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🇱🇹 Lithuania /Sports

Rimas Kurtinaitis opens up about harsh criticism: “This was not basketball”

From Delfi · () Lithuanian

Translated from Lithuanian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Interview Named sources Ongoing story
  • Lithuania coach Rimas Kurtinaitis said recent criticism focused on his health and feelings rather than basketball, calling it surprising and inappropriate.
  • He confirmed that he submitted his resignation before the August qualifying window after a 3-3 record, but returned when the federation could not find an available replacement.
  • Lithuania remains in contention for the 2027 World Cup, with a 4-4 record in Group J.

Rimas Kurtinaitis says the criticism directed at him crossed a line. Speaking to Kauno diena, the Lithuania coach said public comments had moved beyond basketball and targeted his health and feelings.

What's been happening now, I can't even explain what's good or bad, because this wasn't about basketball, it was about my health, about my feelings.

· Rimas KurtinaitisHe described criticism that he said targeted his personal health and emotions rather than his coaching.

“What's been happening now, I can't even explain what's good or bad, because this wasn't about basketball, it was about my health, about my feelings,” Kurtinaitis said. He added that he was relieved the criticism had not extended to his late parents. “This wasn't basketball,” he said, describing the attacks as surprising rather than angering.

Kurtinaitis also confirmed that he had submitted his resignation before the August qualifying window. Lithuania had won three and lost three games, a record that kept its World Cup hopes alive, but he said the result fell short of his personal expectations. He told the federation he wanted to leave enough time for a new coach to continue the campaign and potentially give the team a fresh impulse.

This wasn't basketball.

· Rimas KurtinaitisHe criticized the personal nature of the public attacks.

About 10 days later, the federation contacted him again. No suitable replacement had emerged because coaches capable of taking the job were under contract, while Lithuanian clubs were preparing for European competitions and would not release them. Kurtinaitis, 66, said the call came as a shock because he had already accepted his departure.

Deciding to leave is difficult, but deciding to return is even more difficult.

· Rimas KurtinaitisHe explained the challenge of reversing his resignation.

After asking for several days to organize his plans and emotions, he reconsidered. He said he could not leave the national team halfway through its qualification campaign if no other coach was available. When the federation and its coaches' council again expressed confidence in him, he agreed to return. Lithuania's team, now 4-4, sits fourth in Group J and still has a path to the 2027 World Cup.

There was simply no other way out.

· Rimas KurtinaitisHe explained why he agreed to resume coaching Lithuania.
About this summary

Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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