SEVILLE, Spain: Lithuania’s NBA stars Donatas Motiejunas and Jonas Valanciunas have been working magic for the national team at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
The duo led the Baltic state to a first place finish in Group D with a 4-1 record and a last 16 showdown with New Zealand today.
Motiejunas is Lithuania’s second-leading scorer at 10.4 points per game and is second in rebounding at 3.8 rebounds per a game, making him one of Lithuania’s most consistent players at just 23 years of age.
“It depends on my team-mates, I rely on them. I play the game and try to score some points,” said Motiejunas, who plays with the Houston Rockets in the NBA.
Motiejunas has been starting games with a player he grew up competing against -- 22-year-old Toronto Raptors center Valanciunas.
In Spain, Motiejunas is starting at power forward and Valanciunas at center for the first time together in the national team.
And their chemistry continues to improve game by game.
When asked about how the young duo are growing together on the court, Motiejunas said: “It’s basketball. Smart basketball players pass the ball. We share the ball with one another and we play for each other.”
The emergence of Motiejunas has started to change the Lithuanian team.
With Motiejunas and Valanciunas starting games, a new generation of players is beginning to have a bigger impact on the national side.
The team is starting to come together and Motiejunas continues to feel more comfortable as his game improves.
“We are a good group of guys. We are fighting for each other. We are young and inexperienced a little bit but we will keep on fighting and that is the key to a win.”
Motiejunas and Valanciunas are not the only young players getting a chance for Lithuania.
“It’s a great experience and I think it’s the biggest chance they will ever get in their lives. I mean, if they will not take it now, there might not be another one. If you don’t take your chance, you might never have it again,” he said.
AFP
