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The new head coach of the Kaunas “Žalgiris” team, Martin Schiller, who arrived in Lithuania last week, as well as the basketball players from the United States, was forced to isolate himself and spent time in the hotel.
Still, on August 10, a new government decree allowed professional coaches and basketball players to break their self-isolation if their Covid-19 conviction in Lithuania was negative.
After receiving a negative answer in the test, the Žalgiris strategist left the hotel without expecting anything and headed to the Žalgiris arena, where he will spend most of his time during the season.
At the arena, Schiller met with his fellow coaches and players, inspected the arena’s infrastructure and gave his first interview to the Žalgiris TV team.
“It just came to our notice then. In fact, I already came from the United States with a negative test, but when I came here I had to do it again. The Lithuanian test was negative as well, so I’m glad I escaped from quarantine.” said the best coach in the G league last year.
It is true that the 38-year-old Austrian started his work much earlier. As soon as he signed a contract with the Lithuanian champions, he began to form the headquarters of the coaches and participated in online video chats with the team’s basketball players.
“It was important for us to find a connection with the players quickly. When I traveled from Salt Lake City, I interacted with all the players on the team, and here we had interviews on the Zoom platform, watching videos. Together with the headquarters of the coaches, we first had to figure out how we would organize the preparation for the season, and we solved it quickly enough, ”said the specialist, who named his first jobs.
Although Schiller contributed to the composition of the team for next season in the finals, he says he is satisfied with the current composition of the team.
“We have a very interesting team, which is mainly made up of players who are already in their field or are just trying. As a result, the level of motivation should be very high. We will also have leadership with Jankie and Milu, which will help us a lot. Then we have very young but talented players. I find this combination very intriguing, “said a strategist who had previously worked in Austria and Germany.
When asked about the future philosophy of the team’s game, the coach was open: It will be a mix of European and American basketball schools.
“It just came to our notice then. First of all, in the G League I worked for the Utah Jazz affiliate, a very European system. You can’t compare to anyone else there. Our NBA and G League program was the most I can say that the base has to be defense, but basketball is played in both directions. This is not football where matches can end in a draw. Statistically, my teams have been very good at defense before, so I hope that Let’s be able to build a team from that here too ”, Schiller drew the image of the future team.
Žalgiris’ new assistant was impressed by the infrastructure of the Žalgiris Arena and the team fans that filled the stadium on Nemunas Island.
“I think the infrastructure here is phenomenal. It has everything you need, you can arrive at any time of the day. We have a comprehensive staff, they are all professionals in their category. I hope to start. I’ll be open: when Žalgiris and Paulius called for the first time, The first thing that came to mind was the green sand and the atmosphere that is well known everywhere. I look forward to hearing and feeling it, ”said the Žalgiris helmsman.
The composition of “Žalgiris”:
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Kaunas “Žalgiris” |
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| Position | Player | Years | Height |
| PG | Lukas Lekavičius (news) | 26 | 181 |
| PG | Rokas Jokubaitis | 19 | 192 |
| SG / PG | Thomas Walkup (news) | 27 | 193 |
| SG | Marius Grigonis (news) | 26 | 198 |
| SG | Tomas Dimša (News) | 26 | 196 |
| SG / SF | Steve’as Vasturia (News) | 25 | 196 |
| SG | Karolis Lukošiūnas | 22 | 195 |
| SF / SG | Artūras Milaknis (news) | 3. 4 | 195 |
| SF | Patricio garino (News) | 27 | 201 |
| SF | Tomas Digbeu | 18 | 196 |
| PF / SF | Nigel Hayes | 25 | 203 |
| Pf | Agustin Rubitas (News) | 30 | 203 |
| PF / C | Paulius Jankūnas | 36 | 205 |
| C | Martin Geben | 25 | 208 |
| C | Marekas Blaževičius (News) | 18 | 207 |
| C | Joffrey Lauvergne (News) | 28 | 211 |
| Coach | Martin Schiller (News) | ||
| Expired contracts: | Edgar Ulanov (will not return), KC Rivers (will not return), Šarūnas Jasikevičius (will not return), Gytis Masiulis (will not return), Zachas LeDay (will not return), Jockas Landale (will not return) | ||
| Master: | To complete | ||
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