Brazdeikis talks about defending Luka Doncic and soft calls he receives / News - Basketnews.com

The debutant of the Lithuanian national team, Ignas Brazdeikis, is gaining experience in the first European Championship and trying to adapt to a different Old Continent's basketball.

Credit: Ž.Vingelis/LKF Credit Ž.Vingelis/LKF

Ignas Brazdeikis, who is debuting with the Lithuanian national team at EuroBasket 2022, is gaining experience in the first tournament of this level.

Ignas Brazdeikis

Team:Zalgiris KaunasPosition:SFAge:23Height:201 cmWeight:98 kgBirth place:Kaunas, LithuaniaProfileNewsStatistics

The Canadian-raised talent compared his first impressions to his memories of college basketball. Specifically, with a play in the knock-out NCAA Tournament – March Madness.

"It's definitely something new to me, this kind of game and environment," the 23-year-old told BasketNews. "It [EuroBasket] reminds me of March Madness a little bit, the whole setup being in one gym, a bunch of teams around.

I am just embracing every single moment. It's my first real experience playing at a tournament like this so I am embracing everything, just locking in and learning – that's the biggest thing right now."

Brazdeikis played NCAA basketball representing the University of Michigan. After a one-year stint there, he made a leap to the NBA.

Playing with the Lithuanian national team is a new stage in his life.

Brazdeikis made his first EuroBasket 2022 appearance against the reigning champion Slovenia, where he faced one of the brightest basketball stars in the world, Luka Doncic.

The Lithuanian swingman came off the bench and posted 8 points (2/5 2PT, 1/2 3PT, 1/2 FT), 4 rebounds, and 5 EFF in 15 playing minutes.

Lithuania lost a battle, 85-92, while Brazdeikis had to defend Luka Doncic and feel what it means to stop the Slovenian wunderkind.

"Definitely, some calls were questionable [against Doncic]. That's no doubt. You know superstar like that, he is gonna get that kind of calls so just gotta keep level-headed. You can't focus too much on that," Brazdeikis stressed.

What was the hardest part of defending Luka Doncic?

"I wouldn't say anything particular. He is a good basketball player but I don't praise anyone when I am on the court. It's just basketball," Brazdeikis responded to a question.

"I don't look at one particular person and think anything of it. I look at everyone as a blank thing so nothing, in particular."

All in all, the new Zalgiris Kaunas signing is still adapting to the European game.

"It's a different basketball game here [than in the NBA]. The biggest thing is the number of players you can have in the key. It's a much tighter space.

In the NBA, it's more free-flowing, I would say. This game is more tactical so you don't see as much freedom, but NBA players are going to do what NBA players do," Brazdeikis concluded.

Full interview:

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