicks, who then signed Brazdeikis to a multi-year contract. Brazdeikis was the first player to post a 30-point game at the 2019 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.