Lithuania may miss several EuroLeague players for World Cup / News - Basketnews.com

The potentially missing players accounted for 30% of all points in the last EuroBasket.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

Lithuania national team head coach Kazys Maksvytis will likely be without several important players in the FIBA World Cup 2023.

Marius Grigonis

Team:Panathinaikos AthensPosition:SGAge:29Height:198 cmWeight:93 kgBirth place:Kaunas, LithuaniaProfileNewsStatistics

"I will not reveal the list of candidates or names today, but I can only say that the team will be different. There will be losses from those players who participated in the last championship. I think it will be more difficult to build the team this year," Maksvytis said on Saturday, reviewing the FIBA World Cup 2023 draw.

According to BasketNews sources, major question marks hang over several EuroLeague players' names.

There is significant doubt about the commitments of Marius Grigonis, Rokas Giedraitis, and Lukas Lekavicius.

Additionally, Vilnius Rytas center Martynas Echodas' rehabilitation is expected to last until the World Cup, which means Lithuania will likely need a new reserve center behind Domantas Sabonis and Jonas Valanciunas.

The potentially missing players accounted for 30% of all points in the last EuroBasket.

Grigonis had the most significant impact, scoring an average of 14.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, and was second in the team in scoring and third in efficiency.

Lekavicius averaged 7.7 points and two assists per game, while Giedraitis and Echodas scored 3 and 1.4 points, respectively.

Per BasketNews sources, Edgaras Ulanovas, who declined the invitation to the national team last year due to health issues, may also not wear a Lithuania jersey this summer.

The national team staff is closely monitoring Domantas Sabonis' situation as well. The center, who finished the season with the Sacramento Kings, will soon find out whether his injured hand requires surgery, after which he would need several weeks of recovery.

In the upcoming FIBA World Cup, Lithuania will play in Group D and face Egypt, Montenegro, and Mexico.

In the second stage, in which the two strongest teams in each group will advance to the quarterfinals, Lithuania may potentially face the United States and Greece.

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