Kaunas: The Ultimate Mecca of European Basketball

In my research on sports ecosystems, analyzing cities and their influence will be one of the key focuses. And so it happens that recently, as of early November (2024), my hometown Kaunas and its main team, Žalgiris Kaunas, caught the basketball world’s attention with the signing of Lonnie Walker IV—a talented NBA player who chose to join the Euroleague to refine his skills and work toward securing another NBA contract.

This feels like the perfect moment to spotlight my hometown, Kaunas—a city with one of the most storied basketball legacies in the world. The numbers say it all: Kaunas ranks among the top 10 cities globally (including the U.S.) in producing NBA players per 100,000 people and boasts two Hall of Famers. It stands as one of Europe’s premier basketball cities, with Žalgiris Kaunas as one of the few teams that have participated in every single season of the modern Euroleague.

So, let’s dive in!

Kaunas Sports Hall and Winning European Championships in the 30s

Let’s start off at the beginning as there are already some interesting connections and stories.

In 1919, Lithuanian women athletes began organizing, and by 1920-1921, they were playing basketball publicly. This early female involvement delayed the sport’s widespread popularity, as basketball was initially viewed as a women’s game.

In 1922, Karolis Dineika published Krepšiasvydis vyrams (Basketball for Men), and in 1926, pilot and Lithuanian hero Steponas Darius—later famed for his transatlantic flight and tragic death during this flight—introduced the first basketball rules in Lithuania (MARKUCKYTĖ & PILKAUSKAS, n.d.).

In 1935 basketball in Kaunas took off. Lithuania promoted a World Lithuanian Congress in Kaunas, inviting ethnic Lithuanians worldwide to celebrate their culture, with a basketball team from Chicago participating prominently. Lithuanian Americans like Basketball Hall-of-Famer Moose Krause, his brother Phil, and others played pivotal roles, with some staying behind to teach basketball, sparking local interest in the sport.

Lithuania joined FIBA in 1936, aiming for EuroBasket 1937 in Riga.

Frank Lubin, an Olympic gold medalist, who was also a captain of the first US Olympic basketball team, of Lithuanian heritage, visited to coach, helping Lithuania secure its first win over Latvia. Despite limited training resources and skepticism from rivals, the Lithuanian team triumphed, claiming the EuroBasket 1937 title, with Pranas Talzūnas named MVP, and Lithuania celebrated with a nationwide outpouring of pride.

This victory ignited basketball enthusiasm across the nation, and by 1939, Lithuania hosted EuroBasket in Kaunas’ new Sports Hall, where Lithuanian Americans again helped secure a second European title, highlighted by Lubin’s game-winning buzzer-beater against Latvia. Their success led to widespread celebration, further establishing basketball as a national passion in Lithuania. Unfortunately, World War II led to Lithuania’s occupation by the USSR, putting a pause on Lithuania’s independent basketball achievements. However, Lithuanian players remained prominent, serving as key contributors on the Soviet teams that won Olympic gold in 1972 and 1988.

Kaunas Sports Hall was Europe’s first indoor arena built exclusively for basketball, serving as the home court for Žalgiris Kaunas until 2011. In that year, Kaunas unveiled Žalgirio Arena, now celebrated as one of Europe’s premier basketball venues. It has hosted major events such as the EuroBasket 2011 Final Stage, the EuroLeague Final Four, the 2024 European Figure Skating Championships, and concerts by stars like Dua Lipa, Robbie Williams, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, among many others.

Žalgiris Kaunas: Symbol of Lithuania’s Independence and Glory

For me personally, Žalgiris is much more than just a team. Together with my dad, I’ve been going to Žalgiris Euroleague games, and we’ve been season-ticket holders since the 2001-2002 season. This year, I started bringing my 3-year-old son to the games with me.

That’s just my story, but Žalgiris holds deep meaning for our whole nation, primarily due to its legendary rivalry with CSKA Moscow in the 1980s. While CSKA was seen as a symbol of the Russian army, Žalgiris represented Lithuania and its struggle for independence. With players like Valdemaras Chomičius, Rimas Kurtinaitis, and a young Arvydas Sabonis—who joined the team in 1981—Žalgiris captured three consecutive Soviet National League championships from 1985 to 1987, consistently defeating powerhouse CSKA Moscow.

Though they came just short of a Euroleague title in that era, Žalgiris won the FIBA International Cup and was declared the strongest basketball team in the world.

In 1989, as the Iron Curtain lifted, key players, including Sabonis and Kurtinaitis, left Žalgiris for international opportunities, marking the end of an era but solidifying Žalgiris’ legacy as a powerhouse in European basketball.

In independent Lithuania, Žalgiris has become the top team in the country, winning 24 out of 31 national titles and securing the Saporta Cup in 1998 under the leadership of legendary U.S. player Ennis Whatley, followed by a Euroleague championship in 1999.

Alongside recent NBA talent like Lonnie Walker IV, Žalgiris has featured notable players such as Ennis Whatley, Anthony Bowie, Tyus Edney, Marcus Brown, Kenny Anderson, Ty Lawson, Sonny Weems, North Carolina legend Ed Cota, and many more.

Kaunas in NBA

Since 1990 NBA has seen 8 players that have been born in Kaunas. In the context of the whole world and given the size of the city – Kaunas ranks as 6th city in the world with NBA players produced per 100,000 inhabitants.

TBH, all three European cities’ results are really spectacular, and though Mostar, which surprised me like hell, doesn’t have as rich a basketball history as Kaunas, the other city—Split—definitely has and that’s a great story for another time.

Cities with most NBA players per 100,000

NBA players born in Kaunas

Out of these 8 players, two are hall-of-famers, one is a legend of it’s club and others have had some notable stints in the NBA. Let’s look at each of them and discuss those with the biggest influence.

• Šarūnas Marčiulionis – a basketball hall-of-famer, his most notable part of the career was with the Golden State Warriors, where he played during the 1989-1994 seasons and was a part of Run TMC. He’s considered the inventor of the euro-step, and together with Dražen Petrović, was one of the main players who opened the NBA’s doors to European players.
• Arvydas Sabonis – another basketball hall-of-famer, true sports icon, considered the GOAT in Lithuania and one of the biggest what-ifs in NBA history. Despite being drafted in 1986, he only came to play for the Portland Trail Blazers when he was already 31 and had several Achilles’ tendon injuries, along with many others. With all odds against him, he was one of the main players on the legendary Trail Blazers team, which was one quarter away from winning against the Lakers to become NBA champions. His promise was to end his career in Žalgiris, and boy did he keep his promise—becoming the MVP of the Euroleague’s regular season at the age of 39.
• Žydrūnas Ilgauskas – Big Z is a Cleveland Cavaliers legend, a much-needed veteran presence on LeBron’s Cavs, a two-time All-Star, and has his No. 11 retired by the Cavs. Ilgauskas is the Cavaliers’ career leader in blocked shots.
• Šarūnas Jasikevičius – Euroleague’s golden boy had achieved everything in Euroleague when he entered the NBA after famously defeating the USA team in the 2004 Olympics. Unfortunately, when deciding which team to pick, he probably chose wrong. Now he is already considered one of the best coaches in Europe.
• Linas Kleiza – his best seasons came while playing with the iconic Nuggets team, which had Carmelo Anthony, J.R. Smith, and Allen Iverson. Linas had his role there, and he held the Lithuanian record for most points in an NBA game, with 41, which he scored on January 17, 2008, the record was broken only after 14 years on January 8, 2022, when Domantas Sabonis scored 42 points.
• Donatas Motiejūnas – he had an amazing run with the Houston Rockets, where he played alongside James Harden and at that point was considered one of the most skillful bigs in the league. In his best season, he averaged 12 points, but injuries were a factor throughout his career and didn’t allow him to reach the level he was supposed to.
• Ignas Brazdeikis – born in Kaunas, but his parents left for Canada when he was 2 years old. Despite that, his childhood was full of Žalgiris merchandise, and his Kaunas roots were kept strong. Now he’s playing his second season with Žalgiris.
• Martynas Andriuškevičius – in Lithuania, he’s considered an example of leaving for the NBA too soon, as he was an extremely promising prospect and was even featured in SLAM magazine, which really surprised me as a kid (yeah, I was subscribing to SLAM as a kid). He played for the Cavs, probably with the intention of becoming the new Big Z, but didn’t live up to expectations, and ultimately his career in the NBA was infamously ended by a serious head injury when he was punched by teammate Awvee Storey in an attack during practice in Bismarck, North Dakota. Martynas suffered a fractured skull, a severe concussion, and a two-centimeter hematoma (bruise) on the left side of his brain. Doctors initially thought it would be months before he could speak, but he was able to regain speech within a month and stated his desire to play basketball within a year. Storey was suspended indefinitely. Days later, Storey had his contract terminated and was dismissed from the league.

Šarūnas Marčiulionis

“No one wanted to guard him because trying to stop him often backfired. I remember one game: we were playing against the Bulls, and someone was shooting free throws while Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan were discussing who would cover Šarūnas. Michael immediately declared, ‘No, I’m definitely not doing that,’” recalled Chris Mullin, a former teammate of Šarūnas, who was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame alongside Arvydas Sabonis in 2011.

Šarūnas Marčiulionis, born June 13, 1964, is a celebrated former Lithuanian professional basketball player known for his pioneering role as one of the first Europeans to play regularly in the NBA. He joined the Golden State Warriors in 1989, breaking ground as the first Soviet player in the league and paving the way for future international players. Marčiulionis won a gold medal for the USSR in the 1988 Olympics alongside Arvydas Sabonis and later spearheaded the Lithuanian national team’s revival, securing Olympic bronze medals in 1992 and 1996.

Notably, he partnered with the Grateful Dead to fund the 1992 Lithuanian Olympic team, which wore iconic tie-dyed uniforms. Marčiulionis’ contributions extended beyond the court as he founded the Lithuanian Basketball League and opened the Šarūnas Marčiulionis Basketball Academy. Recognized for his impact, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014 and the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2015. His legacy continues through his son, Augustas Marčiulionis, who plays college basketball in the U.S.

Arvydas Sabonis

Arvydas Sabonis, born December 19, 1964, in Kaunas, Lithuania, is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players to emerge from Europe. A skilled and versatile center, Sabonis won six Euroscar titles and two Mr. Europa awards, representing his exceptional talent in international play. Early in his career, he led Žalgiris Kaunas to three Soviet Premier League titles and won the FIBA Intercontinental Cup in 1986. Sabonis also contributed significantly to the Soviet Union’s gold medal win at the 1988 Olympics and later represented Lithuania, winning bronze at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics.

Drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1986, Sabonis faced delays due to Soviet restrictions and injuries, eventually joining the NBA at age 30 in 1995. Despite his age and past injuries, he made an impressive impact, earning All-Rookie First Team honors and maintaining a fan-favorite status throughout his seven seasons with the Blazers. Known for his exceptional passing skills, basketball IQ, and ability to shoot from distance, Sabonis helped his team reach consecutive Western Conference Finals in 1999 and 2000. Many fans and analysts believe he could have ranked among the NBA’s all-time greats had he joined the league during his prime years.

After retiring from the NBA, Sabonis returned to Europe, playing one final season with Žalgiris, where he also served as team president. His influence extended beyond the court, as he became President of the Lithuanian Basketball Federation. In recognition of his contributions to basketball, Sabonis was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011. His legacy lives on through his son Domantas, an NBA All-Star, and through his lasting impact on Lithuanian basketball, celebrated in the documentary The Other Dream Team.

Žydrūnas Ilgauskas

Žydrūnas Ilgauskas, known as “Big Z,” is a Lithuanian-American former professional basketball player celebrated for his perseverance and skill in the NBA despite facing numerous injury challenges. Standing 7’3″, Ilgauskas spent the majority of his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he became a cornerstone of the franchise from 1997 to 2010. Known for his reliable jump shot, rebounding prowess, and leadership on the court, he earned All-Star selections in 2003 and 2005 and played a key role in leading the Cavaliers to their first NBA Finals appearance in 2007. Over his career, he became Cleveland’s all-time leader in blocked shots, and his jersey, no. 11, was retired by the Cavaliers in 2014.

Drafted 20th overall by the Cavaliers in 1996, Ilgauskas faced early setbacks due to foot injuries, missing his rookie season entirely. However, he bounced back to earn All-Rookie First Team honors in 1998. His career is marked by resilience, with multiple returns from surgeries that sidelined him for entire seasons. Known for his loyalty to Cleveland, he returned to the Cavaliers for a brief stint in 2010 after a trade and short tenure with the Miami Heat, where he played in the 2011 NBA Finals.

Off the court, Ilgauskas continued his connection with Cleveland, joining the Cavaliers’ front office as a special advisor in 2012. His personal life reflects his deep greatest commitments, such as his work mentoring young players and his adoption of two Lithuanian brothers in 2009. After retiring, he became a U.S. citizen in 2013, though this meant forfeiting his Lithuanian citizenship. Today, Ilgauskas is remembered as one of the most beloved figures in Cavaliers history and a role model for perseverance in professional sports.

Rivalry Meter

Now I just had to launch the rivalry meter to check how this rivalry stacks in the context of other rivalries. Read the full article here about how I came up with this measurement.

Note: The “Rivalry Meter” evaluation is done with a trained AI model.

Žalgiris Kaunas vs CSKA Moscow (1980s rivalry)

The stories of this rivalry have been shared with me like legends, deeply rooted in my family’s history and our nation’s identity. Going to these games was nearly impossible; each one felt like more than just a game—it was a matter of pride and a strong belief that, against all odds, we could beat them.

One of the most famous stories was about CSKA trying to draft Arvydas Sabonis into the army so he’d play for their team. But the whole city of Kaunas came together to help him avoid this, making sure he enrolled at a university in Kaunas instead. This is just one way the rivalry went beyond basketball, standing for Lithuanian pride and independence under real pressure.

Rivalry Meter Score: Legendary
Total Points: 116/120
Final Score (Percentage): 97%

Summary: The Žalgiris Kaunas vs. CSKA Moscow rivalry of the 1980s reaches a Legendary status, scoring an impressive 97% on the Rivalry Meter. This rivalry transcended basketball, symbolizing a cultural and political standoff, especially for Lithuanian fans who viewed Žalgiris as a powerful stand against Soviet authority.

Featuring many of the USSR’s top players, these matchups were intense and skillful, drawing immense fan interest and packed stadiums. Tickets were nearly impossible to obtain, with fans willing to go to extraordinary lengths to witness these historic games. This rivalry remains a defining chapter in European basketball and Lithuania’s national history, remembered for its deep cultural impact and the passion it inspired on and off the court.

CITATION
Bakanauskas, P. (2024, November 12). Kaunas: The Ultimate Mecca of European Basketball. Play of Values. https://playofvalues.com/kaunas-european-basketball-mecca/

IN-TEXT CITATION: (Bakanauskas, 2024)

List of References

1. MARKUCKYTĖ, E., & PILKAUSKAS, D. (n.d.). Krepšinio pradininkas Lietuvoje Steponas Darius – Lietuvos Aviacijos Istorija  1919 – 1940 m. www.plienosparnai.lt. Link.