Linas Kleiza won’t be playing much basketball in the near future, as he recovers from microfracture surgery, but he will be able to take part in a television series that will air in his native Lithuania. Kleiza will make a few appearances in a show geared towards helping the nation’s youth deal with social problems they may encounter growing up.
MiroSport has the details:
26-year-old Toronto Raptors forward Linas Kleiza, who cannot play basketball at the moment due to leg injury, will play himself in the new Lithuanian series about teenagers’ social problems, Lithuanian media reports.
It is a pleasure to be with partners and producers like Rolandas Skaisgirys and TV3. We have prepared a lot of great social projects. There is a lot of problems with children; people are running away from this country because there is a lack of leaders. What we have to do? We have to be proud that we are Lithuanians, and not only if we talk about basketball.” Kleiza said.
More power to Kleiza for using his time wisely to make an impact on the youth of his nation. He has represented his country well in international events and had a decent start to his NBA career. Now he’ he’s hoping his status will give teenagers someone to look up to in a country he feels is lacking in leadership.
Kleiza helped Lithuania to the bronze medal in the 2007 FIBA European Championships and another bronze medal at the 2010 FIBA World Championships. In the 2010 tournament he averaged 19 points, 7 rebounds, and was named to the All-Tournament Team.
Kleiza spent his first four NBA seaons in Denver with the Nuggets before playing for the Toronto Raptors this past season. Before his injury he was averaging a career high 11.2 points and 4.5 rebounds in 39 games.
H/T SLAM
