Jonas Valančiūnas has broken his silence on the difficult situation surrounding Lithuanian basketball. In an extensive interview with BasketNews, the veteran center discussed the national team’s struggles in the World Cup qualifiers, the divisions surrounding the program and the need for those in charge to take responsibility.
“If we see that things are not working and there is some kind of obstacle, maybe we need to make some changes? Instead of saying everything is fine and everything will be fine. Maybe there needs to be some initiative,” Valančiūnas said.
Valančiūnas: “We need unity”
The 34-year-old, Lithuania’s all-time leading scorer and a player who did not miss a single official FIBA tournament with the national team between 2007 and 2024, stressed the importance of unity.
“I think we need unity, and decisions have to be made by the people who are in charge,” he said.
Valančiūnas also responded to criticism aimed at players who have not joined the national team, with some questioning their commitment to Lithuania.
“Responsibility falls on everyone. Those who are involved, those who have been involved and those who make the decisions. I’m not saying it’s only the coach or the management’s fault. We all could have done something better.”
According to Valančiūnas, however, the issue goes beyond individual results.
“Everyone needs to look at themselves. That is not happening now. Some say the players didn’t do something, the players say the coach didn’t do something. And we keep pushing the responsibility onto each other.”
Valančiūnas questions Mindaugas Balčiūnas
The veteran center then addressed Mindaugas Balčiūnas, president of Lietuvos krepšinis, with a direct question.
“If we are not patriots because we didn’t come, then I have a question for Mindaugas: why doesn’t he resign?”
Valančiūnas later clarified that he was not directly calling for Balčiūnas to step down, but was questioning the situation surrounding the Lithuanian basketball leadership.
“I’m not asking him to leave. I’m just thinking out loud. If we are not patriots because we didn’t come, then where is the patriotism from his side if that would help Lithuanian basketball? Then maybe none of us are patriots?”
“People are too attached to their positions”
Valančiūnas also criticized the way the crisis is being handled and communicated publicly.
“It’s strange to me that people are so attached to their positions, even though they can see that Lithuanian basketball is going downhill.”
He believes those involved should stop communicating through the media and instead sit down and address their problems directly.
“The worst thing is that now everyone is communicating through the media. We are grown adults — let’s meet and talk. Let’s talk things through.”
Organizational issues surrounding the national team
Valančiūnas also explained his decision not to join Lithuania for the current World Cup qualifying window.
He said several factors played a role, including major changes in his personal life and the beginning of a new season, but also pointed to organizational issues surrounding the national team.
“This is not about hotels or buses. We can sleep in a worse hotel, that’s not a problem. But sometimes there is basic humanity — a schedule.”
The center stressed that players need to know their schedules in advance, particularly during the summer, when many of them want to spend time with their families.
“The schedule changes, doesn’t change. There is uncertainty, constant changes. The buses are good, the charter flights are good, everything is fine. But when the schedule changes 15 minutes beforehand, when you are almost already walking out the door, it feels strange.”
“I never encouraged anyone to boycott the national team”
Valančiūnas also rejected the idea that the players’ absences were the result of an organized boycott.
“Come on, let’s not joke. Are we going to boycott and not come just to prove something to someone?”
According to the Lithuanian center, every player has his own reasons.
“For one it might be the way we play, for another the schedule, for another communication, and for another injuries. For someone else it might be a new beginning or a new team.”
He also made it clear that he never encouraged anyone to refuse a national team call-up.
“I have my own reasons for not coming. But I did not encourage any player not to come. I did not encourage anyone to forget Lithuania. I have always been in favor of all of us playing.”
Valančiūnas on Rimas Kurtinaitis
Valančiūnas also addressed his relationship with Lithuania head coach Rimas Kurtinaitis, while avoiding placing the blame solely on him.
“My relationship with Rimas is good. Yes, maybe we disagree on some things, maybe we see some things differently. But he is the coach and he makes the basketball decisions.”
The center insisted that this is not the time to look for a single person to blame.
“Nobody wants to lose and be in this situation. We don’t want Lithuanian basketball to disappear. But we are going somewhere in the wrong direction.”
“Everything starts from the top”
Asked who should lead Lithuanian basketball out of the current crisis, Valančiūnas called for unity and possible changes.
“If we see that things are not working and there is some kind of obstacle, maybe we need to make some changes? Instead of saying everything is fine and everything will be fine. Maybe there needs to be some initiative?”
Asked whether that meant a change of head coach or association president, Valančiūnas replied:
“If someone had an answer and that answer would lead to success, I think it would be accepted. But something is not working.”
For Valančiūnas, the current crisis is about much more than the national team’s results.
“This is no longer about the result, but about the image and reputation of Lithuanian basketball as a whole. About the division within Lithuanian basketball. To me, this is a scandal.”
He concluded by once again calling on everyone involved to take a hard look at their own actions:
“Everyone needs to look at what we have done to make things better. Many people have done nothing. That is the worst part.”
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