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