Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Mindaugas Bertys
Sirgalių keiktas žalgirietis atsivėrė: „Buvo sunki atkarpa“
Prieš Pirėjo „Olympiakos“ – 0 taškų, 1 rezultatyvus perdavimas ir -4 naudingumo balai per 14 minučių, prieš „Paris Basketball“ – 2 taškai, 4 rezultatyvūs perdavimas ir 0 naudingumo balų per beveik 21 minutę, prieš „Barceloną“ – 4 taškai, 0 rezultatyvių perdavimų ir 4 naudingumo balai per 10 minučių, prieš „Fenerbahce“ – 0 taškų, 2 rezultatyvūs perdavimai ir -1 naudingumo balas per 11 minučių. Tokie buvo Maodo Lo skaičiai nerungtyniaujant N.
Po lengvos pergalės J. Valančiūnas buvo atviras: „Kaip įėjom į šitą š, taip ir turim išeiti“
„Gerai gerai, labai gerai, šviežias oras rūbinėj. Super!“ – teigiamomis emocijomis tryško Jonas. „Žalgiris“ rungtynių kontrolę į savąsias rankas čiupo nuo pat pradžių ir varžovams apie pergalę pernelyg pagalvoti neleido. Vienas pagrindinių teigiamo rezultato kalvių buvo ir pats J. Valančiūnas. Per beveik 19 aikštelėje praleistų minučių JV pelnė 15 taškų (6/11 dvit., 3/3 baud.), atkovojo 8 kamuolius, išprovokavo 5 pražangas ir surinko 18 naudingumo balų. Pastarasis rodiklis – geriausias komandoje.
Johnathan Motley to make his Hapoel return vs Wolves
Johnathan Motley played his last game for Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv more than a month ago. He is now set to return to the court. Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv Joventut Badalona 95-70 Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv Wed 16:30 The 29-year-old center will play his first game since the infamous dispute regarding his departure from the organization, head coach Dimitris Itoudis confirmed.
Kattash, Randolph want EuroLeague back in Israel: 'It gives us hope'
It was arguably the most anticipated game in a number of years. Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv battled against Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv in the fully packed Menora Mivtachim Arena for the first time in more than a year.
Marial Shayok: I'm 'completely different' from who I was in Fenerbahce
Marial Shayok revealed how his decision to join Maccabi was made, remembered his game against Team USA, and compared his current self to his version in Fenerbahce two years ago. Credit: REUTERS/Annegret Hilse - Scanpix Marial Shayok used to play in the EuroLeague. Two years ago, he was part of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul. Now, he will try to prove himself in the strongest league in the continent again. This time, for Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv.
Tyrique Jones prepares extra skill, talks fans and Bartzokas conflict
Tyrique Jones has been quietly practicing a new skill he wants to introduce in his game in the future. He also shared his thoughts about his close relationship with his mother, the Partizan fan memory he will never forget, and described his back-and-forth with Georgios Bartzokas from his point of view. Credit: Partizan Mozzart Bet/Dragana Stjepanovic The fourth Thursday of November is special for the vast majority of Americans.
Ben Saraf opens up: Discarded NCAA, unusual challenges in Germany, and the NBA dream
Ben Saraf is one of the most talented players in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft. He opened up about his decision to not play in the NCAA and sign with ratiopharm Ulm, the strange challenges he sometimes has to face in Germany, his childhood in Israel, and his eventual departure to the NBA. Credit: FIBA, Harry Langer/DeFodi via ZUMA Press - Scanpix, Ratiopharm Ulm | BasketNews illustration/M.Bertys The biggest topic in Israel is not basketball at the moment.
Nigel Hayes-Davis opens up about his travels, language tricks, and unusual Team USA advice
Nigel Hayes-Davis shared fun stories and tricks from his numerous travels, from impersonating a geologist to surprising people and dealing with being an American. He shared the unusual advice he sought while being part of Team USA and promised more to come. Credit: Instagram/nigel_hayes; USA Basketball/Joe Murphy Three years ago, Nigel Hayes-Davis averaged 4.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 4 PIR in the EuroLeague.
Canaan reacts to Sfairopoulos presser: 'We're behind our coach'
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade lost a nail-biting game against Zalgiris Kaunas in the EuroLeague on Wednesday. After the game, Crvena Zvezda's guard Isaiah Canaan gave the credit to their opponents. Player of the Game EFF 20 Sylvain Francisco Points 15 Accuracy 4-9 Rebounds 2 Assists 7 "The ball bounced their way at the end. You have to give them credit, they played better than us for the majority of the game. We just can't dig ourselves a hole.
Top 10 most surprising EuroLeague players so far
BasketNews selected 10 EuroLeague players who positively surprised basketball fans in the first four rounds of the new 2024-25 season. Additionally, Mr. Surprise - the player few saw having such a wonderful start - was selected. Credit: Fabrizio Bertani/Alto Press via ZUMA Press - Scanpixp; Herve Bellenger/EuroLeague via Getty Images; Dainius Lukšta Only four rounds have taken place in the new EuroLeague season so far, but many players have overcome the expectations for them wildly.
Jared Harper: 'Being in Israel doesn't feel that much different'
Jared Harper opened up about his choice to play in Israel, the landscape of undersized guards in Europe, and his possible comeback to the EuroLeague. Credit: Savino Paolella/IPA via ZUMA Press - Scanpix Jared Harper has now played in a plethora of top basketball leagues, from the NBA to the EuroLeague to the EuroCup. The Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem point guard has had a wide variety of experiences.
Newcomers in modern EuroLeague: Different approaches and common trend
Despite being established just six years ago, Paris Basketball managed to win the EuroCup and advance to the EuroLeague. On Friday, October 4, the French organization will compete in its first-ever EuroLeague game. Paris Basketball will be the true newcomer - a team without any prior EuroLeague experience in any kind of format.
Ponitka names biggest misconception about Sochan, talks Podziemski in Poland
It's been more than five years since Mateusz Ponitka last played in a EuroCup game. It wasn't the best of comebacks for the Polish forward, but his new team, Bahcesehir College Istanbul, got the win anyway. With two minutes to go until the end of the game against Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius, Ponitka had missed all three of his triples and committed four fouls. When his team needed him the most, he converted two free throws and made a tough and-one.
Smailagic details departure from Partizan: 'It was the first time seeing such stuff'
Alen Smailagic will begin his first season outside of his home country of Serbia or the NBA as a member of Zalgiris Kaunas. Smajli, as he's called, was one of 10+ players who left Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade after the previous season. "I'm feeling great, happy to be here, happy to start playing basketball," Smailagic told BasketNews during an open Lithuanian club's practice. "This is the thing we've been doing our whole lives.
Jeffery Taylor talks Patrick Beverley, shares memories about Rudy Fernandez
At 35 years old, Jeffery Taylor will begin his 10th season in Europe. He might not be as feared and revered as before, but his basketball skill and knowledge are still very much there. Position: PG Age: 36 Height: 185 cm Weight: 84 kg Birth place: Chicago, United States of America "Nothing much different, to be honest with you. The preseason as usual, nothing big changed.
Alvin Gentry likens one Goran Dragic's game to Kobe Bryant
Alvin Gentry took on the role of the first head coach Goran Dragic was learning from in his NBA career. After years went by and the Slovenian retired, Gentry told a story of one game he likened him to the legendary Kobe Bryant.
Robin Lopez doesn't rule out retirement: 'If it happens, it happens'
Robin Lopez was one of the guests at the 'I Feel Slovenia Night of the Dragon' event dedicated to Goran Dragic. After the event, he shared his thoughts about his basketball career. Position: C Age: 36 Height: 213 cm Weight: 116 kg Birth place: Los Angeles, United States of America Lopez, one of the active players on either of the two rosters that competed in the farewell game, played over nine minutes, hit a three-pointer, and grabbed four rebounds.
Chris Bosh names unexpected player who made him play basketball again
It was the first time Chris Bosh stepped on a basketball court since a serious medical condition forced him to retire from the NBA. He wasn't supposed to play, but one unexpected player helped him change his mind. Position: PF Age: 40 Height: 211 cm Weight: 107 kg Birth place: Dallas, United States of America Bosh scored 2 points, both with free throws, during the 'I Feel Slovenia Night of the Dragon' event dedicated to his former teammate Goran Dragic, who officially said goodbye to basketball.
Chris Bosh grieved for years after retirement: 'It was the death of my career'
Chris Bosh's career didn't end how he wanted, as he had to retire mid-season due to a serious medical problem. The 11-time All-Star admits - it was a very difficult period for him. Position: PF Age: 40 Height: 211 cm Weight: 107 kg Birth place: Dallas, United States of America The Miami Heat center's career was stopped by a blood clot condition, which severely hindered his ability to lead a career as a professional athlete. The NBA deemed it to be a career-ending illness at the time.
Dirk Nowitki on Luka Doncic: 'He plays like a 35-year-old'
Dirk Nowitzki is regarded as the best player in Dallas Mavericks' history. Now, the team has a future all-time great on the squad, Luka Doncic. Position: PF Age: 46 Height: 213 cm Weight: 111 kg Birth place: Wurzburg, Germany Nowitzki's last year in the NBA was Doncic first. During the 2018-19 season, the German superstar was 40, the Slovenian up-and-comer was 19.
Steve Nash: 'I don't feel like coaching is in my future'
When he finished his professional playing career, Steve Nash became an NBA head coach after just a couple of years. He doesn't see his future in the same way now. Nash was named the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets in 2020 and took over the team that had just acquired Kevin Durant to join Kyrie Irving for a new power duo in the league. Two years later, Nash parted ways with the organization and hasn't been to coaching since.
Biggest scandal in Olympic history: The 1972 Munich basketball final
Team USA has refused to accept their Olympics medals until this day, while huge questions remain to be asked about the integrity of all people involved. Credit: AP - Scanpix; Getty Images | BasketNews illustration/M.Bertys There have been a wide array of sporting scandals in the Olympics, from half of all boxing judges being fired for incompetence in 1960 to the Tonya Harding scandal, the Roy Jones Jr. bout, and the recent Kamila Valieva case.
Olympic debuts of basketball legends: Stats, stories, and results
From Bill Russell to Michael Jordan, from Oscar Robertson to LeBron James, from Drazen Petrovic to Yao Ming, numerous basketball legends appeared in the Olympics when they were young phenoms. We provide an in-depth account of how each performance went down. Credit: TopFoto, Filippo Monteforte/AFP, REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson - Scanpix; Gilbert Iundt/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images, Associated Press via Newspapers.com The Olympic Games is a unique tournament where only the best of the best meet.
Luca Banchi wants changes in Olympics: 'Europe suffered the most'
Banchi thinks FIBA and the Olympic Committee should come together to increase the number of participants in the Olympics. Credit: FIBA The Latvian national team handily lost against Brazil in front of their ever-cheering crowd of home fans in Riga, also losing the opportunity to play in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games for the first time in almost nine decades.
Nikola Vucevic opens up on Caruso trade, Matas Buzelis, and possible rebuild
Vucevic offered his perspective on the Caruso-Giddey trade, evaluated the new draftee Matas Buzelis joining the Bulls, and answered about the prospect of leading a rebuilding Chicago roster. Credit: FIBA Nikola Vucevic's Montenegro did not advance past the group stage in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga, Latvia, and the team's hope to get to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games was crushed.
Davis Bertans reacts to being waived by Hornets, talks OQT final
With minutes remaining in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament game between Latvia and Cameroon, news came out about Latvia's Davis Bertans getting waived by the Charlotte Hornets. The player offered his reaction to the news. MIN: 23.72 PTS: 10.33 (46.43%) REB: 2 As: 0.33 ST: 1.33 BL: 1.33 TO: 1.67 GM: 3 Bertans was traded to the Hornets in the middle of the season.
Dwight Ramos explains why Gilas lost to Brazil, rates OQT in Latvia
After five days of positive emotions, Gilas Pilipinas was ultimately eliminated from the Olympic Games contention after losing to Brazil in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga, Latvia. Player of the Game EFF 22 Bruno Caboclo Points 15 Accuracy 5-9 Rebounds 11 Assists 1 Gilas won the first quarter 22-12, sparking hope in the Philippines of another surprise in the making. Dwight Ramos was the main guy leading the team, which competed without the injured Kai Sotto.
Kai Sotto details his injury: 'It hurts a lot'
Gilas Pilipinas is one of the most surprising teams in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments. After beating Latvia in the first game, they managed to advance to the playoffs despite losing to Georgia. During the last game, the team's leader, Kai Sotto, got injured. Latvia Philippines 80-89 Philippines Georgia 94-96 Brazil Philippines Sat 12:30 Sotto got fouled by Georgia's Joe Thomasson, with the naturalized guard hitting the big man with his shoulder during a shot attempt.
Justin Brownlee explains last possession vs Georgia, shares fun note on defense
Justin Brownlee admitted Gilas Pilipinas hadn't even talked about ever defending the zone before the OQT in Latvia. The veteran player ultimately explained in Tagalog what Filipino fans could expect from the team moving forward. Credit: FIBA Gilas Pilipinas did what few expected of them before the start of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga, Latvia. Gilas advanced to the semifinal stage, and Justin Brownlee was game MVP once again.
Justin Brownlee praises Tim Cone and Chot Reyes, feels hungry for more
Justin Brownlee praised both the current and the past Gilas Pilipinas coaching staff after a win against Latvia in the OQT. He claimed not feeling regret about not playing in the World Cup last year and admitted fatigue might have played a part in getting the victory. Credit: FIBA Justin Brownlee was the MVP of the game which Gilas Pilipinas fans are going to remember for a long time, as the Philippines defeated no. 6-ranked Latvia in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga.
Kai Sotto explains Gilas win vs Latvia, sends message to Philippines
Sotto shared the success recipe and the areas of improvement he still sees Gilas Pilipinas should address. In the end, he sent a message to all Filipino fans who watched the game against Latvia in the middle of the night. Credit: FIBA July 3rd was a night to remember for Gilas Pilipinas. In a group effort, the Philippines defeated the overwhelming favorites, Latvia, at their home court in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. For Kai Sotto, it was a tremendous opportunity to showcase his skills.
Dwight Ramos reveals changes in Gilas Pilipinas, talks Clarkson-less future
Ramos admits the team feels more mature compared to last year. He talked about the gift and burden of being a basketball star in the Philippines and named a player to watch on the Gilas Pilipinas roster. Credit: FIBA The Philippines hosted the 2023 FIBA World Cup last year in what was the biggest basketball celebration in the country's history, drawing record crowds during Gilas Pilipinas games. A year later, the national team is trying to make history again by getting to the Paris Olympic Games.
Mamukelashvili talks future with Spurs, CP3, and Popovich's surprising feature
Mamukelashvili expressed the desire to stay with the Spurs, play with Chris Paul, and shared stories about Gregg Popovich and Victor Wembanyama. Credit: Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images Like a significant number of international players, Sandro Mamukelashvili dedicates his summers to the national team. This year, the Georgian squad is striving to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games for the first time in the nation's history.
Bruno Caboclo responds to Partizan turmoil, talks Maccabi and Vucevic
Bruno Caboclo had his best game with a Brazilian jersey just a month after the saga with Partizan started. He responded to it and talked about possibly playing for Maccabi. Credit: FIBA Bruno Caboclo has been in the public spotlight ever since his dispute with Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade became public. The big man now responded by playing his best game ever in the Brazilian national team's shirt.
Davis Bertans reflects on season with Hornets amidst trade talks
Bertans revealed feeling happy to finally play the way he likes in Charlotte. The Serbian language gives him one particular advantage on the court, and his dream three-point opponent is a player one would rarely think about. Credit: Julio Aguilar/Getty Images North America/Getty Images via AFP - Scanpix After just months on his new team during the 2023-24 NBA season, Davis Bertans was traded again in mid-season. The Latvian forward is now being mentioned again as a possible trade piece.
Vujcic remembers freakish Maccabi injury, compares Ataman, talks series vs PAO
After years of serving as the general manager of Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, EuroLeague legend Nikola Vujcic lives a more quiet life now. However, he's still closely following the tournament despite not holding a managerial position.
Joe Arlauckas recalls shocking end of career and Bill Russell's advice
Joe Arlauckas is a EuroLeague legend. Before becoming a household name in Europe in the '90s, Arlauckas's career began at a small university in New York. Arlauckas had an illustrious career at Niagara University, finishing his tenure in the top five in scoring in the school's history. During his last NCAA game for Niagara against LaSalle, Arlauckas fouled out and left the court with a standing ovation from the crowd.
Final Four attendance history: Best venues, records, and strange facts
EuroLeague Final Four record belongs to Athens and the OAKA Arena, as a total of 73,452 people attended the games in 2007. However, the EuroLeague has changed its practices multiple times throughout its modern history. Credit: Julian Finney/Getty Images With only days remaining until the start of the 2024 EuroLeague Final Four, fans from all over the continent are flying into Berlin to witness the pinnacle of European basketball.
Sfairopoulos opens up about Zvezda's season, his career, and next year's plans
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade welcomed the new 2023-24 season with a lot of hopes and dreams. However, all these wishes had to be adjusted as the season went on, and the team finished with the second-worst record since the new EuroLeague format was introduced. Points made: 13,6 Accuracy: 77,3% Place in standings: 7 Record max: 24 Record min: 8 Most made FTs: Nemanja Nedovic Nemanja Nedovic called it the best Crvena Zvezda roster ever and was open about the club's ambitions.
Arturs Zagars talks Fenerbahce, gives EuroLeague Game 5 predictions
Arturs Zagars had an incredible 2023 FIBA World Cup campaign, drawing tremendous attention from basketball fans worldwide. After signing with Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, the Latvian guard was stopped by an injury early in the 2023-24 season. Team: Wolves Vilnius Position: PG Age: 24 Height: 190 cm Weight: 78 kg Birth place: Jurmala , Latvia Zagars was loaned to Wolves Vilnius, a Lithuanian club competing in the EuroCup.
Maccabi fans open up about the series, PAO comments and EuroLeague return to Israel
Ever since the war broke out in Israel on October 7th, 2023, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv have been forced to play home games outside of their home country. The EuroLeague playoffs were no exception. Points made: 8,9 Accuracy: 36,4% Place in standings: 13 Record max: 19 Record min: 4 Most made 3FGs: Tamir Blatt Around a thousand dedicated fans traveled to Belgrade to cheer for their favorite team in the Aleksandar Nikolic Hall, better known as Pionir.
Josh Nebo reacts to painful loss, responds to report about Slovenia
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv suffered a heartbreaking loss against Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens in Game 4 of the EuroLeague playoffs. One of the best players in the series, Josh Nebo, provided his reaction to it. Player of the Game EFF 32 Kostas Sloukas Points 20 Accuracy 6-11 Rebounds 8 Assists 6 Nebo's presence was once again felt both defensively and offensively. However, his 12-point performance was not enough to defeat the 2nd-seeded PAO. "A tough game. A tough game for us tonight.
EuroLeague double weeks: Are they that bad and which teams are the best?
With the introduction of a new format in 2016, the EuroLeague introduced a new concept to the calendar - double weeks. With it came a unique challenge for the club - dealing with more games in the same amount of time as before. The 2016-17 EuroLeague season started with 16 teams in the tournament and five double weeks. As the years went by, the number of teams increased to 18.
Lorenzo Brown reacts to PAO protest, explains last minute of Game 3
The series between Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv and Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens has been mired with controversy, wild statements, and, more importantly - great play on the court. Player of the Game EFF 31 Josh Nebo Points 22 Accuracy 10-13 Rebounds 9 Assists 0 Even though Maccabi competed without Wade Baldwin IV, they managed to beat Panathinaikos in Game 3 in front of almost a thousand local fans who flew in from Israel.
Panathinaikos protest: Do they have a case to win it?
The EuroLeague quarterfinal series between Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens and Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv has been breathtaking from the very start, full of stories that surround both the players and the organizations. Game 3 was not an exception. Player of the Game EFF 31 Josh Nebo Points 22 Accuracy 10-13 Rebounds 9 Assists 0 When it seemed like PAO were out of the contest, they came back and had a real chance to win the game.
EuroLeague Power Ranking: How wrong were the pre-season projections?
It is often said that the EuroLeague is the most unpredictable tournament in European basketball. While some constants are usually known, predicting the final standings is almost impossible. When the EuroLeague season is around the corner, BasketNews usually presents the Power Ranking of all teams in the tournament, where BasketNews staff and a multitude of journalists from various European countries submit their picks to determine their view of the upcoming season.
Sergio Scariolo: Nick Nurse at Real Madrid, lessons in the NBA, and future in Europe
Sergio Scariolo has seen numerous stages of basketball development throughout his long coaching career, which spans multiple decades and dates back to the 1980s. He was there when the EuroLeague, as we know it now, was created. He will be there when the new stage of the competition will commence. As mentioned in the first part of the interview, Scariolo transferred from Italy to Spain because he believed in the growth of Spanish basketball.
Anatomy of EuroLeague scoring records: How are they broken?
The way EuroLeague scoring records are reached has changed throughout the years, and the new method of doing it is here to stay. Credit: Tolga Adanali/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images, Rokas Lukoševičius/BNS After standing for almost 20 years, the EuroLeague single-game scoring record was broken twice in the last five years, most recently by Nigel Hayes-Davis, who scored 50 against ALBA Berlin.
Sergio Scariolo: Shocked Patrick Ewing, scheming vs Oscar Schmidt & Italian basketball's problems
Sergio Scariolo is one of the most coveted basketball coaches in Europe, often regarded as the best national team coach in recent history, and the list of players he either coached or coached against is hard to beat. Despite his impressive accolades, Scariolo does not currently coach a club following his highly-discussed departure from Virtus Segafredo Bologna. While the 62-year-old specialist is still at the helm of the Spanish national team, it's a different period in his career.
Jaleen Smith: Partizan struggles, weirdest thing about Zach LeDay, and lessons abroad
Jaleen Smith has been on a rollercoaster this season. Starting off with Virtus Segafredo Bologna, he's now with Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade. However, his road did not become easier. Points made: 8,0 Accuracy: 36,6% Place in standings: 16 Record max: 12 Record min: 4 Most made 3FGs: Kevin Punter Although he was initially seen as a candidate to take over the main point guard's duties, Smith didn't have a clear-cut role in Virtus from the very beginning.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Mindaugas
Contact Mindaugas, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack