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Photo: BNS
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In the fall of last year, it was 10 years since one of the most impressive victories in Lithuanian basketball: the bronze medal of the Men’s Basketball World Championship. He was beaten by a team of young basketball players who received a nominal invitation from FIBA, led by young coach Kęstutis Kemzūra and a young leader: the 203cm tall striker, Linas Kleiza.
It was with him that the magazine published by LKF recalled the impressive march of the Lithuanian men’s basketball team. We share an interview with Lina Kleiza, and the full version of the magazine can be found here.
Due to the difficult conditions of the quarantine, it was difficult to find a place for the conversation that he wanted to live. So Lin offered to meet at her house. Specifically, in the definitive construction of a summer house on the banks of the Neris. Lina’s face lit up with a smile as she sat down to chat and asked her first question in the spacious living room next to the already equipped gym.
“I remember well those 2010. Everyone remembers who was there. That summer was special, easy, so unexpected for everyone, and it ended well. We went to Turkey and we thought: that’s how it will be, we’ll play, “Kleiza told Basketball House magazine.
The workers who fit out the kitchen were hanging around, but the memories took him to Turkey. In it, in Izmir and Istanbul, a young team, many experts were not considered medalists, in 2010. From August 28 to October 12 they managed to win 8 of the 9 games and get on the podium with the Lithuanian tricolor.
“At that time, we were playing innovative basketball. We had no real centers. We had Rob (Javtok), but he was more in the center of the defensive plan, not where he was attacked. We play fast basketball. At that time, that type of basketball was not as popular as it is now. But when you go to those championships, it works well because you don’t play the entire season where you have a lot of time to prepare.
We had 9 games in Turkey and that’s it. It gave us a lot of freedom. And it all came to us. We were also successful, we hooked, then faith and victories appeared ”, recalled Kleiza, who became the most productive basketball player on the Lithuanian team and was chosen for the five symbolic of the championship.
Photo www.rinktine.lt
According to him, Coach Kemzūra’s determination gave him a lot before each match, even when watching the movie.
“But anyway there was a good atmosphere in our team. We weren’t tense. I can’t say how such an atmosphere came about. I think a lot of things came together. We were a very young team. I can’t say there was no seriousness, but I felt good. relaxed.
All generations are different and our generation was more relaxed, seeing things a little differently. There were all kinds of fun things, but it was so domestic bajeriaithat remain within the team. You could write a book about it. As a result, the team has always been a lot of fun. We were never short of imagination, ”said Kleiza.
According to him, Captain Robert Javtok also played a very important role, having performed his duties well.
“When it was necessary to encourage something, to focus, it was their responsibility. But we all contributed to that,” recalled Kleiza.
The Lithuanian national team began the championship with a group competition in Izmir, a western Turkish city of three million on the shores of the Aegean Sea. Despite Kirk Penney’s 37 points, the Lithuanians won the first match with New Zealand 92:79.
Kleiza played most productively for the Lithuanian team: 27 points. More difficult games followed.
After three quarters in a match with Canada, the Lithuanians were still chasing their opponents, but managed to snatch the victory 70:68. Kleiza not only scored the most points (18), but also fought the best for the Lithuanian team for bounced balls (10).
The match with the Spanish world champions was even more dramatic. After three quarters, Lithuania was still 11 points behind its rivals, but in the last quarter it started a real sauna and achieved an impressive 76:73 victory.
With two 6.6-second free throws to go, Kleiza is once again the most productive (17 points). Jonas Mačiulis and Martynas Pocius added 13 points each.
“Maybe at first we surprised our competitors with something. But later … After all, it’s Lithuania: do what you want, nothing will surprise you. We were always strong, maybe we weren’t favorites a couple of teams ago. But the History is history We caught a good wave at a good time.
We played all the preparation pretty well. And when we caught the wave with a couple of tough wins at the start of the championship, it was already hard to stop. I said, it’s not a championship, it’s two weeks. The most important thing is to get to the mat after a couple of games. We were able to do that, ”said Kleiza.
Later, Lithuania faced the French, who had won every match so far, 69:55 and became the group winners D. Mačiulis scored the most points for the Lithuanians: 19. Kleiza scored 15th.
During the last group match, Lebanon could not resist Lithuania, which was in full swing – 84:66 – Renaldas Seibutis was the most productive (17 points). In the eighth final in Istanbul, Kleizai fell by 30 points, China fell – 78:67.
The quarterfinals with Argentina were particularly impressive. From the first moments, the Lithuanian team swept away the titled rivals 104: 85, which did not allow them to doubt their advantage. After three quarters, the Lithuanian lead reached 32 points, and the Argentine stars sat on a bench with their heads crossed.
Next up are the semi-finals and the United States with Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, Andre Iguodala, Stephen Curry, Eric Gordon and other NBA basketball players.
“It was difficult to play against the Americans. They knew me. I stepped on a pedal, then another. We couldn’t surprise them anymore, they played even faster than us. Well they excluded me from the game. I didn’t really forgive the Serbs, but the Americans just rejected me, “Kleiza told the basketball house magazine, scoring 4 points.
Lithuania lost the semifinal 74:89. The Lithuanians did not stop Durant, who scored 38 points.
“Whenever you play against such a team, you try to control the game, not make mistakes, not let them run in a quick attack, because they really like to do it.” So that plan was bungled by Kevin Durant. He played space basketball. Do what you want against him: He threw and threw those triples. The game was quite tense. But it was not possible to stop Durant at that time, ”Kleiza recalled.
In the small final, the Lithuanians faced the Serbs, descendants of the Turks. Kleiza was unstoppable: he scored 33 points. Lithuania won 99:88 and for the first time in history won the planet’s championship bronze medals.
“It just came to our attention then. I like to celebrate. There is a moment when you work, there is a moment when you win and you need to celebrate that victory. It was fun, impressive, there was a lot of celebration. We were at a club in Turkey, celebrating with the Serbs, because Milos Theodosic was my roommate a year earlier. The celebration continued in Lithuania, only here I had to fly to Toronto a week later. It was fun, a lot of fun, “said Kleiza.
The leader of the Lithuanian team competed in the championship more than 31 minutes per game, the average of points was 19, rebounds – 7.1, assists – 1.4.
“I felt good. Clearly, I was tired after the championship, after the injuries. I arrived after a good season at Olympiacos, I was pretty good. Somehow everything continued, I did not force myself,” said Kleiza.
He arrived in Turkey already with a contract with the Toronto Raptors.
“It just came to our notice then. I still had a contract with Olympiacos, but I rescinded it because the NBA cared more, I wanted to prove myself there,” Kleiza said.
However, he had already proven his worth in the NBA. And for that, he is grateful for an unexpected event: a fight. In the strongest basketball league in the world, the Lithuanian was disbanded when his friend and Denver Nuggets team leader Carmelo Anthony was suspended for fights in 15 games. Kleiza still remembers this episode very well.
“It just came to our notice then. It was my second year in the NBA. It didn’t give me much play. There was no match. I remember coming to New York with Yamal Crawford. Coach George Karl let me go, saying go go go Crawford. It’s coming – Bam Bam back, Cross, trajakas “I’m sitting on the bench again,” Kleiza recalled.
And then there is the memorable event in New York. At the end of the game, after the unsportsmanlike foul by Knicks defender Mardy Collins against Nuggets basketball player JR Smith, there were big fights that even moved to the stands. 10 players were removed from the field. And it was only through her hair that Kleiza didn’t end there.
“Karl was angry about something about New York coach Isiah Thomas. We won a lot, stay a couple of minutes. However, our coach does not take Carmelo out of the game. The fight for that happened. Karl lets me into the square. I go to the secretary and the fight starts. If you enter the court during a fight, you will be automatically disqualified for a fight.
This is what I saw from the side. There it hit, hit. Carmelo suspended for 15 games, there was no one to play, I had a long time left. It helped me a lot. If it wasn’t for that incident, I don’t know what it would have been like. After those games, I played a lot, I played. It’s good that he didn’t go to that square, ”said Kleiza.
He then played for the Raptors for another three seasons, then moved to Europe, where he played for Fenerbahche in Istanbul and Olympia in Milan. In 2013, he became the runner-up in Europe with the Lithuanian national team.
“It just came to our knowledge then. I watch a lot of basketball, I analyze. Euroleague, European Cup, Champions League – it’s clear that this is the lowest level European basketball so far. LKL is interesting too,” said Kleiza.
For the past few years, he has not only watched basketball, but has also been one of the co-owners and sports director of the Vilnius Rytas Club. However, Kleiza left the club and basketball. How long?
“It just came to our knowledge then. Basketball will always be in my life. You never know how someone will become. I don’t see myself anywhere in basketball right now. But now I have the opportunity to see a lot of basketball, the opportunity to go out. from the situation when I was on the same team and I cared more about their things. This is a good time, “said Kleiza.
The 35-year-old is still full of strength and a desire to move. What did basketball change for him?
“I really need to move. I like to lift weights, I like to play tennis, although my wife plays better than me. But I have nothing to get hooked on. There is a love in life, it is more difficult to do something ”, explained Kleiza, inviting her to the gym, who has a t-shirt on the walls of all the teams in which she competed.
Among them is the eleventh green jersey of the Lithuanian team for the 2010 World Cup.
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