D’Angelo Russell-Lithuania: nothing done. Kurtinaitis and Kleiza back home-grown talent
Lithuania, no D’Angelo Russell: Coach Kurtinaitis and Linas Kleiza are against it, preferring to focus on their own talent pool.
Much has been said in recent days about the possibility of D’Angelo Russell playing for Lithuania. For the time being, however, the spark has not ignited between the parties, as Lithuania’s current coach Kurtinaitis and national team programme manager Linas Kleiza are not in favour. According to an official communiqué from the Lithuanian Basketball Federation (LKF), it is the will of the two to focus on the domestic talent pool, a path that has been endorsed by LKF president Mindaugas Balciunas. D’Angelo Russell would have been interested in playing for Lithuania at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, as his wife is Lithuanian.