Rokas Giedraitis – about the burnt season in the Euroleague, the desire to stay in Belgrade and the national team

The fiery Rokas Giedraitis scored six of eight three-pointers in the second game of the Adriatic League semifinals against Mega MIS Belgrade, leading Crvena zvezda Belgrade to their seventh consecutive final.

The 31-year-old sniper from Lithuania, who became the champion of the Serbian Cup in February, will start hunting for his second title next week, but the 2023-2024 season will always be associated with his failed campaign on the international front.

Although Crvena Zvezda president Nebojša Čovičius, who opened his wallet widely last summer, on the eve of the season set the goal for the team to reach the final four of the Euroleague for the first time in history, the “red” Belgrade club won 11 victories in 34 matches in the strongest tournament of the Old Continent and finished in 16th position, ahead of only the teams of Villerban ASVEL (9-25) and Berlin ALBA (5-29).

“Bad, bad season,” Rokas Giedraitis told Serbian news portal “Informer”. – At the beginning of the season, we expected much more. I think we haven’t lived up to our potential because we haven’t built a system to play successfully. Very strong teams play in the Euroleague, so it is practically impossible to suddenly adapt to them. I cannot name one reason for the unsuccessful season. We had problems with leadership, we changed the coach, and in the Euroleague it is very important to play with great confidence and at your own pace.”

R. Giedraitis, who left Vitoria-Gasteiz “Baskonia” last summer after three years, accepted the invitation of his former coach Duškos Ivanović to join the new “Crvena zvezda” project, which radiated ambition, but this strategist’s head flew away in Belgrade just after the first four matches of the Euroleague.

The Montenegrin was replaced by the Greek Ioannis Sfairopoulos at the helm of “Crvena zvezda”, but even this “red star” club failed to win.

“The first months (after the coaching rotation) were difficult for me,” R. Giedraitis admitted. – New coach, new system and new role. With Duška, I had the ball in my hands more often, and with Ioannis, I became a player who plays more without the ball. Of course, I was invited to Belgrade by Duško, who became one of the main reasons why I chose to come here. However, I understand that basketball is a business and I respect the club’s decision.”

When communicating with the Serbian news portal “Informer”, a Lithuanian was asked to compare Lithuanian and Serbian basketball fans.

“The culture of support in Serbia is completely different,” said R. Giedraitis. – Serbian fans are the best in the world. I got to experience the special atmosphere of the derby with Partizan. Fans in Lithuania also support the teams, but there are moments when the arenas are quiet. Such things never happen in Serbia. People here are always standing, jumping, singing and throwing things on the field. That last part is not my favorite, but I understand the fans’ emotions. People in this country just love basketball so much.”

This season in the EuroLeague, the sniper played just over 25 minutes, scored 10 points (53.8% doubles, 34.1% triples, 81.5% penalties), rebounded 3.8 balls, collected with a utility score of 9.8.

Statistics in the Adriatic championships – 9.8 points scored (64.2% doubles, 46.5% triples, 76% penalties), 2.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 10.7 efficiency points in just over 20 minutes on the floor.

R. Giedraitis’ contract with the Belgrade club will change in the coming summer, but he would like to play in this Serbian team next season as well.

“I have to talk with my family, rethink everything, but at the moment it seems that I would like to stay at Crvena zvezda.” I’m happy here, my family is happy too, so why not? I think we could have done more in the Euroleague. I would repeat everything,” said R. Giedraitis.

The basketball player from Lithuania, who finished his fifth season in the Euroleague, said that he supports Šarūns Jasikevičius and his coached Istanbul “Fenerbahçe” in the playoffs.

“He is also from Lithuania, so he could win the Euroleague with Fenerbahce,” said R. Giedraitis. – I don’t support one particular team. I enjoy watching tight matches with uncertain endings. This season is crazy, it’s just unreal.”

Rock Giedraitis

R. Giedraitis, who did not represent the Lithuanian national team at the world championships last summer, returned to it in February, when he put on the national team shirt in the selection for the 2025 European championships against the representatives of Poland and Estonia.

The basketball player hopes to receive Kazis Maksvytis’ invitation to Puerto Rico, where the selection tournament for the Paris Olympic Games will be held in the first week of July.

“If the coach invites me, I will come because I like to represent the national team,” said R. Giedraitis. – I hope I won’t have any health problems. We have a qualifying tournament ahead of us, and if we win it, we will play in the Olympic Games group together with Serbia, South Sudan and the United States of America. This is a very tough group. Just an unreal amount of great players in one place.”