New York Knicks scout and two-time NBA champion Alvydas Pazdrazdis is expected to join Rimas Kurtinaitis' Lithuania coaching staff for the upcoming 2027 World Cup qualifying window.
The Lithuanian national team is preparing to strengthen Rimas Kurtinaitis' coaching staff with an experienced figure.
According to Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews, Alvydas Pazdrazdis is expected to join Kurtinaitis' staff for the upcoming 2027 FIBA World Cup qualification window.
The 55-year-old currently works as a scout for the New York Knicks and won an NBA championship with the franchise last month.
Pazdrazdis owns two NBA championship rings
Pazdrazdis joined the Knicks organization in 2024 after spending 18 years with the Dallas Mavericks.
His latest championship was the second of his career. He earned his first ring with the Mavs when Dallas captured the 2011 NBA title.
Pazdrazdis has also held several other roles in professional and college basketball. He previously spent one year as the NBA's head of basketball operations in London.
Earlier in his career, he worked as a strength and conditioning coach at the NCAA's Tulane University in New Orleans and later served as director of basketball operations for the SMU Mustangs in Dallas.
Credit LKF
Former Lithuania player reunites with Olympic teammate
Pazdrazdis is also a former Lithuanian national team player.
He helped Lithuania win the bronze medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, sharing the court with current national team head coach Kurtinaitis.
Pazdrazdis already possesses international coaching experience, having worked on Jonas Kazlauskas' staff with the Chinese national team between 2006 and 2008.
Before that, he assisted Kazlauskas at EuroLeague powerhouse Olympiacos Piraeus.
His expected arrival would therefore add NBA scouting experience, NCAA knowledge and familiarity with Lithuania's basketball system to Kurtinaitis' staff.
Credit AP-Scanpix
Kurtinaitis remains in charge after submitting resignation
The expected addition comes shortly after Kurtinaitis decided to remain Lithuania's head coach despite previously submitting his resignation following the defeat against Italy.
The Lithuanian Basketball Association officially announced that the 66-year-old will continue in the position until the end of the 2027 World Cup qualification cycle.
Association president Mindaugas Balciunas revealed that resignation letters from Kurtinaitis and Pacesas were received on July 8.
Rather than immediately accepting them, the association allowed the coaches additional time to reconsider their futures.
The Lithuanian Basketball Association and its Executive Committee subsequently expressed unanimous support for Kurtinaitis, who ultimately decided to continue leading the national team.
Kurtinaitis was appointed in October 2024 and guided Lithuania to fifth place at EuroBasket 2025.
Credit Erikas Ovčarenko/BNS
Lithuania face difficult World Cup qualification path
Lithuania will begin the second round of World Cup qualification with a 3-3 record and outside the top three positions required to reach the final tournament.
Turkiye lead Group J at 6-0, followed by Italy at 5-1 and Serbia at 4-2. Lithuania and Iceland are both 3-3, while Bosnia and Herzegovina sit at 2-4.
Kurtinaitis' team will return to action against Turkiye in Istanbul on August 28 before hosting Bosnia and Herzegovina in Vilnius on August 31.
With Lithuania already one victory behind the qualification places, the upcoming window will be crucial to their hopes of reaching the 2027 World Cup.
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