Sabonis talks about commitment to keep Lithuania among best teams in world / News - Basketnews.com

"A team like Lithuania has to be present in every single competition and has to compete against the best. All the time," Domantas Sabonis said.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

Kings big man Domantas Sabonis has changed Sacramento fans' mindset from doubters to believers this season, leading the team on a solid pace to end the longest playoff drought in the history of the NBA.

Domantas Sabonis

Team:Sacramento KingsPosition:PF, CAge:26Height:211 cmWeight:109 kgBirth place:Portland, United States of AmericaProfileNewsStatistics

Similarly, Lithuanian supporters expect that Sabonis and Jonas Valanciunas' duo will help interrupt an 8-year period without any medal on the international basketball stage.

Sabonis was part of the Lithuania side that finished as runners-up at EuroBasket in 2015, but he is yet to have a dominant tournament with the Lithuanian NT.

Sabonis and Valanciunas are the most recognizable players in the Lithuania team, yet other players have started coming into their own. Two that emerged as key men at the last major tournament -- FIBA EuroBasket 2022 -- were Rokas Jokubaitis and Ignas Brazdeikis.

"They have both done great things so far for the national team, and I know that the best has yet to come, that those guys, and many others, when given the opportunity, will do well and be impactful for the national team," Sabonis told official FIBA website.

"They learn fast and are ready for all the challenges and responsibilities that come in the national team."

It's not just talent and experience that national teams require. Successful sides also have good chemistry, both on and off the court. Sabonis says it's something that Lithuania has.

"We are all together, here to make a very solid and united group, and motivated to help every player and element of the team improve and be better and better year after year," he said.

As far as the 32-team World Cup goes, there was a noticeable sense of relief in the last window when Lithuania booked their place in the tournament.

"The competition is fierce, but we had to get our place at the FIBA World Cup," Sabonis said. "That was the one and only option. A team like Lithuania has to be present in every single competition and has to compete against the best. All the time.

Credit FIBA

Domantas Sabonis

MIN:34.54PTS:18.83 (65.82%)REB:12.29As:7.06ST:0.75BL:0.5TO:2.96GM:48ProfileNBA2022/2023

"It's important to be in every competition, to compete against the best of the world even more now as we see that the level of European basketball is very, very high, and so many teams can qualify for international tournaments. We are committed to keeping Lithuania among the best teams in the world."

Sacramento's two-time All-Star expects the World Cup that will be hosted in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

"It's going to be a fantastic tournament, I am sure about that. The fans will love to see the best players in the world, and I am sure that those three countries are really looking forward to the start of the tournament. Basketball is universal, and the love for the game is only going to get better and better as we move forward. All the ingredients are being put together to have a tremendous tournament."

For Lithuania to be among the top teams, everyone needs to be pulling in the same direction.

"We all fight for one," Sabonis said. "We all want to make our countrymen proud. It's an honor, and a huge source of pride for each of us to represent Lithuania, and every player that is called to be part of the team, with a lot of playing time, or not, feels the same way and wants to give his best for the national team jersey."

Like what we are doing? Support us by becoming BN+ member.