Simas Jasaitis Lithuanian basketball player Date of Birth: 26.03.1982 Country: Lithuania

1. Lithuanian Basketball Player Simas Jasaitis
2. Preparation for Olympic Qualification
3. Moving to "Lokomotiv" and Olympic Dreams

Lithuanian Basketball Player Simas Jasaitis

Simas Jasaitis is a Lithuanian basketball player who recently joined the Russian national team. He is considered one of the leaders of the Lithuanian team and has recently become part of the Krasnodar "Lokomotiv" club. This acquisition is seen as a transfer success for the bronze medalists of the Russian Championship.

Jasaitis is known for his deadly shooting ability, which he showcased early in his career while playing for his hometown team "Letuvos Ritas". In 2005, he won the EuroCup with them. He has since played for various European clubs including "Maccabi", "Baskonia", "Hovetnud", and "Galatasaray". However, frequent injuries prevented him from fully showcasing his talent.

His agent, Mark Flaysher, who also represents basketball stars like Andrei Kirilenko and Pau Gasol, believes that Jasaitis could have played in the NBA if not for his injuries. Last season, Jasaitis played for the PTT club in Ankara, Turkey, but missed several games due to injuries. The team finished ninth in the league and did not qualify for the playoffs.

Preparation for Olympic Qualification

Currently, Jasaitis is preparing for the Olympic qualification tournament in Caracas, which is why he joined the Russian national team for their training camp in Houston. However, it is uncertain whether he will be included in the final roster as the Lithuanian coach prefers not to overload his key players to avoid injuries.

Jasaitis is optimistic about their chances in the tournament and believes that they have a stronger team compared to the previous European Championship, where they were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Macedonia. He acknowledges that the competition will be tough, with Lithuania, Russia, Greece, and Macedonia considered the main contenders for the three Olympic spots.

Moving to "Lokomotiv" and Olympic Dreams

Jasaitis recently signed a two-year contract with the Krasnodar "Lokomotiv" club, and he is excited about the move. He believes that the level of Russian club basketball is higher than in Turkey, where he played last season. He is also looking forward to playing with his new teammates, including Sergey Bykov, the leader of the Russian national team.

His ultimate goal is to qualify for the Olympics, and he hopes that Lithuania, Russia, and Greece will be the teams to secure the spots. However, he acknowledges that anything can happen in basketball, and teams like Puerto Rico can be formidable opponents. Jasaitis is determined to continue Lithuania's tradition of success at the Olympics and aims for a medal.

The president of "Lokomotiv," Andrey Vedischev, expressed his satisfaction with Jasaitis' signing, highlighting his team-oriented playing style and international experience. The club's roster has also been strengthened by the addition of Valery Likhodey, a former player for "Spartak" St. Petersburg, and potential newcomers Yovel Ohayon from "Maccabi" and Nick Calathes from "Panathinaikos."