In this episode of Basketball Body and Mind, we’re joined by global performance coach Žilvinas Kriukovas, who has trained Lithuania’s U16–U18 national teams and now works in China with youth athletes through the Green Fighters Academy.

We dive into building athletes — from 6-year-old kids to elite pros — with a philosophy rooted in movement quality, strength fundamentals and fun.

🎯 What you’ll learn in this episode:
Why coaching kids isn’t about barbells — it’s about movement & fun
How strength & agility training should evolve from 6 to 26 years old
Tools to assess athlete readiness (beyond just weight lifted)
When to use pushups, lunges, trap bar deadlifts, isometrics & more
The mental side of coaching & working across cultures (China vs Europe)
How elite conditioning doesn’t come from parks… but from the court
The importance of teaching why, not just what
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📲 Connect with Žilvinas: [@zilvinas_coach on IG]
💬 DM him or join his upcoming 1-on-1 online basketball training program


⏱️ Chapters / Timestamps
00:00 – Intro: Meet Žilvinas Kriukovas
01:00 – Working with 6–13 Year Olds in China
06:15 – Strength Training for Kids: What’s Safe? What Works?
08:45 – Gamifying Workouts: Fun + Results
11:10 – Why Movement Beats Barbell at Young Ages
14:30 – Teaching “Active Squats” & Owning Range of Motion
17:00 – National Team Assessments: What He Tests & Why
20:40 – Pushups, Pull-ups & the Truth About Strength Standards
24:30 – Why Coaches Need Context Before Programming
27:15 – Strength for Guards vs Centers: Who Needs What?
30:00 – Bulgarian Split Squat vs Trap Bar: Real Standards Shared
33:30 – Kids vs Veterans: Build vs Maintain Strategy
36:00 – Conditioning: It Belongs on the Basketball Court
40:10 – Recovery Tips: What Actually Works (Hint: It’s Not Foam Rolling)
43:00 – Life in China: Turtle BBQs, Chicken Feet & Garage Gyms
45:00 – Best All-Around Exercise? Žilvinas Picks His Top Two
47:00 – Final Advice: Balance, Consistency, and Having FUN

Summary

In this episode, Stan interviews Henrikas Paulauskas, a multifaceted basketball professional who shares his journey from player to coach and director of the Shanghai Falcons Basketball Club. Henrikas discusses the importance of building confidence, communication, and discipline in young players, as well as the role of education and experience in coaching. He emphasizes the need for professionalism in basketball and the challenges faced in youth development, particularly in China. The conversation highlights the passion for the game that drives Henrikas and the various forms success can take in a basketball career.

Takeaways

Building confidence comes with a repetition of the shots.
Discipline is hard to implement in China.
Success can come in different forms.
You need to be a sponge to absorb information.
Trust your coach and the system.
Basketball is a difficult sport that needs patience.
You need to work hard consistently.
You can’t skip the fundamentals.
You need to believe in yourself and push forward.
Communication is key for player development.

Chapters

00:00 The Journey Begins: Hendrikas Paulauskas' Basketball Path
03:11 Transitioning from Player to Coach: Lessons Learned
10:48 Building Confidence and Communication in Young Players
15:57 The Role of Education and Experience in Coaching
22:29 Understanding Professionalism in Basketball
30:46 International Influence: Youth Basketball in China
36:06 Passion for the Game: Hendrikas' Ongoing Journey

In this incredible episode of Basketball Body and Mind, we sit down with Lukas Grabauskas, Sports Director of BC Lietkabelis (EuroCup, LKL) to reveal how professional basketball clubs really scout, sign, and develop players.


What you’ll learn:

How young players can catch a pro club’s attention
Why character and habits matter even more than pure talent
How to choose between money vs playing time in early career moves
Inside look at how NBA and European basketball teams operate differently
The underrated power of good mentoring and environment off the court
If you're an aspiring player, a parent, or a coach — these insights are gold.

Connect with Lukas
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukas-grabauskas/

Connect with Stan
https://www.instagram.com/balticmove/

🎙️ New episodes every week — Subscribe now for elite basketball mind training!

📩 For podcast collabs or coaching inquiries: [Basketball.body.mind@gmail.com]

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00:00 – Official Trailer: Sneak Peek 🎥
01:00 – Introduction: Who is Lukas Grabauskas?
02:45 – What Does a Sports Director Actually Do?
05:15 – How Clubs Scout New Talent
08:20 – Young Players: How to Get Noticed
11:00 – Why Money Isn't Everything Early On
14:30 – Key Questions Parents Should Ask Before Moving Abroad
17:50 – Off-Court Behavior: The Hidden Metric Scouts Look At
21:10 – Can a Bad Attitude Ruin a Pro Career?
24:40 – How NBA Teams Differ from European Clubs
28:00 – Why Environment Matters More Than You Think
31:10 – How to Balance Education and Basketball
34:30 – Personal Habits That Separate Good from Great Players
37:50 – How NBA Coaches and Staff Operate Differently
40:30 – The Story of Scouting a Talented But Difficult Player
44:00 – Lukas’ Best Moment in Basketball Career
47:00 – Final Advice for Young Players and Parents