How Basketball Impacted Lithuania’s Fight For Independence | FULL EPISODE 

It is fascinating how much talent Lithuanians have for basketball and how smart they are. To us Serbs, they are the biggest rivals in Europe, not that we like them, but we respect them very much as rivals.

As a Lithuanian and the guy who born in Kaunas. I'm so proud of this effort, which you put in this video. It brought tears :) Thank you for this story and reminder who we are

As lithuanian, i just can say, thanks for this video.

love Lietuva from Latvija

The Nba is coming up with some GREAT documentaries 🐐🐐🐐

I'm proud of my Lithuanian bros. 🇱🇻🫶🇱🇹

Glad the nba is dropping a lot of Euro Ball docs I’ve always been curious about the history of Basketball in countries outside of the Americas

I will never forget the summer of 1995 when I was at the OAKA Arena in Athens watching the European Championship Finals between my country, Yugoslavia, and Lithuania. As Yugoslavia has previously beat Greece twice, eliminating the home-team in the semi-finals, the entire Arena of 20.000 Greeks (except for appx. 1.000 Serbs) were cheering for Lithuania in the Finals. I will always remember that chant LIE-TU-VA by the Greek home crowd. Yugoslavia/Serbia finally won that game (some feel with a little help from referees) 96-90, which brought a bit of happiness to our nation, at that time torn by the civil war, NATO bombs and the economic embargo. But the basketball rivalry of Serbia and Lithuania continues through the ages. From the USSR-Yugoslavia epic rivalry of the 80's (Petrović vs Sabonis) to the present day Euroleague matches between Partizan and Žalgiris, two clubs with the best basketball fans in the world (the Americans who have no clue what we're talking about can check some RU-vid videos). We may have our differences politically, as Serbs are the most Russophilic nation in the world, while Lithuania is one of the most Russophobic countries... but as far as basketball is concerned, we cherish the deepest respect and sympathies for Lithuania and its people's love of the game.

as a Serbian I have always considered that Lithuania and Serbia are the only true basketball country with a lot of talents. ❤💚

Honestly this made realise how much i miss home and how proud i am being Lithuanian❤️🇱🇹

The NBA coming with some dope documentaries lately 🤙

Wow, just wow. The passion of Lithuanian people for the game is rarely, if ever, seen. Amazing and insightful documentary, great work!!

I love Lithuanias so much.🥰😍🤗

24:15 Motiejūnas was very shy to tell whole truth. Russian oligarch almost destroyed Žalgiris, the most honorary sports club in Lithuania. Almost went bankrupted, because of idiot ruzzian. But Motiejūnas, this guy, saved Žalgiris from that ruzzian oligarch who wanted to destroy Žalgiris and now Žalgiris is one of the best teams in Europe. And Also Motiejūnas is now Euroleague president. We Lithuanians are so proud of him

Proud of all of you, braliukas!

I'm a grownass man, and burst to tears waching this doc, the feeling of pride is unmeasurable ❤🇱🇹💚

Deep respect to (probably the only) country where basketball is the most popular sport!

As a former Basketball playing Lithuanian, I really appreciate how much effort NBA put in this video, I learned so much about Lithuania's basketball history. Thank you NBA!

Greet to see. All reasons to be proud of this generations basketball players. Proud that i ve interviewed Sabonis for Algemeen Dagblad in the Netherlands

thank you to the NBA people who made this, much appreciated - another proud Lithuanian

🏀🇱🇹❤️ Labai ačiū uz sita video❗ Я не литовец, но родился в Каунасе и провел всё детство в Литве, на всю жизнь впитал в этой прекрасной стране любовь к свободе, независимости и баскетболу❗Сам всю жизнь играю в баскетбол и даже тренировал детей, болею за Жальгирис, все литовские команды, сборную Литвы и стоаны Балтии, до сих пор храню автограф Сабониса и Гарастаса, которые лично взял у них ещё в детстве в конце 80-х годов в Каунасе после матча с эстонским Калевом... 💛💚♥️ LIETUVA

Thank you NBA for telling our story! If you like this, also watch The Other Dream Team from 2012.

Great basketball country. Kind and awesome people, true fighters! 💪🏻❤❤

I’m proud to be Lithuanian 🇱🇹

proud to be Lithuanian !!! Bravo tautiečiai !!! Bravo Lietuva !!!! ⬆

Lithuanians - great and fantastic !!! From Latvia !!!

My love for Kaunas and Basketball - endless

Thank you Bob Weir, Garcia and Hart of Grateful Dead. You truly blessed the country of Lithuania with your generosity.

We spent whole day in the basketball court in our childhood. And till today almost every Lithuanian will not miss any game when Lithuania is playing. I also remember when Zalgirs won Euroleague, I have never felt anything like this. It was magical moment and atmosphere in Kaunas. Thank you NBA for such a great movie!

Oh damn this one hits hard. Basketball was(still is) everything to us. My dad used to wake me up to watch Bulls vs Jazz, I was only 6-8 years old, when I got little bit older I remember rushing from school to watch Dragon Ball Z and back outside to play basketball. Every weekend is in a local basketball court, from 10am to 10-11pm. Every summer day it was like that too. Every time you throw fadeaway you shout KOBE(RIP legend). We lived and breath basketball. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. 1999 - I remember that Zalgiris game vs Kinder, was absolutely mental. Then Sydney Olympics - bronze, and 2003 we are Europe champions. How many of Lithuanians remember this - watch?v=pIUcX4hz91Y This video brought so many good memories and tears. Thank you so much!

My memories related to basketball start in ‘95-‘00 period, so I’m pretty jealous to those people who were able to witness the ‘92 Olympics and the crazy Lithuanian NT story. It’s arguably one of the best basketball story in the history of the game. And even after Barcelona, our team (Lithuania’s NT) finished winning bronze in later two Olympics (‘96 and ‘00), that was crazy consistency for country with this relatively small talent pool. This can be achieved only with true love for the game of orange ball. 🇱🇹

Hello, as a true Lithuanian and Zalgiris fan - I cried a lot while watching this video. Just one observation, it's a shame that you were filmed during Covid, if u know - u know! LITHUANIA!!

i was born in Kaunas. Kaunas is the capital of basketball for sure. I play basketball and its really fun.

I believe it was Barkley, who made fun of Lithuanian players at the '92 Olympics for taking pictures of NBA players. Combined with the crowning "world champions" - it just illuminates the ignorance of them yankees. They will never understand the pride of European teams and players. Sending love to our braliukai 🇱🇻🫶🇱🇹

my mother said when I was little and when Zalgiri lost, I cried and didn't want anything. I love Zalgiri so much, you can't even imagine

thank you for these stories and everything im a proud lithuanian

I was born in Lithuania but I am not a big basketball supporter. I do like basketball, but I love football. In Lithuania football divides people, and basketball, in Lithuania, unites the nation. Thank you to everyone who created this documentary and showed the small but real importance of Lithuanian basketball for our small nation, scattered all over the world, part of that basketball that unites Lithuania.

27:45 Every USA citizen should watch this for 3 minutes. This what means to almost every Lithuanian, especially after we were occupied by russians. It was our way to show for every Lithuanian that we are stronger and we can be stronger, this is our independence energy till goosebumps and this is how you can understand Baltic country of Liuthuania!

Proud of my country! Every time when I’m asked what is Lithuania famous for- first thing that comes to my mind- Basketball 😊

Viva Lituania!!! 💛💚❤

Tears just rolling down my cheeks. Wow. 🇱🇹❤️🫡

Lots of Love form Lithuania!! We call basketball as our second religion!

Thanks NBA share for this :) with Lithuania story need more like that

Theres noooo way its made for official nba channel!!! 💪👏👏👏

growing up in the early 90s eastern europe there were two names that were so legendary that every 5year old kid who tried to dribble was shouting their names - Sabonis and Abdul Jabar.

33:26 Music, words, emotions - goosebumps!

Thank you NBA amazing doc

This lesson was a W 🎉🎉

When growing up in Kaunas in the 90s - if you did not play basketball on the streets, you were not one of the boys, you were an outsider, a a weirdo

Gyvenu Australia arvydas sabonis love ❤️

as a Lithuanian I can confirm that this is soo true. Thank you Americans for supporting us with our basketaball journey. All the generations remembers this and it does mean so much for us. Eternally greatfull, you have shown your character there big time. Love the freedom.

I'm PROUD to be Lithuanian!

i love how this channel FINALLY has start making such documentaries about bball arround the world. Normally, while NBA summer break is still on. You have also beautifull basketball story in former Yugoslavia and nowadays independent republics.

I was raised in kaunas im a academy player for Tornado km

wow, this made me cry.

I never skip videos like this. Great one NBA! Kids start playing from age 4-5 actually :)

This was a pleasure to watch.

Great video! Thank you!

Thank you @Nba. Best wishes from Lithuania.

We might be small, but this game is in our hearts, because nations fate with basketball is very close… We wanted to show the world that we are not russians and we can fight… ❤️🇱🇹 Proud lithuanian here! 🇱🇹🇱🇹❤️

was fun watching. Thanks!

Latvians braļukas Lithuanians 🇱🇻🏀🇱🇹

Amazing 🇱🇹❤🇱🇹

OMG, guys , thanks for making this video!

We are crazy about basketball!

Nice thank you!!🇱🇹❤️

It's something special❤

Thanks NBA!!

very nice! good job!

Thanks for this video,surprised im from lt btw!!

great video!

Its a good movie ,thx NBA

Amazing!

Thanks! What a great video

Wow never thought that NBA would post something like this 🔥🤗

Thanks NBA!!!

What I want to say all the best to you well done zalgiris😮sabonis

Quality video

Lietuva! 🇱🇹 🇱🇹 🇱🇹

Vilnius 1988 Csk zalgiris small tv im 5years old yeah... great video

Lithuania!!!

Thanks for the video . Basketball isn’t just a game for us , it’s our religion and our passion

thank you!

Epic.

well done documentary nba people ! lithuanian opinion

i'm proud to be a lithuanian

please make a video of martin müürsepp. only estonian ever played in nba. Thank you!

Wow!

Lithuania on top ! 🇱🇹❤

44:00 THAT'S MY COURT OMG

W documentary.

nice

Zalgiris is more than a club, its apart of our identity and culture. This brought tears to my eyes on no hommo typa shi. Zalia Balta f4ver

Its true, Kaunas is capital Lithuanias basketball, here was beginning of Lithuanias basketball, because in Kaunas Sport Hall was European basketball championship in 1939, when Lithuanias team became European champion and now "Žalgiris" Kaunas is one from strongest teams not only in Lithuania, but and in Europe.

Ačiū!

Lets gooo!

BC always been more than a sport here in Lithuania and now we all know why, thank you!

Nice

If you're interested in learning more about the Lithuanian team and their fight for independence, there's this great documentary "The other dream team" I recommend watching

Mes už LIETUVA!!!