Lithuania v USA is always a classic: another chapter in the colorful rivalry

MANILA (Philippines) - It's always a spectacle when Lithuania and United States take the floor, with the matchup producing plenty of iconic moments and close-call games ever since the sides first met.

Now, it's time for some new faces to enter the history books of this epic, long-lasting rivalry.

The whole story began back in 1992, at the Barcelona Olympics, when the Dream Team faced the Other Dream Team. Michael Jordan had 21 points, Sarunas Marciulionis was just behind him with 20, but the USA dominated the Semi-Finals battle 127-76.

Just like the rest of the world, Lithuania were star struck, as evidenced by Arturas Karnisovas, one of the national team's all-time leading scorers, taking out his camera towards the end of the game and snapping a few shots himself.

"THOSE WERE OUR IDOLS AT THAT TIME." - Karnisovas

"Did not go well. I fouled out," Karnisovas was quoted as saying on the Bulls Talk podcast some 30 years later.

"And I'm sitting on the sidelines like, 'Nobody is taking pictures.' So I'm sitting there with like 2 minutes to go, and we're down by 45. I start taking pictures. The funny thing is we got the film back, and there were pictures of me in those pictures, so somebody else obviously took some pictures while we were playing. I was just caught on film doing that."

That was just the first chapter into what's grown into one of the more interesting rivalries in basketball. It didn't take long for Lithuania to start offering USA an actual challenge on the court. 

"Those were our idols at that time, and the separation between NBA players and internationals back then was so huge. The margin of victory was so great. And then, year by year, it got closer. At that time, it was still surreal," said Karnisovas.

It was Karnisovas in the limelight again, when Lithuania's first win against American opposition came at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 1998, with the forward pouring in 28 points to win a Group Phase game 84-82, but that one gets an asterisk because the United States arrived with no NBA players due to the lockout.

The first bout with history came in Sydney 2000. Lithuania were THIS close to becoming the first team to defeat the USA in the professionals' era.

But Sarunas Jasikevicius did not miss that date with history. He just postponed it for four years, because in Athens 2004, Jasikevicius scored 28 points to stun the United States 94-90 in the First Round of competition.

Amar'e Stoudemire going in for a dunk in a rare red-jersey moment in USA's history

USA bounced back and won the Bronze Medal Game 104-96 behind Shawn Marion's 22 points and Allen Iverson's 15. Hard to imagine they were all too happy to play that consolation prize game, given it was their first time missing the Final in 16 years, but it's always better to end a tournament on a high, with a win.

Once coach Mike Krzyzewski took over, the rivalry wasn't as close anymore. In 2006, 2008 and 2010, Coach K's teams defeated Lithuania four times by a combined 90 points margin. Three of those were tune-up games, while the last one saw them battle in the Semi-Finals of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2010 in Istanbul, where everybody got to witness greatness.

That's because Kevin Durant counted to 38 on the day, winning the game 89-74.

Since then, only two more matchups happened. The United States lined up one of their strongest teams in London 2012, but Linas Kleiza did not care. The legendary power forward put up a game-high 25 points, Lithuania forced LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony to get 20-point games, while Durant finished with 16, and USA won the game 99-94.

It was the closest gap of any team in 2012. A certain 20-year-old was on that Lithuanian squad.

"Back then, it was something, 'Wow, what is happening here?' and you had a bit of a shock. Everybody is excited about playing and especially so when you get to play USA in the Olympics and the World Cups. We do talk with the guys that playing against USA - all things considered - is still a little bit 'wow!'; I'm no different," that kid said in Manila in 2023, thinking back to the London days.

His name? Jonas Valanciunas. Time flies, he's now the most experienced Lithuanian player at 31, and he will get the most attention from the opponent led by coach Steve Kerr.

"They're going to be tough as well. They played Montenegro in their respective pool and they beat them. They're going to be a tough challenge and obviously Valanciunas is a tough big body to play against. Even in the NBA, I've got mad respect for him," talking to BasketNews, Bobby Portis Jr expressed his impression on Valanciunas and the rest of the Grateful Dead dyed shirt colored squad.

Rokas Jokubaitis is now what Valanciunas was back in 2012. The youngster, with the hopes of the nation on his back.

"Our mindset is to to fight until the end against any team we play. We've already got a ticket to the Quarter-Finals, so the psychological burden is off our shoulders. I don't want to make any big statements, but we'll go out to battle with USA," the 22-year-old New York Knicks draftee told the media in the Mall of Asia Arena.

"We're in good shape, we can offer them a tough brand of basketball. It'll be most important to avoid turnovers and slow down the pace. We'll prepare really well, our coaching staff are working day and night, scouting our opponents. I think the game will be exciting for fans in Lithuania and in the United States."

Oh, it's not just for them. The entire world tunes in when these colors collide on a big stage. Time to enjoy another chapter of this book!

FIBA