There's been a little bit of discussion abt Buzelis's offseason growth, and so I figured I should share this. But this whole thing goes a lot deeper than just an injury or whatever, so I figured I'd also save anybody the time & energy of figuring out exactly WHY he might miss the EuroBasket, in case you're curious (it's worth the dive, I swear):
TL;DR (+ paywall)
Last summer, Jonas Valančiūnas, for the first time in his eligible career, didn't participate in national LT team activities despite being team captain, because he badly injured his foot. Following this, LT didn't make the Olympic qualifiers. They did elect a new LKF (Lithuanian Basketball Federation) president, a position so important that it's election is publicly televised, and who JV openly disliked. New president installs a brand new assistant head coach, Tomas Pačėsas, who has really very little experience and what experience he does have isn't appealing. Last month, Pačėsas goes onto a podcast and pretty much drags JV's name through the mud, calling him fat, lazy, replacable, and spoiled. A few weeks later, JV responds with a written interview published on basketnews.lt where he calls Pačėsas a sham, immature, unfit for his position, and corrupt. It doesn't read as a back-and-forth as much as a forced hand on JV's part. He complains that nobody newly hired by the new LKF has personally reached out to him, and so the new team manager, Linas Kleiza, makes a trip to the USA where he meets with JV, Sabonis, Buzelis, and even Kasparas Jakučionis. He comes back, claims it went fine. Then, earlier today, Buzelis drops his own interview, the one linked with this post, where he basically says that if he doesn't feel the coaches are giving his older LT teammates the proper amount of respect, he won't play in the EuroBasket this August.
14 comments
From what i’ve seen JV always seems like a genuine and gracious guy. Props to Buzelis for standing up for him. Obviously there is a lot of stuff we might not know about the situation, but it seems like the LKF are sore about missing the olympics and are taking it out in the wrong way
Good for him for sticking up for his teammates – always interesting how political sports can become on the international scene
Respect
Side note but idgaf how many guards we got give me KJ in the draft, build that Lithuanian bridge. Those boys are some dawgs (I actually want a C though)
Linas Kleiza a legend
On one hand, I don’t mind a weaker Lithuanian side at the Euros. It increases my guys’ chances (although probably not enough) of making it through the group stages.
On the other I was looking forward to seeing Buzelis ball out in Tampere.
> because he badly injured his foot.
That’s a lie? He was free agent and told Lithuania he will join National Team after he signs contract. (he signed 3 years 30m with wizards)
Good on Buzelis for putting his ambition aside to stick up for his teammates. That’s a really respectable thing to do.
As a side note, Pačėsas is a rather unpleasant person who goes on pro-russian, anti-western “television” channels during his free time to spread antivax, anti-Ukraine ideas.
At this point I am certain that Pačėsas has pornographic material of Balčiūnas and is using it to blackmail the whole federation. It’s either this or I have no other explanation as to why he is not fired
Few more things to add.
1. Tomas Pacesas is old school “tough guy”. Watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgOipuUKLPE&pp=ygUTdG9tYXMgcGFjZXNhcyBjb2FjaA%3D%3D
But he never was a great coach or good player.
2. This Lithuanian generation is the worst in Lithuania history. We have Sabonis, Valančiūnas and last time we won something was like 10 years ago.
Man as a Lithuanian idk how someone from coaching staff can be disrespectful towards JV at all, let alone an assistant coach to the team.
JV absolutely sacrificed all his summers for our NT and always plays his heart out. He has been doing it since being a kid at 18 years old winning the fiba gold with our youth team.
Buzelis looks up to him like an older uncle glad he is sticking up for him.
They need to get rid of that mf Pacesas man…
Props to Buzelis, the only way how we can clean up our federation is through these young players.
I love watching NBA players in international play, but Embiid is a real cautionary tale and I think I’m on the side now of NBA players shouldn’t play in the Olympics and other international games.
I know Buzelis doesn’t have an injury history and is really young, but if I’m an NBA team, I’d just ask my players to sit out and rest their bodies during the summer.
Idk. Maybe there’s a compromise like no international play if you make the playoffs? I don’t know how you really can enforce that, but the extra wear and tear is real and it’s really concerning.
Dude has a good head on his shoulders.