By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Lithuanian national team won’t be at full strength in the upcoming 2023 FIBA World Cup, as Arnas Butkevicius has been added to the list of absentees.
The 30-year-old forward had a successful ankle surgery on Monday in Kaunas, as announced by Zalgiris. Consequently, he will be sidelined from basketball for around six weeks, including the upcoming World Cup.
“Butkevicius experienced leg pain during the Betsafe-LKL Finals series. In the last game of the series, he could only take the court with the assistance of painkillers.
During the surgery, the spur near the Achilles tendon was removed. Professor Rimtautas Gudas performed the surgery,” according to Zalgiris‘ official statement.
Absentees Grow for Lithuania, Sabonis Unlikely in FIBA World Cup
Several other important players will also be unable to assist Kazys Maksvytis’ team at the World Cup, with Marius Grigonis, Lukas Lekavicius, Edgaras Ulanovas, and Rokas Giedraitis out of contention. Additionally, the presence of Domantas Sabonis seems unlikely.
“We all hope that Domantas will play. However, we are aware of the valid reasons. If I had to assess his chances today, I would say they are less than 50 percent. Nevertheless, as long as there’s hope, we will continue to believe that he will be able to join us,” Maksvytis recently stated on the Zalgiris on Air podcast.
Lithuania is placed in Group D (Manila) at the upcoming FIBA World Cup alongside Egypt, Mexico, and Montenegro.
Photo: fiba.basketball