Comments on: Lithuanian NBA Players

By: Gary E. McCullough

Gary E. McCullough — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:58:52 +0000

Think before you ink! ~Author Unknown

By: Antanas Zupkas

Antanas Zupkas — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:37:12 +0000

Greetings fellow Lithuanians. The name on my post is my paternal grandfather’s. He emigrated to the US right after the Great Depression ended and was a coal miner in Wilkes-Barre, PA (along with my maternal grandfather, Tomas, who was half Irish). Tht makes me only 3/4ths Lithuanian but, whatever.

Both of my grandfathers fought in WWII – Tomas with distinction in the Pacific and Antanas as an infantryman in Europe somewhere. Unfortunately I don’t know more because black lung killed them both in their late 50’s and i know them only through stories and pictures.

I grew up a sickly kid but when I hit 17, boom, my Lithuanian genes kicked in and I grew to a broad shouldered 6′3″ 245 (but with blue eyes from the Irish blood… God does have a sense of humor).

My Dad is 6′5″ and my little brother is 6′7″ making me the runt. Does anyone else here have exclusively big men in their families or strong men? I believe it was the hard work and genetics of our ancestors that did it, but I am curious.

Finally, does anyone know if any Lithuanian NBA player has ever won an NBA Championship ring? Thanks and wow what a great site. I’ll be back.

By: Gary Arctic

Gary Arctic — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 06:12:20 +0000

It took a little while for the post to load but i’m glad i gutted it out.

By: Zavinta Dirzinskaite

Zavinta Dirzinskaite — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 03:59:25 +0000

Ginny: Your fucking retarded ! Earth will sooner crash into the sun before Lithuainia doesnt have a basketball team !

Anyways, Nice website. Helped me and my sister out. (:

By: ginny

ginny — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:10:05 +0000

oh my god, i had no idea lithuania had a basketball team. that is so sweet. i’m half lithuanian and it’s really kind of sad because all i know is that, during reunions, half of my family dances the polka and eats cake that looks like a stalactite. go team!

By: vitas

vitas — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:52:02 +0000

Biedrins is actually Latvian. And you can actually throw in Brent Barry who is half lithuanian.

By: Žilvinas Micka

Žilvinas Micka — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:40:00 +0000

Hi everyone, I used to be a big fan of basketball dew years a go, but unfortunately I dropped it, and now I’m trying to catch up with the latest events ^^. I’m from Lithuania myself and it’s very nice to know that players from my country are so respected in the NBA ;]

To Cees van der Mast:
It was probably owned by Arvydas Sabonis, huge player, he played in Blazers if I remember right.

By: Rich

Rich — Tue, 05 May 2009 03:19:08 +0000

I do not think many people in the United States really get it when it comes to Lithuanian players. The entire country’s population is is about 1% of the US population. I would say they put our some great players based on those numbers. I wish there was a way to contact Ilgauskas to let him know how much I truly enjoy watching his play. If you look back at the playoffs last year and many other games they lost, Cleveland did not play him in the 4th quarter of those games. I hope they do not make that same error this year.

By: Cees van der Mast

Cees van der Mast — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 16:51:13 +0000

Last year I visted a restaurant in Palanga, where I found out the owner had played in the NBA league. Could you give me his name? This to complete my story on visiting Lithuania and Palanga. It is always nice to include the right names in the right spots.

By: wayne remington

wayne remington — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 02:27:34 +0000

I am going back to Kaunas for another mission trip with our church and we are trying to contact some of the Lithuanian NBA players to see if they would do an appearance at a fund raiser.

Do you have any suggestions for contacting any of the players? (particularly those from Kaunas)

Do you have any of the Lithuanian basketball fan stuff, like from BC Zalgaris or Orange Virus? Or do you follow Lithuanian basketball to see where the next NBA stars may come from?

By: Frank Juodvalkis

Frank Juodvalkis — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 15:48:44 +0000

What a great website! You are doing exactly what I got on the computer this morning to do myself. By my last name, it’s obvious I’m Lithuanian also (born in Kaunas) and always get a kick out of hearing about my “compatriots” in the NBA. Thanks.

By: Sara A.

Sara A. — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 08:02:25 +0000

Nice piece. Biedrins is greatly underused and we Warriors fans LOVE him here. We know he (along with Ellis) are the future. His TS% is wonderful (currently at 61.4 I think?). He will have a brilliant career. I am also a big Kleiza fan. His play off the bench will be key in getting the Nuggets a spot in the playoffs and taking them past the first round.