The Crossover: Robertas Javtokas

In this episode of The Crossover, Joe sits down with one of Lithuania’s best-known basketball players, former Zalgiris center and now Zalgiris Kaunas Sports Director, Robertas Javtokas.

Javtokas opens up about his childhood, including how attempts to rebel against his parents and their basketball dreams saw him sent away to school in America - without a scrap of English in his repertoire! – the eventual return to his home country which he longed for, and the bittersweet nature of his charmed life in Greece playing for Pana amongst one of their superstar squads.

The giant Lithuanian also talks about the motorcycle accident that almost cost him his life, how he defied the medical world and made an incredible basketball comeback despite all the odds, and how the decision to retire tormented him long before he called time on his playing career. He also talks tattoos, getting drafted in the NBA by accident and ice fishing with his children!