D'Angelo Russell will not play for the Lithuanian NT, the LKL says
The Lithuanian Basketball Federation intervenes on rumors regarding a possible future with Lithuania NT for NBA guard D'Angelo Russell. The player himself confirmed his interest in playing for the Baltic national team. Instead the option is to be ruled out. “The sports part of basketball depends on the decisions of the technical staff led by Rimos Kurtinaitis and program manager Linas Kleiza,” says LKF President Mindaugas Balčiūnas. “I think it is a very correct approach to try to get results with our group of players. But this question is not primarily about basketball. This is mainly a legal question. The Lithuanian citizenship law clearly defines the circumstances under which a foreigner can exceptionally apply for a Lithuanian passport. It can be granted only by the President of the Republic. To date, there is no argument for Mr. Russell to claim this exception. The LKF has not initiated the legal process that would give D. Russell the opportunity to play for the Lithuanian national team.”
Moreover, there is already a naturalized player, and the Federation explains how in the case of player Gabby Nikitinaite things are different. “Ignas Brazdeikis takes the place of a naturalized player in the Lithuanian national basketball team. The LKF started the process at FIBA regarding the citizenship of Gabrielė (Gabby) Nikitinaitė, who played on the British youth national teams, in order to be able to play for the Lithuanian women's basketball team. In 1998 G. Nikitinaitė, who was born in Lithuania but moved to Britain with her family as a child, expressed her desire to represent Lithuania, and the legal process for clearance from FIBA has already begun. She has the citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania, so this case is easier than that of I. Brazdeikis, when first her Lithuanian passport had to be returned. According to FIBA rules, G. Nikitinaite can take the place of a naturalized player in the Lithuanian women's national team, since she played in the youth national teams of Great Britain.”
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