Rimas Kurtinaitis reveals story of how he wanted to recruit Steph Curry / News - Basketnews.com

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Recently, former Khimki Moscow Region and Rytas Vilnius head coach Rimas Kurtinaitis began a new chapter in his coaching career, signing withthe newly established Lithuanian club BC Wolves Vilnius.

Stephen Curry

MIN:34.67PTS:26.02 (53.62%)REB:5.22As:6.2ST:1.29BL:0.35TO:3.08GM:85ProfileNBA2021/2022

The ambitious basketball project is preparing for its inaugural season as a club and will compete in the Lithuanian Basketball league in the upcoming campaign.

The Vilnius-based team also tried to get an invitation to the 7DAYS EuroCup and FIBA Champions League but eventually got accepted into the FIBA Europe Cup tournament.

"I know Jordi Bertomeu personally, I have communicated with him a lot. I know how difficult it is to get a place in such a tournament as EuroCup," Kurtinatis told BasketNews in an interview.

"I remember when I coached Khimki and the club wanted to get a three-year license in the EuroLeague because we had great sponsors and financial stability, but still we were not given such a privilege. EuroLeague is very strict about such things. And now a new club comes and asks for a place in the EuroCup... We need to gain the trust, show something, and then we can talk about a place," the 62-year-old continued.

"As far as I know, our team was still close to the EuroCup. As for the FIBA ​​Champions League, I don't know how things are going there, but obviously, we didn't get a spot either. Well, the qualification for the FIBA Europe Cup remains. I don't know if it's good or bad to play in this competition.

Perhaps it also provides a bit of international experience. It is what it is, no one gets the EuroLeague right away. We should be seen more clearly next year, we will ask for the EuroCup again. Now, getting a place was very difficult.

I myself did not think that a new club could be immediately accepted into such a tournament. There was an extra case that didn't happen," the Lithuanian basketball legend concluded the case of an international club competition.

3-pointers this season

37%14,2Points made:14,2Accuracy:36,6%Place in standings:2Record max:22Record min:5Most made 3FGs:Stephen CurryTeamNBAStatisticsSchedule

During the interview, Rimas Kurtinaitis also stressed BC Wolves' vision and talked about the potential signings. In relation to the latter theme, he was asked if there was a particular player he really wanted, but couldn't get.

"There has never been one. Now, there's one we really want, but he's playing in the NBA Summer League. I have a bunch of players on my list, but the body I want plays in the NBA," the coach said with a smile on his face.

"In 2007, I started working with Anwil Wroclaw and was looking for a point guard. I remember watching the NCAA playoffs in the summer. I was scouting one player, but my eye suddenly fell on another. He handled the ball well, he could create and the shot was perfect.

I wanted to take a playmaker from Davidson University with me to Poland, but I couldn't take my eyes off that other guard. I said to the agent, 'I don't need this sharpshooter, I need that one.'

He laughs at me and says, 'Don't joke around, he'll be the first pick in the next year's NBA draft.' It was Stephen Curry. I wanted Curry (laughs). So I have an eye on good players (laughs)," Kurtinaitis finished the story.

Agent's words did not come to fruition. Steph Curry was selected with the 7th overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors but his career excelled to the absolute top.

The NBA's most deadly 3-point shooter has four NBA rings, two regular-season MVPs, two scoring titles, one Finals MVP, an All-Star Game MVP, four first-team All-NBA selections, and eight All-Star presence.

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