Is Augustas Marciulionis the answer to Lithuania's point guard question?

VILNIUS (Lithuania) - For the past decade and a half, critics have cited the lack of point guard depth as the glaring weakness of Lithuania's national team.

Mantas Kalnietis has been a loyal servant and had a big hand in huge wins for the country, yet for most of his prime he hasn't had a worthy understudy, one capable of preserving Lithuania's stature in European basketball. 

However, the discourse has really been shifting, with the emergence of the likes of Lukas Lekavicius and, more recently, Rokas Jokubaitis.

There could be even more light at the end of the tunnel, judging from the squad coach Darius Maskoliunas has announced for the November window of the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Qualifiers.

Among the 13 players named is Augustas Marciulionis, the 18-year-old son of Lithuania legend Sarunas Marciulionis.

The Rytas Vilnius player, who has excelled for Lithuania in youth competitions, was elated to hear the news.

"My first thought was – this is cool," he said. "I was really excited to see the list. Of course, there will be some jitters, because the national team is a big deal. We'll have a lot of experienced guys, a lot of good players. I'm going to be a rookie, and so young as well… On the other hand, it will be very, very interesting. It's a great feeling to get this chance from the coach, probably a bit in advance with the future in mind. I can't wait for training camp, I'm sure it'll be interesting."

The call-up might not have happened as soon as it has for Marciulionis had the rising star in the Zalgiris Kaunas backcourt, Rokas Jokubaitis, been available for this window after an impressive national team debut in February. 

But Marciulionis, a couple of years younger, is rated just as highly and his presence in the senior team was not a matter of if, but when. 

"I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO LEARNING A FEW THINGS FROM HIM (MANTAS KALNIETIS), TO SEEING FROM UP CLOSE HOW HE PLAYS."

"We invited him to get used to the national team training process, to get acquainted with the atmosphere, rules, because we may be in great need not only in the next stage of qualification, but we see him as a potential national team player in the future as well," Maskoliunas said.

The future looks bright for Lithuania, and fans can begin to envision a time when both Augustas Marciulionis and Jokubaitis are in the same team.

They can also start to imagine what it will be like for Lithuania to again have a dynamic duo, or a mean one-two punch, from players named Sabonis and Marciulionis.

After capturing a gold medal at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea representing the Soviet Union, Arvydas Sabonis and Sarunas Marciulionis were at the forefront of the rebirth of Lithuania's national team, which started with a bronze medal at the 1992 Olympics and later medaled in the FIBA EuroBasket 1995.

Both are in the FIBA Hall of Fame, as well as the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

They are not just sporting symbols, but national symbols because people around the world identify the two with a time of Lithuanian independence.

Domantas Sabonis has already shown that he can follow in the footsteps of his father, Arvydas, by becoming one of the premier big men in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers while in international basketball with Lithuania, he's played at FIBA Basketball World Cups, Olympics and FIBA EuroBaskets.

Now Augustas Marciulionis is about to step out of his father's shadow. Sarunas Marciulionis was the MVP of EuroBasket 1995, when Lithuania finished runners-up to Yugoslavia.

If his father was known for having a chiseled frame and impressive biceps, Marciulionis is still growing, still getting stronger.

There do appear to be similarities to their games. Just as his father once did, Marciulionis can knife his way into the lane and then bury a high-arcing jump shot.

This window is a big opportunity for him.

By being named in the latest squad, he has a chance to rub shoulders with Kalnietis, a player that made his first national team appearance at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2006 in Japan.

He was the team's second leading scorer when Lithuania finished third at the World Cup four years later in Istanbul. Kalnietis led the team in scoring when they reached the EuroBasket 2013 Final in Slovenia, and his 10.6 points and 7.8 assists per game were vital as Lithuania made it to the EuroBasket 2015 Final, too.

"This is one of the things I'm most excited about," Marciulionis said. "Kalnietis has played for the national team for so many years. He's seen so much of top-level basketball. I'm looking forward to learning a few things from him, to see from up close how he plays. I think I can learn from everyone. I want to see what their level is, and even more so – how I stack up against them." 

It remains to be seen whether Augustas steps out on the floor against Denmark and Belgium on November 27 and 29, respectively, at the Siemens Arena in Vilnius.

Whatever the case, it looks like Lithuania's point guard issue may not be an issue anymore for the foreseeable future, with the likes of Marciulionis and Jokubaitis waiting on the wings.

FIBA