Basketball In Lithuania by Mark Lotito https://padlet.com/marklotito231/6ua7b9l7ryybm2qv Made with whimsy en-us 2021-03-02 17:02:22 UTC 2021-03-04 06:28:26 UTC hello@padlet.com Early 1930's-Brought to Lithuania marklotito231 https://padlet.com/marklotito231/6ua7b9l7ryybm2qv/wish/1259553710 Basketball was brought to Lithuania in the early 1930's by a man named Pranas Lubinas, also know as Frank Lubin. Lubin was a Lithuanian Emigrant who returned home from the USA. He was 6'7 and played for UCLA. Most people who started playing this sport were athletes who were focusing on other sports and it was also only played outside. This caused it to be only a part-time recreational activity and could only be played in the summer, limiting the spread. Nonetheless, this sport came very peacefully and was found enjoyable.]]> 2021-03-02 17:13:50 UTC https://padlet.com/marklotito231/6ua7b9l7ryybm2qv/wish/1259553710 1934-Opening of KPCP marklotito231 https://padlet.com/marklotito231/6ua7b9l7ryybm2qv/wish/1259683044 The KPCP was the first place in Lithuania to open up a indoors basketball court, which completely changed the game giving people the opportunity to play no matter the weather. The KPCP originally was going to be made for Tennis, but ended up getting hoops put in it due to the rise of basketball.]]> 2021-03-02 17:35:18 UTC https://padlet.com/marklotito231/6ua7b9l7ryybm2qv/wish/1259683044 EuroBasket 1937 marklotito231 https://padlet.com/marklotito231/6ua7b9l7ryybm2qv/wish/1267388513 With Lubin as the coach, the Lithuanian basketball team won the EuroBasket, which was the biggest basketball tournament in all of Europe. Lubin claims to have taught his players "fast break, passing and defense.” This put them far ahead of everyone else, working as team better than all the others]]> 2021-03-04 05:43:47 UTC https://padlet.com/marklotito231/6ua7b9l7ryybm2qv/wish/1267388513 EuroBasket 1939 marklotito231 https://padlet.com/marklotito231/6ua7b9l7ryybm2qv/wish/1267397450 During this season, Lubin played and coached, being a huge help for the team. During this year Lithuania won the title once again, making this 2 championships in a row. This shows how embraced the sport became, the skill unmatched. This skill came from many many people playing, just putting the best of the best ahead. These 2 wins were the reason this sport blew up to the highest point, the popularity growing parabolically.]]> 2021-03-04 05:47:24 UTC https://padlet.com/marklotito231/6ua7b9l7ryybm2qv/wish/1267397450 1940-Soviet Union gets power over Lithuania marklotito231 https://padlet.com/marklotito231/6ua7b9l7ryybm2qv/wish/1267407961 With the start of WWII, the Soviet Union took control of Lithuania completely, which also destroyed the plan of hosting the European championship. The Lithuanian national team was fully removed from European geography. Despite these political events, basketball stayed present and strong.]]> 2021-03-04 05:51:26 UTC https://padlet.com/marklotito231/6ua7b9l7ryybm2qv/wish/1267407961 1980s-Soviet team marklotito231 https://padlet.com/marklotito231/6ua7b9l7ryybm2qv/wish/1267417230 Within this huge time period of soviet Union-Lithuania basketball, the Lithuania players ruled. More than half the players on the team would be from there, and they would always undoubtedly be the best. This Soviet team won two Olympics, three FIBA World Cups, and 13 EuroBasket gold medals.]]> 2021-03-04 05:54:57 UTC https://padlet.com/marklotito231/6ua7b9l7ryybm2qv/wish/1267417230 1990-Regaining Independence marklotito231 https://padlet.com/marklotito231/6ua7b9l7ryybm2qv/wish/1267445297 Finally, on March 11, 1990, Lithuania finally got their independence. After this, the national team went on to play in every single Olympic game, which only 3 other teams have done(one being the U.S.A). The best Lithuanian players went to play in the NBA, such as Šarūnas Marčiulionis and Arvydas Sabonis. Many of the players now play in the Western European League, where players could make just as much or even more than players in the NBA.]]> 2021-03-04 06:06:01 UTC https://padlet.com/marklotito231/6ua7b9l7ryybm2qv/wish/1267445297 2004 Olympics marklotito231 https://padlet.com/marklotito231/6ua7b9l7ryybm2qv/wish/1267468202 In Athens, Lithuania became the first team to defeat the US "dream team," which was one event that slowed down total American dominance in this sport.]]> 2021-03-04 06:14:31 UTC https://padlet.com/marklotito231/6ua7b9l7ryybm2qv/wish/1267468202 Current Lithuanian Basketball marklotito231 https://padlet.com/marklotito231/6ua7b9l7ryybm2qv/wish/1267475457 Overall, this team in the European league is still quite good, and a popular face seen there was Lamelo Ball who went to play their for college. He was then the #3 pick in to 2020 NBA draft.]]> 2021-03-04 06:17:07 UTC https://padlet.com/marklotito231/6ua7b9l7ryybm2qv/wish/1267475457 Bibliography marklotito231 https://padlet.com/marklotito231/6ua7b9l7ryybm2qv/wish/1267482033 1. “The American Who Made Lithuania a Basketball Powerhouse.” OZY, October 15, 2018. https://www.ozy.com/true-and-stories/the-american-who-made-lithuania-a-basketball-powerhouse/81711/. 


2. Asmonaitis, Kasparas. “Why Is Lithuania So Good at Basketball?” Culture Trip. The Culture Trip, January 29, 2017. https://theculturetrip.com/europe/lithuania/articles/why-is-lithuania-so-good-at-basketball/. 


3. “FIBA EuroBasket 2022.” FIBA.basketball. Accessed March 4, 2021. https://www.fiba.basketball/eurobasket/2022/news. 


4. Žemaitis, Augustinas. “Basketball in Lithuania " True Lithuania.” True Lithuania. Accessed March 4, 2021. http://www.truelithuania.com/basketball-in-lithuania-33. 


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