Netherlands’ Orange Lions look to learn from Zalgiris’ youth system

Zalgiris Kaunas shared their know-how in youth basketball training with the Dutch Orange Lions Academy. The basketball academy that opened doors in Amsterdam a year and a half ago spent an entire week in Kaunas, learning from Zalgiris’ coaches, participating in practices with youth teams and were up and close in the EuroLeague game against AX Armani Milan.

The head coach of the Orange Lions Academy Marc van den Berg talked about how the academy came to existance and hoped that opportunities like this allow them to take Netherlands’ basketball to a higher level.

We just started a new basketball academy in Netherlands a year and a half ago. This is the first time in the history of our sport, that we are trying to build a real, strong, competitive international academy in our country. Our goal is to make the national team better

The specialist noted that the most important thing is to make the youth fall for basketball and show what kind of level is expected in Europe’s best organizations.

Part of what we’re doing now, is teaching our young kids how good European institutions are. That’s why we’re here, in one of the best organizations in Europe. It is important for them to see what level you can reach if you really apply yourself. It’s a great learning experience.“

The Orange Lions Academy youth practiced with Zalgiris-2 and Zalgiris-3 teams. Van den Berg was excited seeing the Zalgiris practice culture, the traditions that are being instilled, and just the winning mentality.

The Lithuanian champions seek to become an open and welcoming example to all basketball communities. At the end of last year, three Danish boys teams were visiting Kaunas, with 12 coaches from Denmark and Israel, who were partaking in the first iteration of the Zalgiris Coach Clinic. It is expected that the clinic will draw in even more basketball specialists who are looking to broaden their capabilities.