NEW YORK (FIBA EuroBasket 2017) - With a new coach at the helm, it signals a new era for Lithuania basketball, one in which Kuzminskas hopes the top step on the podium is once more conquered.

Remember 2003, when Sarunas Jasikevicius led the Baltic side to the country's first FIBA EuroBasket trophy in the modern era? Lithuania had captured European Championships in 1937 and 1939, but the title triumph 13 years ago in Sweden was the country's first since it declared its independence from the Soviet Union.

There was the bad, like in 2008 at the Beijing Olympics. Lithuania played well during the tournament but fell in three of their last four games by an average of 16 points. They squared off in the Bronze Medal Game against an Argentina side that had lost Manu Ginobili to injury and had Andres Nocioni barely able to get up and down the court because of a knee problem, yet the South Americans prevailed, 87-75. Jasikevicius was furious and Ramunas Siskauskas, another member of the 2003 side, retired from the national team after that setback.

Last year at the Rio Olympics, national team forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas was there for some good, some bad and some ugly. The Lithuanians started well with three wins but then crashed to a 109-59 defeat to Spain. Having lost their way, Lithuania fell, 90-81, to Croatia and 90-64 to Australia in the Quarter-Finals.

 
An exasperated Kuzminskas looked on as Australia beat Lithuania

Lithuania beat a great Spanish team in the 2003 Final and faced other outstanding squads in the years to follow but what has been the most important factor in their results, according to Kuzminskas, is the Baltic giants' form and that will again be the case, he says, at FIBA EuroBasket 2017.

"Right now, in Europe, there are so many teams that are competitive," Kuzminskas said to FIBA.com. "There are no easy teams and easy games anymore.

"The level got so competitive in the last couple of years that nobody can start a game being sure that they will win it. The most important thing is to be physically ready for the start of the competition.

Winning a title with your national team is probably one of the best things to achieve in your career and I want to live this kind of experience before I retire from international dutiesKuzminskasKuzminskas

"That is a very specific thing about this kind of competition. In a short time period, you have to step up physically and on your game as the competition goes on. You have to reach your peak during those two weeks or you are going to be surprised, in a bad way (laughs).

"Our campaign depends on us, on what type of shape we are going to be in and how mentally ready we'll be on the first day of the competition. Everything depends on us, not on the other teams."

Lithuania's FIBA EuroBasket 2017 campaign begins in Tel Aviv this summer. They will play in Group B against Germany, Ukraine, Israel and familiar foes Georgia and Italy - sides that Kuzminskas and Co. beat in thrilling knockout round games two years ago.

"We would like to reach the Semi-Finals and than see what we can do," Kuzminskas said. "When you reach the last four, everything is possible. We always want to fight for the first three spots and we would like to have another great campaign this summer."

Lithuania often make it to the Semi-Finals. At the 2010 FIBA Basketball World Cup, before Kuzminskas was on the roster, Kestutis Kemzura coached the team in Turkey to victory in the Third-Place Game.

At FIBA EuroBasket 2013, Lithuania fell to France in the Final and the next year, they blew a lead against the the French in the Third-Place Game at the FIBA Basketball World Cup. Spain beat Lithuania in the FIBA EuroBasket 2015 Final. Lithuania have come close to getting another championship but struggled in the big games.

Kuzminskas and Lithuania fell to Spain in the FIBA EuroBasket 2015 Final

"Winning a title with your national team is probably one of the best things to achieve in your career and I want to live this kind of experience before I retire from international duties," said Kuzminskas, who just completed his rookie season in the NBA with the New York Knicks.

"We are a small country, and we love basketball so much, so it would be amazing to win some medals and titles to make history and our people proud. We won two silver medals at the last two EuroBaskets, but we always want more and winning a title is definitely one goal for the future."

Unlike the other past Lithuania teams that Kuzminskas has played for, when Jonas Kazlauskas was coach, the new man in charge is Dainius Adomaitis.

"We all believe that we can achieve great things," Kuzminskas said. "I am sure that Coach Adomaitis will help us improve. He is one of the best Lithuanian coaches.

"We all have one goal: work hard and keep showing how talented Lithuanian basketball is. We have been in a great dynamic the last couple of years and Coach Adomaitis will do a great job, that is for sure."

FIBA