Los Angeles Lakers star D’Angelo Russell has yet to achieve two significant milestones: an NBA title and an Olympic medal. While the Lakers star has bolstered his resume with accolades like the NBA Cup trophy and an NBA All-Star selection, Russell has set his sights on Olympic glory.
Russell has not yet participated in the Olympics. The Lakers star hoped to represent Lithuania, his wife Laura Ivaniukas’ ancestral country. His connection to Lithuania through his wife and their children inspired this aspiration.
However, this dream recently faced a significant roadblock. The Lithuanian Basketball Federation (LKF) announced that it would not naturalize Russell for its national team.
“Recent media speculation in Lithuania about Russell potentially joining the team lacks any factual basis. The LKF has neither initiated a naturalization process nor communicated with Russell on this matter,” the federation said in a statement.
LKF President States Reason For Snubbing D’Anglo Russell’s Name
The LKF has not taken steps to naturalize D’Anglo Russell, effectively closing the door on his opportunity to wear the Lithuanian jersey. LKF President Mindaugas Balciunas explained the decision, sharing the team’s focus on developing homegrown talent.
“The basketball-related decisions are handled by the coaching staff, led by head coach Rimas Kurtinaitis, and the national team program manager, Linas Kleiza. Their approach is clear: we aim to achieve success using our own talent pool. This is the right path, in my opinion. However, this issue goes beyond basketball,” Balciunas said.
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Russell, who garnered attention for his bold takes on Los Angeles’ former coach, must set aside his Olympic aspirations and focus on his NBA journey. The Lakers star is averaging 11.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game this season.
