Karnishov, who shared his memories of the Atlanta Olympics, about his impressive preparations and Lithuanian songs on the train / News

Photo: FIBA

FIBA photo

A quarter of a century ago, the Lithuanian men’s basketball team won the Olympic bronze for the second time in a row. These were the last Olympic Games in which the legendary generation of Lithuanian basketball played with Olympic champions Arvydas Sabonis, Šarūnas Marčiulionis and Rimas Kurtinaitis. Artūras Karnišovas, who photographed the American stars from the bench four years ago in Barcelona, ​​played one of the leading violins and remains the most productive player on the Lithuanian team, scoring 1,453 points in 1992-1999.

Shortly after celebrating his 50th birthday, a Vilnius resident (true, born in Klaipeda), the son of legendary Vilnius Construction basketball player Mykolas Karnišovas, traveled to his second Olympics when he was 25 years old. The former USSR’s first basketball player, the NCAA, runner-up in Europe, was also recognized as the best European basketball player in 1996. Vladas Garastas, a long-time coach of the Lithuanian basketball team, chose him later to the symbolic national team of the century.

These days Artūras is very busy with the Chicago Bulls, but he responded to Basketball House’s questions via email very willingly and quickly. The questions also revived her memories of the Atlanta Olympics.

“I don’t remember the Olympics that often, but the memories are very good. Sometimes when I go to Atlanta and pass through the city, I stop near an old Olympic village. Then I remember it,” Karnishov said.

Awesome preparation

According to Karnishov, the Lithuanian team, which won its first bronze medal in Barcelona four years ago, traveled to the Atlantic thinking about medals.

“The preparation and control game was in America. We had time to prepare. We were in good shape even before the first match with Croatia, “said Karnishov.

According to him, conditions in 1996 were better than in 1992.

“In 1992, in addition to the preparation cycle, we had to beat the qualifiers and play 11 games just to get to Barcelona. In 1996, we already knew that Atlanta was waiting for us and the preparations were very neat and orderly, ”Karnishov said.

However, knowing that the place in Atlanta was guaranteed, the leaders of the Lithuanian team took the opportunity to test the basketball players entering the national team and organized an impressive round of preparation.

The team started preparations for Atlanta in May in Australia (in addition to Karnishov, Sabonis, Marčiulionis). For the Australian team, which later broke during the small Atlanta final, the Lithuanians lost five times 65:92 (32:45), 55:82 (24:40), 83: 100 (39:57), 74: 88 (35:45) and 83:85 (38:52). In Germany, after joining Sabonis, a newcomer to the Portland Trail Blazers, Lithuania defeated Germany 84:77 (42:38), Yugoslavia 76:70 (42:39), but lost to Greece 57:77 (30 : 42).

After that, the escorts to the Olympics were held in Vilnius, where the Lithuanian team crushed the Ukrainians 109: 62 (59:41).

The road of preparation later led to the United States. In July 1996, the Lithuanians in Chicago landed in Croatia 65:69 (35:34), a few days later in Los Angeles – Brazil 80:84 (34:45), and later, again in Chicago, they defeated Greece 85 : 83 (42:48).

“I don’t even remember how long we spent flying around the United States, but there was enough preparation,” Karnishov said.

Atlanta

In the Atlanta Century (the Olympic Games were held here 100 years after the first modern Olympic Games – ed.), The Lithuanian national team together with other members of the Olympic delegation of our country settled in the second half of July in the Olympic Park.

“The town was beautiful, with many high-rise houses / dormitories where the Olympians lived. We had to take little trains to the canteen and the bus. It’s true that I thought more about the games and how to win them than the environment, “Karnishov said.

FIBA photo

The Lithuanian team started the Olympic tournament with an impressive duel with the Croats. The match, which required two overtime periods, ended with a victory for Lithuania 83:81 (37:31, 29:35, 6: 6, 11: 9). Kurtinaitis scored the last 9 points. The most productive was Sabonis (20 points, 14 rebounds), who finished earlier with 5 fouls. Second in terms of performance: Karnishov (16 points, 10/15 free throws, 6 rebounds, 4 assists), third, also Marčiulionis, who was fouled earlier (14 points). Karnishov himself did not finish the match due to injury.

As a result, the Lithuanian national team forward also missed the match with Argentina, which Lithuania lost 61:65 (25:31). Sabonis scored 30 points and bounced 11 balls.

“In the first game with Croatia, during extra time, I twisted my ankle hard and landed on Dino Radja’s leg. My foot looked like a balloon. But I wanted to go back as soon as possible, I only missed one game and went back to the game with America. That’s what I said: I can’t miss a game like that and I forgot all the pain, “Karnishov said.

In the third group game against Lithuania, the USA team comprised only of NBA stars: David Robinson, Reggie Miller, Scottie Pippen, Charles Barkley, Mitch Richmind, Shaquille O’Neal, Anferenee Hardaway, Karl Malone, Grant Hill , Gary Payton, Hakeem O, and John Stockton. Karnishov, who was not invited to the NBA, was one of the most productive basketball players on the field: he scored 15 points (like Darius Lukminas), bounced 7 balls (like Gintaras Einikis). Solo Barkley – 16 scored more points.

“I had just finished the Spanish championship and I joined the national team very early. He had not lost his shape and was very confident. Playing my favorite basketball for the national team was fun for me and I never ran away from it. It was fun getting ready and playing together with that group of men, “Karnishov recalled.

After a day of rest, Lithuania simply ate Angola: 85:49 (37:21). Karnishov was the most productive participant of the match, scoring 20 points. Later, China, which did not yet have Yao Ming, also fell – 116: 55 (53:23). During those matches, 8 Lithuanian basketball players scored double-digit points (mostly – 17 – Kurtinaitis). Karnišovas was again the leader among Lithuanian pitches in the penalty category: he posted 8 out of 9 and scored 12 points.

The Greeks were hoping for second place in the group in the Lithuanians’ quarterfinals. Only their hopes were trampled 99:66 (45:19) by Lithuanian basketball players. The most productive among the Lithuanians was Marčiulionis (16 points, 7 assists). Karnishov and Sabonis added 15 points each.

Yugoslav basketball players (some countries, including the US, called it Serbia and Montenegro then, but they officially came into force in 2003) made their way to the Lithuanians in the semi-finals. A year ago, they had beaten the Lithuanian team in the scandalous final of the European Championship 96:90. So now the Lithuanians wanted to retaliate. Only the rematch failed, despite the fact that Lithuania had beaten Yugoslavia during the preparations. The Lithuanians lost 58:66 (31:35). The surprising Yugoslav duo Predrag Danilovičius and Aleksandras Džordževičius together scored more than half of their team’s points (19 and 16, respectively). Lithuania was driven by Kurtinaitis (38 minutes, 22 points) and Sabonis (40 minutes, 14 points). Karnishov added 8 points. Only 7 Lithuanians appeared in the square.

“It is a very painful defeat. The fight against the Serbs is always based on principles and there is no lack of motivation. However, we couldn’t beat them that day, “Karnishov said.

Like four years ago in Barcelona, ​​the Lithuanian team lost the opportunity to play in the Olympic final, where they could face the American team that beat Australia by 101: 73. In the small final, the Lithuanians waited for the Australians , against whom the Lithuanian team had lost five times during preparations.

“I always remember the bronze match, because victory brings a lot of joy. You remember how much you sweated in preparation for the competition and the match, and the culmination is exactly that match for the medal. All the men were in a good mood before the game and we were able to snatch the victory over the Australians, ”said Karnishov.

Lithuania beat Australia 80:74 (36:34).

“I remember Sabas was on his wings and he played a very good game. “All the men were in a good mood and wanted to make amends after the defeat of the Serbs,” Karnishov said.

Sabonis was truly unstoppable. In 40 minutes, he scored 30 points, hit 3 of 4 triples and bounced 13 balls. Karnishov scored 21 points (3/6 triples, 4/5 penalty), Marčiulionis – 16 points (9 assists).

After the victory

“We returned to the Olympic Campus and the celebration began. We were meeting and, I remember, we took the train singing Lithuanian songs. It was fun, “Karnishov recalled.

But he could not celebrate the victory for long.

“It just came to our notice then. The preparations for the new season started early and last season was very long. After those summers, my form was always good at the beginning of the season. But in January the fatigue sets in and it seems to have there was little of that free time. However, those moments and victories in the Lithuanian team were worth it. I loved that style of basketball and it was a great honor to play for Lithuania, “said Karnišovas.

At the end of 1996, he was voted the best European basketball player. This year, the legendary coach Garastas, who was asked to list the symbolic Lithuanian national team of all time, was the first to mention Karnišov in the attacking position.