Lithuanian stars pay tribute to retiring Lavrinovic brothers in showcase game / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: BNS Credit BNS

The 42-year-olds Darjus and Ksistof Lavrinovic played the last game of their careers in the Avia Solutions Group arena in Vilnius.

Kšištof Lavrinovič

Position:PF, CAge:42Height:210 cmWeight:107 kgBirth place:Vilnius, LithuaniaProfileNewsStatistics

Team Darjus dominated the showcase game against Team Ksistof, winning the match by a 20-point margin, 112-92(26-25, 35-22, 27-17, 22-28).

In this friendly match, the brothers were joined by Lithuanian basketball legends and retired athletes like Ramunas Siskauskas, Linas Kleiza, Saulius Stombergas, Darius Songaila, Arvydas Macijauskas, Robertas Javtokas, Renaldas Seibutis, Paulius Jankunas, and others.

Active players such as Jonas Valanciunas, Mindaugas Kuzminskas, Arturas Gudaitis, and Mantas Kalnietis appeared on the court as well.

More basketball greats spectated the match: Arvydas Sabonis, Rimas Kurtinaitis, Ramunas Butautas, and the Lithuanian national team head coach Kazys Maksvytis.

Credit BNS Credit BNS Credit BNS Team Darjus: Mindaugas Kuzminskas 22 (6/6 2PT, 2/6 3PT, 4/5 FT), Jonas Valanciunas 16, Darjus Lavrinovic 16, Tomas Delininkaitis 14 (3/8 3PT, 5 REB), Giedrius Gustas 11, Titas Lavrinovic 9, Renaldas Seibutis 7. Team Ksistof: Arvydas Macijauskas 17 (2/5 2PT, 4/9 3PT, 1/2 FT, 4 REB, 8 AST), Ksistof Lavrinovic 16, Dominikas Lavrinovic 14, Simas Jasaitis 14, Jonas Maciulis 10. Credit BNS

About brothers:

Born in Vilnius in 1979, they both kicked off their career at Alita Alytus in 1996, before going on separate ways.

Ksistof went on to become a two-time All-EuroLeague Team selection in 2008 and 2011 with now-defunct Montespaschi Siena.

He made two Final Fours (Madrid, Barcelona) in both seasons and also played for the Ural, Dynamo Moscow, UNICS Kazan in Russia, Valencia in Spain (where he won the EuroCup in 2014), Pallacanestro Reggiana in Italy, and, of course, Zalgiris Kaunas from 2012 through 2014 and also Lietuvos Rytas for the two years to follow.

Darjus Lavrinovic blossomed in the 2005-06 season with Zalgiris Kaunas, as he earned an All-EuroLeague Second Team selection. He was a rebounding monster that year, claiming the league rebounding crown in both the LKL and the Baltic League, averaging 9.8 rebounds per game in each competition.

He joined Real Madrid in 2009 and Fenerbahce in 2010 before signing a two-year contract with CSKA Moscow in 2011. He also played with Budivelnyk Kyiv in Ukraine and Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia in Italy.

From 2016 onwards, the two brothers had always been on the same team: Lietkabelis (2016-18), Prienai (2018-19), London City Royals (2019-20), and, finally, Vytis.

The two brothers, who both played at the center position for most of their careers, had been regular Lithuanian national basketball team members. Together they won the bronze medal at the EuroBasket 2007 and the silver medal at the EuroBasket 2013.

Ksistof had made his debut on the international stage earlier, which gave him the chance to win gold at the 2003 EuroBasket.

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