In 1891 American teacher James Naismith invented basketball. Year after year it became more and more popular, people played basketball in more and more countries. In 1922 Steponas Darius brought it to Lithuania. It became popular so fast, as TV after World War II.

Level of Lithuanian basketball was so high, that in 1935 Lithuanian team played in the European championship. In 1935 championship took place in Riga (Latvia). Lithuanians were debutantes, and nobody could hope, that debutantes could be among leaders, but Lithuanians were! Lithuanians weren`t champions!

In 1939 the occurred in Kaunas. A new Sport Hall was built for this occasion, and sportsmen still play basketball in it now. Lithuanian team became the winner of this competition again.

Women have never remained in the background of men. All time they tried to be in the same level like men and they always do it. European championship in 1938 was very successful and Lithuanian sportswomen won silver medals.

World War II didn`t stop development of Lithuanian basketball. In the time of the war, legendary players, champions of Europe, ran to the West, but Lithuanian basketball wasn't dead. A few students team won the fi

For Example, Soviets wanted Sabonis to play in CSKA. At the same day, when Sabonis finished secondary school, soviets came to school and tried to take Sabonis to the army. But Lithuanians were faster. Sabonis was already studying at Kaunas high school!

If you want to get big victories, you need some intelligence and some organization. Lithuanians don't complain that they feel shortage of it. At once after getting freedom, Lithuanians started to build national basketball system. Sarunas Marciulionis was the fundamental organizer and sponsor. In 1994 Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL) was founded. It was very important. Marciulionis played in NBA for a long time, so he knew, how to make the same in Lithuania. LKL matches are very interesting and persistent.

In 1994 Jonas Kazlauskas came to "Zalgiris". He was a young trainer, without big experience, but with the best wishes and great ambitions. He was democratic, new style trainer. He took young players and started to make stars. He showed that basketball is a team sport and one or two players can't win match. Kazlauskas learned together with players. Results didn't come at the same time. In 1996 "Zalgiris" lost in semifinal of Cup Winners Cup, in 1997 "Zalgiris" lost in 1/8 final. In 1998 "Zalgiris" surprised all the Europe. "Zalgiris" won Euro Cup! It was the first J. Kazlauskas and all "Zalgiris" triumph. In the last (1998-1999) season, "Zalgiris" started playing in EuroLeague. Nobody looked to debutante, like to the potential competitioner. But military leader J. Kazlauskas and "Zalgiris" didn't want to stop. There're no stars, no big money, but fast, nice, commnadly play was the guaranty of luck. "Zalgiris" won the Cup of EuroLeague! "Zalgiris" (see picture in file zalgiris98-99) showed that money cannot win, only the team can win.

Basketball in Lithuania is very popular. The most popu

Some common words found in the essay are:
Kazlauskas Zalgiris, Soviet Union, EuroLeague Zalgiris, Olympic Games, Sport Hall, Basketball Lithuania, Soviets Sabonis, Lithuania Barcelona`92, Northern European, Union Lithuanian, lithuanian basketball, soviet union, northern european, lithuanian team, team won, zalgiris lost, basketball league, olympic games, sarunas marciulionis, kazlauskas zalgiris, world war ii, basketball leading sport, european basketball league, zalgiris started playing, northern european basketball,
Approximate Word count = 1252
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)