Wikipedia

Juozas Petkevičius

Juozas "Juozukas" Petkevičius (born 8 April 1946 in Molėtai, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union) is a Lithuanian basketball coach, masseur, and former rugby player. He is often regarded as mascot of Lithuania men's national basketball team.[1][2][3][4]

Juozas Petkevičius during basketball jubilee celebration

According to Petkevičius, his dream was to play basketball, however basketball coaches, including Vladas Garastas who in Petkevičius childhood worked in Biržai, rejected him due to his small height.[5][6] Nevertheless, he retained his aspirations to somehow become a part of basketball environment.[6] Petkevičius graduated from the State Institute of Physical Education and eventually specialized in massaging, later while working in the Neurology Department of the Kaunas Clinics he was invited to work as a masseur to the Žalgiris Kaunas where in 1984–1993 he worked with Lithuanian basketball legends like Arvydas Sabonis, Rimas Kurtinaitis and the team was coached by Vladas Garastas.[4][5][6][7][8] Subsequently he worked as masseur in other Lithuanian basketball clubs BC Atletas Kaunas (1995–1999), BC Alytus (1999–2000), Lietuvos rytas Vilnius (2000–2009, returned in 2017), Perlas Vilnius (joined in 2009), Wolves Vilnius (2022–2023).[4][9][10] Moreover, since 1991 he worked as masseur in the Lithuania men's national basketball team that competed in six Olympic Games (1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016) and other FIBA competitions (e.g. EuroBasket 2003, where Lithuania won gold).[4][11][12][13] Even being over 80 years old he continued working in the Lithuania men's national basketball team.[12]

In 2014, Petkevičius was one of the contestants in Lithuanian version of reality show Celebrity Splash! called Šuolis!.[14]

Career

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Personal life

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Wife Vilija, son Vaidas and daughter Miglė.

References

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  1. ↑ "Rinktinės talismanas Juozukas: apie Sabonius, ašaras ir dainuojančius žaidėjus". Alfa.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  2. ↑ "Krepšinio rinktinės talismanas Juozukas: "šnapsą" slėpdavome Arvydo Sabonio bate". Tv3.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  3. ↑ "Vyrų krepšinio rinktinės talismaną Juozuką šypsotis išmokė skaudūs gyvenimo išbandymai". DELFI (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Stonkus, Stanislovas. "Juozas Petkevičius". Lietuvos sporto enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 29 March 2026.
  5. 1 2 "80-metį šiandien švenčia Lietuvos krepšinio rinktinės simbolis Juozas Petkevičius!". Lithuanian National Radio and Television via YouTube.com (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 29 March 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 Jasiulionis, Ridas. "Berniukas iš Biržų internato, tapęs krepšinio pergalių simboliu". 15min.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 29 March 2026.
  7. ↑ "„Wolves" klubą papildė legendinis Juozukas". BC Wolves (in Lithuanian). 23 September 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
  8. ↑ "Wolves podcast: Q&A with Juozas Petkevičius-Juozukas". BC Wolves (in Lithuanian and English). 20 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
  9. ↑ "Į „Lietuvos rytą" sugrįžta masažuotojas J. Petkevičius". DELFI (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 29 March 2026.
  10. ↑ "Legendinis Juozukas palieka „Wolves": „Linkiu sėkmės jau be manęs"". TV3.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 29 March 2026.
  11. ↑ "Lietuvos krepšinio talismanas Juozukas švenčia 80-metį – unikali kelionė ir interviu LRT". Lithuanian National Radio and Television (in Lithuanian). 20 March 2026. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
  12. 1 2 "Juozo Petkevičiaus 80-mečio jubiliejus: esu sujaudintas iki džiaugsmo ašarų". Kauno.diena.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 29 March 2026.
  13. ↑ "Su Lietuvos rinktine nuo 1991 m. esantis legendinis Juozukas: „Šiemet mūsų komandą sudaro ypatingo charakterio krepšininkai"". Asociacija "Lietuvos Krepšinis" (in Lithuanian). 21 August 2025. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
  14. ↑ TV3 premjeroje „Šuolis“ nuo tramplyno ners Lietuvos sporto, šokių ir humoro čempionai
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