Meet the Future National Team Rivals: Future NBA Stars Arrive in Lithuania

The University of Michigan's Wolverines basketball team, a powerhouse with deep traditions, is set to play two exhibition games in Lithuania on August 23 and 24. The team will face the Lithuanian men's national team in Vilnius and the Lithuanian reserve team in Utena.

This marks the first time the current NCAA champions will compete against Lithuanian national teams on Lithuanian soil. Michigan's basketball program, established in 1908-1909, is a consistent force in the prestigious Big Ten conference, drawing over 12,000 fans to home games and generating immense interest in student basketball within the state.

The Wolverines have a storied history of producing NBA talent, with 81 players drafted since 1965. Six of these players have won NBA championships a total of 10 times, and eight have been selected for the NBA All-Star Game a combined 18 times. Notable alumni include Chris Webber, Glen Rice, Jalen Rose, and current NBA players like Franz Wagner and Jordan Poole. The team also has a connection to Lithuania through Nik Stauskas, drafted by the Sacramento Kings in 2014.

Michigan has reached the NCAA Final Four nine times and the Sweet Sixteen twenty times, securing national titles in 1989 and again in 2026. The team's recent success under coach Dusty May, who led them to the championship in the 2025-2026 season, has earned him a head coaching position with the Dallas Mavericks starting in the 2026-2027 season. The NBA draft continues to be a pipeline for Michigan talent, with three more players selected in the first round of the 2026 draft, bringing the total of Wolverines in the NBA to at least 18 for the upcoming season.

The team arriving in Lithuania is described as a strong and hungry squad, led by Mike Boyntons, a former assistant to Dusty May. Their visit promises to be a significant event for Lithuanian basketball fans, offering a glimpse of future NBA stars.