Sportin Lithuania is governed by the Physical Education and Sports Department following the country's independence from the Soviet Union in 1990. The Lithuanian government established the department to manage physical education in the schools and sports administration in the country. Over the next few years, Lithuanian sports organizations established membership in international governing bodies. Lithuania participated in the Winter Olympics in Albertville and has participated in every Winter and Summer Olympics since.
Arvydas Romas Sabonis is a Lithuanian former professional basketball player and businessman. Recognized as one of the best European players of all time and one of the best big man passers in the history of the game, he won the Euroscar six times and the Mr. Europa Award twice. He played in a variety of leagues, including the Spanish ACB League, and spent seven seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Playing the center position, Sabonis won a gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics, in South Korea, for the Soviet Union, and later earned bronze medals at the 1992 Olympic Games and 1996 Olympic Games representing Lithuania. He retired from professional basketball in 2005. Sabonis was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the 1986 NBA draft, but he did not play his first NBA game until 1995, at the age of 30.
The Lithuania men's national basketball team represents Lithuania in international basketball competitions. They are controlled by the Lithuanian Basketball Federation, the governing body for basketball in Lithuania. Despite Lithuania's small size, with a population of less than 3 million, the country's devotion to basketball has made them a traditional force of the sport in Europe.
Paulius Jankūnas is a retired Lithuanian professional basketball player who mainly played for Žalgiris Kaunas of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL) and the EuroLeague. He was also a member of the senior Lithuanian national team. Jankūnas played at either center or power forward, with power forward being his main position. He earned an All-EuroLeague Second Team selection in 2018.
Giedrius Gustas is a former Lithuanian professional basketball player. At the height of 1.90 m tall and a weight of 86 kg, he mainly played at the point guard position. During his club playing career, as a member of Žalgiris Kaunas, he won the EuroLeague championship in 1999. As a member of the Barons LMT, he won the Europe Cup championship in 2008. He was also a member of the senior Lithuanian national team, and with Lithuania, he won the gold medal at the 2003 EuroBasket and the bronze medal at the 2007 EuroBasket.
EuroBasket 2011 was the 37th men's European Basketball Championship, held by FIBA Europe. The competition was hosted by Lithuania. This was the second time EuroBasket had been held in Lithuania, the country having also hosted the 1939 championship. FIBA Europe asserted that Lithuania managed to organize the best European championship in its history. The top two teams are guaranteed spots at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
The 1995 FIBA European Championship, commonly called FIBA EuroBasket 1995, was the 29th FIBA EuroBasket regional basketball championship held by FIBA Europe, which also served as Europe qualifier for the 1996 Summer Olympics, giving a berth to each of the top four teams in the final standings. It was held in Greece between 21 June and 2 July 1995. Fourteen national teams entered the event under the auspices of FIBA Europe, the sport's regional governing body. The city of Athens hosted the tournament. FR Yugoslavia won its first FIBA European title, by defeating Lithuania by the score of 96–90 in the final. Lithuania's Šarūnas Marčiulionis was voted the tournament's MVP. This edition of the FIBA EuroBasket tournament saw the successful return of the Lithuania national team to the competition, since its last triumph in 1939.
Siim-Sander Vene is an Estonian professional basketball player for Hapoel Jerusalem of the Israeli Basketball Premier League. Standing at 2.03 m, he plays both the small forward and power forward positions. Vene represents the Estonian national basketball team internationally, and was named Estonian Basketball Player of the Year in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
EuroBasket 2015 was the 39th edition of the EuroBasket championship that was organized by FIBA Europe. It was co-hosted by Croatia, France, Germany, and Latvia, making it the first EuroBasket held in more than one country. It started on 5 September and ended on 20 September 2015.
Domantas Sabonis is a Lithuanian-American professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Lithuanian national team. Son of the Hall of Fame player Arvydas Sabonis, Sabonis is an All-NBA Team member and three-time NBA All-Star.
The 2013 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship was the 16th edition of the FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship. The competition was played in Tallinn, Estonia, from 9 to 21 July 2013. For the first time competition was increased to 20 participating teams from tournament scheme of 16 teams which was introduced in 2005.
Marius Grigonis is a Lithuanian professional basketball player for Panathinaikos of the Greek Basket League and the EuroLeague. Standing at a height of 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m), he plays at the shooting guard position.
The 2013 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship was the 27th edition of the European Under-16 Basketball Championship. 16 teams participated in the competition, which was held in Kyiv, Ukraine, from 8 to 18 August 2013. Turkey were the defending champions.
EuroBasket 2017 was the 40th edition of the EuroBasket championship that was organized by FIBA Europe and held between 31 August and 17 September 2017. Beginning from 2017, the continental championships take place every four years with a similar system of qualification as for the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
The 2015 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship for Women was the 32nd edition of the European Under-18 Women's Basketball Championship. 16 teams participated in the competition, held in Celje, Slovenia, from 30 July to 9 August 2015.
The 2015 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship for Women was the 14th edition of the FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship for Women. 16 teams participated in the competition, played in Tinajo and Teguise, Spain, from 2 to 12 July 2015.
The 2015 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship was the 32nd edition of the FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship. 16 teams participated in the competition, which was held in Volos, Greece, from 23 July to 2 August 2015.
The 2015 FIBA U16 Women's European Championship Division B was the 12th edition of the Division B of the European basketball championship for women's national under-16 teams. It was played in Ohrid and Struga, Republic of Macedonia, from 13 to 23 August 2015. Lithuania women's national under-16 basketball team won the tournament.
The 2013 FIBA U16 European Championship Division B was the 10th edition of the Division B of the European basketball championship for men's national under-16 teams. It was played from 8 to 18 July 2013 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Denmark men's national under-16 basketball team won the tournament.
The 2014 FIBA U16 European Championship Division B was the 11th edition of the Division B of the European basketball championship for men's national under-16 teams. It was played from 20 to 30 August 2014 in Strumica, Republic of Macedonia. Montenegro men's national under-16 basketball team won the tournament.
Bosnia and Herzegovina (1st title)
