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In the 2020-2021 period, which began in September, 73 new basketball players have lined up for the Betsafe-LKL season. Klaipėda’s “Neptūnas” don’t have any foreign players on their team this year; the remaining nine clubs in the league introduced at least a few new legionnaires to their fans. Each of them brought their individual and colorful professional stories to Lithuania.
Some legionnaires have already managed to switch clubs, but most of them are only getting even more used to Lithuanian basketball and becoming even stronger in their teams.
One of the most useful and brilliant foreign basketball players this season landed in Prienai.
The modest but marquis Marquis Jurell Wright now more than doubling league points and utility averages, performing three times the overall average, and is a man whose success often depends on the performance of Cbet’s team.
The 25-year-old American defender averaged 17.9 points and 5.7 assists in 12 games this season.
And although the basketball player knew very little about her before coming to Lithuania (only that the Ballai brothers once played here – aut.), Now as the season progresses, he firmly believes that this was a very important decision and successful for your own career.
“I just knew it was a step forward. It is true that after I became interested in Lithuania and Prienai, it was not long before I found out that the Ballai brothers were playing in Prienai. I knew that basketball was not bad here. It was like a push for me, I thought that if the brothers were playing here, it would probably not be just for them ”, smiled the basketball player while talking to LKL.lt.
Wright is not used to sharing interviews; So far he has only played at universities in the United States and began his legionary career in Hungary. It is true that the experience in Hungary, as the basketball player himself says, was extraordinary and perhaps that was what allowed him to find himself in the country where basketball people live: Lithuania.
More on M. Wright’s career, the difficult move from the US to Europe and other acquaintances from Lithuania: interview:
– First of all, how are your days in Prienai now during the quarantine?
– Not bad. Of course, it is a completely different experience: I feel at home, I stay here with my family and so on. But I just try to focus on basketball, I try to stay physically and emotionally in good shape. So far things are going well. And I didn’t know much about Prienai and Lithuania, you probably understand why.
– Your legionary career began in Hungary. How does a 22-year-old American end up in a country where basketball is far from the most popular sport?
– I left the university looking for a place to continue my career. Hungary was one of the best deals at the time. Speaking to the agent, he said it would be nice to start his legionary career here. That team played in the European Cup, they played in the Adriatic League and even in the local championship, they were three different leagues in which I could test my strength. That experience was definitely not bad.
– And how was your adaptation in Europe? After all, it was probably not easy to drop everything?
– It was very, very difficult. I left a lot of people in the United States, I left almost everything there. But I had to choose. To be honest, I just had to gather my most necessary things and get out of the house. The hardest part was leaving, leaving the family. I haven’t seen the family in ten months; we never met during that period. When I was in college, I was away from home too, but it wasn’t that difficult because I was already home after a 6-7 hour trip with my family. Going abroad, to Europe, is something completely different. It’s more difficult, it’s more, it’s just different.
– And what did you know about this country before coming to Lithuania? Why did you decide to play here?
– In fact, I knew little. My agent said it’s a good league, it’s a place that will have a good impact on my career. All he knew was that it was a step forward. It is true that later I became interested in Lithuania and Prienai, it was not long before I discovered that the Ballai brothers were playing in Prienai. It was like a push for me, I thought if the brothers were playing here it probably wasn’t just for me.
– The season is already in full swing. What impression did you get of basketball right here?
– It’s a very strong league, I feel like I’m improving. The season is still gaining momentum, but I managed to see a lot; As a team we are going through a pretty wavy season, of course the whole coronavirus situation does not add stability. But overall, this is a good tournament, a good experience.
– And can you call the Betsafe-LKL championship the strongest you have ever played?
– Depends on how you look. In Hungary I played for a more experienced team, I competed in the European Cup, the Adriatic League. I only play here in the local championship, it is natural that that experience in Hungary was very important and gave me a lot, just in terms of understanding international basketball. But here in Lithuania, there really is something to compete with, there are a lot of good teams here. It all depends on the team you are on.
– Let’s remember your impressive shot to the Kaunas basket “Žalgiris”. You scored a total of 19 points against the champions, what does that show about you?
– I always trust myself. I don’t care what game I play against, I just try to give myself completely. If the opponent is stronger, then I want to play at his level. If it is weaker, I want to show what I can do better.
– Do you remember that match against “Žalgiris”, which ended with a defeat of 100: 103?
– It really is a very strong team. Playing against them you want to play against a strong Euroleague team. It feels good. We will play each other more than once, it is gratifying that you can gain so much experience here too. But the most important thing is to get victories. Without victories, there is basically nothing to enjoy, here is basketball, here we want to win.
– And how do you see your career in a few years? What would the dream come true?
– My dream is unequivocally the NBA. But if I fail, I dream of playing in the Euroleague. Or at least in the G League, at least have a chance there. I hope to be able to play abroad during my career, in countries like Italy or Spain. The most important thing is to progress, the most important thing is to improve and know that I can do even more.
– The most beautiful parties of the year are approaching. What would you like to wish for yourself and the team?
– I would like to spend more time with my family, I wish everyone health and victories to the team. And peace during the holidays themselves.
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