101 Greats of European Basketball

umphs. In the 2008 semis in Madrid against Tau Ceramica
Vitoria, Siskauskas scored 16 points and then had
13 in the title game against Maccabi. He was chosen
as the EuroLeague’s full-season MVP. In 24 games, his
numbers were the usual: 14 points plus 3.2 rebounds
and 1.4 assists. In the summer of 2008, he retired from
the national team after the Beijing Olympics. where he
was worth 11 points and 4 rebounds per game.
Coming from nowhere
In Berlin 2009, Siskauskas played his third straight EuroLeague
championship game, but this time he did not lift
the trophy, even if it was as close as ever. Panathinaikos
led CSKA Moscow by 20 points (48-28), but CSKA rallied
in the second half and had possession to win it all in the
last seconds. The score was 73-71 for Panathinaikos and
CSKA, of course, looked for Siska on the last play. This
time, however, the ball did not go in, though just barely. It
was one of the few important shots he ever missed.
In the summer of 2009, with Messina on the bench at
Real Madrid, it was rumored that Siskauskas would travel
to Spain, but he decided to stay in Moscow. He wasn’t interested
in the NBA either. “I don’t want to go there to see
games from the bench,” was his response to this issue.
Berlin would not be his last Final Four, as he went
to his next one in 2010 in Paris, but fell in the semis to
eventual champion FC Barcelona. Then, in 2012, he was
a part of the CSKA Moscow team that fell to the famous
Georgios Printezis shot that gave a title to Olympiacos
in the last second in Istanbul.
Before the 2011-12 season, Siskauskas told Euroleague.net:
“I didn’t go to any sports school when I was a kid. I
was just playing outside with my friends. I can say that
I came from nowhere. Let’s say from outside, from the
field, I came to basketball. And I reached a lot of things.
The only thing I wanted was to play the highest level.
And my dream came true.”
After the game in Istanbul, Siskauskas decided to
retire, and he announced it on May 21, 2012. On the
CSKA website he explained:
“It was not a sudden decision. I made my choice in the
middle of the season. It was not connected with anything
specific – I just feel I should stop. I can only be excited
about my career. God led me to numerous accomplishments
though I started playing basketball late and I don’t
have any basketball school behind my back. I was happy
to play for several great teams, to win a number of titles.
I am glad I was able to quit as a significant player, playing
for such great team and organization as CSKA Moscow.”
Siskauskas played a total of 143 EuroLeague games
for three teams and averaged 11.6 points with 41.9%
shooting from beyond the arc.
Messina recalled coaching Siskauskas fondly: “He
is an excellent person, a professional with a great work
ethic, and an honest man who always looks you in the
eyes. He was reserved but not closed, with personality
and curiosity to learn.”
Ettore Messina considered him a “silent killer” who
could score in the low post and penetrate. He was never
afraid to take on more responsibility.
Nowadays, Ramunas Siskauskas enjoys fishing
and walking in nature. He returned to basketball as an
assistant coach for the Lithuanian national team last
year. He was a champion in four countries, had some
national cups thrown in, and won a European national
championship and some Olympic metals with his national
team. He is a two-time EuroLeague winner, was
chosen as the EuroLeague MVP and was included in the
EuroLeague’s All-Decade Team for 2000 to 2010.
101 greats of european basketball
Ramunas Siskauskas
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