Andrea Trinchieri discusses D’Angelo Russell's potential interest in Lithuania.©(@Digits3App)
Andrea Trinchieri reacted to reports that NBA player D’Angelo Russell has shown interest in joining the Lithuanian national basketball team. Speaking in a post-game press conference after Zalgiris’ EuroLeague victory over Panathinaikos Athens, Trinchieri expressed surprise but also acknowledged the potential benefit for both Russell and the Lithuanian team.
“It caught me off guard,” Trinchieri admitted. “I’m happy for him, and maybe happy for the national team if they really do it. But this is a political thing, and I don’t want to get into it.”
Russell, who is married to Lithuanian Laura Ivaniukas, has reportedly expressed his interest in the Lithuanian Basketball Federation. The connection through his wife could facilitate the process of obtaining Lithuanian citizenship, allowing Russell to play for the national team.
If the move happens, Russell would follow in the footsteps of many American-born players who have represented European countries in international basketball competitions. However, Trinchieri was asked for his thoughts on the broader issue of player naturalization, especially in countries like Lithuania.
“I believe there are two countries—Lithuania and Serbia—that don’t want to explore this thing about bringing a foreign player to help you build a better roster or giving a passport to a player who can help you where you’re short,” Trinchieri explained. “It’s not if I’m in favour or not. It’s depending on what you want.”
Trinchieri highlighted that both Lithuania and Serbia are known for their deep basketball traditions and national pride. He noted that both countries historically have focused on developing homegrown talent rather than seeking foreign-born players to strengthen their rosters. According to Trinchieri, these nations are committed to producing their players, and he believes the issue comes down to a matter of philosophy and basketball culture.
“There are good things both ways,” Trinchieri continued. “If you want to keep and be proud of the thing that you play all Lithuanians or all Serbian players, we have to think about what we can do to have more choices in picking players for the national team—producing more talent.”
Trinchieri also observed that the production of domestic basketball talent in both countries has been different from in the past. He emphasized the need for continued development of homegrown players to maintain the high standards set by Lithuania and Serbia in international basketball.
“It’s a political decision,” he said. “The production of domestic players isn’t the same as in the past. Neither in Serbia nor in Lithuania.”
As the debate over player naturalization continues, Trinchieri’s comments reflect the balancing act between preserving national pride and enhancing team competitiveness on the world stage.
