In last year’s combine hosted by the Brooklyn Nets, being the tallest player didn’t help 7-foot-1 center Mindaugas Kupsas leave a deeper impression on NBA scouts. But the big man out of Lithuania believes that the annual adidas EuroCamp this season will be a different story.

After withdrawing his name from 2012 NBA Draft, Kupsas continued developing his game in Lithuania, playing for Lietkabelis Panevezys. The center improved his numbers in all statistical categories, averaging 10.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 34 games played in 12-13 season.

RealGM sat down with auto-eligible Kupsas, who is the only potential NBA draftee from Lithuania this year, to talk about his development, the upcoming NBA draft, future plans and much more.

RealGM: First of all, most of basketball fans know nothing about you. Could you tell me how you began playing basketball?

Kupsas: Well, I grew up in a, let’s say, grange. My parents divorced when I was 15 or 16. I was always taller and bigger than my other friends at school. There were no proper facilities in the place where I grew up to play hoops, therefore my aunt told Sabonis basketball school about me and the story began. I started playing basketball very late, but the good part is that I never had serious injuries while I was playing.

RealGM: Instead of going to the U.S. and playing in NCAA, why did you decide to continue your career in Lithuania?

Kupsas: As I said, I started to play basketball very late and I guess I would have age limitations in the NCAA program. Therefore, at that time, Zalgiris signed me when I was young for a long-term contract. The NCAA is a great system, you get a diploma of university while you hoop and you get to know different cultures as well.

RealGM: What were the reasons for your withdrawal from previous draft and why you feel you’re more ready to step into the league than last year?

Kupsas: Last year I withdrew my name from the draft because my agents and I talked about it and decided it would be best for me to spend another season preparing and becoming a known player. Last year was my introduction to the NBA. I worked out with NBA teams and got the feedback for what I need to work on and get better to become an NBA player. Now the goal is to show how I developed myself in a year and demonstrate that in June at adidas EuroCamp in Treviso.

RealGM: Tell me about your performance in Nets combine held last year in New Jersey.

Kupsas: I was jet-lagged like crazy, wasn’t prepared at all, barely saw the basket. The opponents were shorter, faster and it wasn’t the performance I wanted to show in front of the all these respected NBA scouts. Adidas EuroCamp in Treviso camp will be a different story.

RealGM: A year ago you were competing against Jonas Valanciunas in Lithuanian league. Could you share your experience on playing against the Raptors’ big man?

Kupsas: Honestly, It was good. If you ask me was it hard for me to play against him, my answer would be absolutely no. I enjoyed it every second. I had no problems guarding him at all. Playing against Lavrinovic brothers is harder, that’s for sure.

RealGM: Which specific areas of your game you've been working on this year?

Kupsas: I would say I was trying to improve majority of areas and I’m still working on it. I am better now at Pick and Roll situations and I love playing it a lot. My shooting is now significantly different as well. I don’t sway when making a jump shot or playing back to the basket. I think I started to “go hard” on defense as well.

RealGM: In your opinion, which aspects of your game need to improve the most to be able to play in the NBA right away?

Kupsas: I want to be faster, I want to defend faster players. Now my physical program is focused to vertical, so I can be more aggressive when I get the ball under the basket so either I can make a baby hook or simply dunk on another player who guards me. During the season I’ve heard from NBA scouts about my lack of vertical, so before the NBA Draft I want to show how I proved myself.

RealGM: If tomorrow was your first day in the NBA, what can you do to help your team to improve? What are your strong sides? 

Kupsas: I would fulfill and complete whatever the coach told me to do. Of course, I would focus on defense like crazy, I don’t mind going into contact also. I like to block shots. In my first day in the NBA, I wouldn’t be upset if I left the arena without scoring a point, but our team won.

RealGM: Do you believe it is a right time to play in the NBA, or would you still want to remain in Europe?

Kupsas: If I'm drafted, it is really dependent on the NBA club. Either they would like me to play in the D-League in the first year, or for a season or two in Europe.

RealGM: What are your current plans for this draft summer?

Kupsas: At the moment I am working out with Zalgiris team in Kaunas, twice a day. I also arrive an hour earlier before start of practice. I spend around six hours at the gym per day and, honestly, I feel I am getting better every day. I think it’s a priceless chance to learn from Zalgiris’ head coach Joan Plaza and compete against Robertas Javtokas or Lavrinovic brothers. Later on I will be working out with a personal trainer on my skills. I should be 100 percent ready for adidas EuroCamp.

RealGM presents the ultimate positional rankings of the Euroleague's best players. In this fifth edition, RealGM ranked the elite centers from one to ten.

Centers

1. Nenad Krstic (CSKA Moscow, Russia)

Statistics in 2011-12 (Euroleague): 14.2 points, 5.5 rebounds.

Nenad Krstic's return to Russia made CSKA Moscow a dominant power in the Euroleague last season. Krstic was barely stoppable on the offensive end, averaging an impressive 14.2 points per game. As the centerpiece of CSKA, Andrei Kirilenko gone, Krstic role is even more important as he's been very consistent so far this season. Two very successful seasons with CSKA will make Krstic the number one center in Europe on the open market in the summer.

2. Erazem Lorbek (FC Barcelona Regal, Spain)

Statistics in 2011-12 (Euroleague): 13 points, 4.6 rebounds.

Erazem Lorbek's past couple of career years serves a reminder of his inconsistencies. After a rusty 2010-11 season, Lorbek demonstrated an MVP worth game during his contract year and played his way into a new three-year deal with FC Barcelona Regal. However, as Lorbek secured his future until 2015, his numbers went down along with his impact on team results.

3. Ioannis Bourousis (EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, Italy)

Statistics in 2011-12 (Euroleague): 9 points, 6.4 rebounds.

You can call it bad karma or simply being unlucky, but there is something special with Ioannis Bourousis. After spending five seasons in Piraeus, Bourousis left Olympiakos right before the reds won the title. Olympiakos remains among the elite, while Bourousis continues to struggle with EA7 Emporio Armani, which stayed out of Top 16 stage. The 29-year-old center had his best season in his career and averaged 14 points and 8.3 rebounds. Still, impressive play by Bourousis wasn't enough to extend EA7 Emporio Armani's season in the Euroleague.

4. Nikola Mirotic (Real Madrid, Spain)

Statistics in 2011-12 (Euroleague): 12.5 points, 4.5 rebounds.

Despite his young age, Nikola Mirotic has been starting as Real Madrid's center for a second consecutive year. Mirotic is already able to take big shots and makes a huge contribution to Real's offense, which is the second best in the Euroleague. However, the fact that Mirotic will likely stay in Spain until 2016-17 should leave the Bulls wishing he would come to the NBA. On the other hand, the NBA fans will miss Mirotic development process, but might see him playing at his peak, at the age of 26.

5. Darjus Lavrinovic (Zalgiris Kaunas, Lithuania)

Statistics in 2011-12 (Euroleague): 4.7 points, 2.7 rebounds.

Coming back to a place where you were unstoppable is always a good idea. A dominant performance with Zalgiris Kaunas in the 2005-06 season led Darjus Lavrinovic to massive paydays in Spain, Turkey and Russia, but now Lavrinovic is back in Kaunas, where he is as productive as before. Rejoining forces with his twin brother Ksystof helped to transform Zalgiris into a winning team, capable of going all the way to the Final Four.

6. Sofoklis Schorstanitis (Panathinaikos Athens, Greece)

Statistics in 2011-12 (Euroleague): 8.7 points, 3 rebounds.

Due to his size, Panathinaikos newcomer Sofoklis Schorstanitis has always been a very productive player, who was able to play limited minutes. No surprise, Schorstanitis leads the Euroleague in points per 28 minutes with 21 and usually gets double teamed every time he has the ball in the paint. However, fatigue and quick fouls limit Schorstanitis' playing time as he has never played more than 20 minutes per game in his seven-year Euroleague career. His playing time in the 2012-13 season is even more limited as he never started a single game and plays only 13 minutes per game.

7. David Andersen (Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul, Turkey)

Statistics in 2011-12 (Euroleague): 11.7 points, 6.2 rebounds. 

After a first successful season in Italy since coming back from the NBA, together with Simone Pianigiani, David Andersen decided to go to Istanbul. As things didn't go as well as expected, Andersen had to face bench player role in first few games, in which he finished with negative player index rating. Later, things got back to normal as Andersen received more playing time and again became a productive starting center. Nevertheless, a big rotation will prevent Andersen from posting MVP worthy numbers in every Euroleague game, but he will surely remain among the elite centers in the Euroleague.

8. Ante Tomic (FC Barcelona Regal, Spain)

Statistics in 2011-12 (Euroleague): 6.7 points, 3.7 rebounds.

Moving from Real Madrid to its biggest rival definitely helped Ante Tomic get out of Nikola Mirotic's shadow and also receive more playing time. Tomic is the starting center for arguably the best Euroleague team right now, but still struggles to become a player who could put big numbers every night. Inconsistency is what keeps Tomic from being higher in this ranking.

9. Aron Baynes (Union Olimpija Ljubljana, Slovenia)

Statistics in 2011-12 (Greek league): 13.6 points, 9 rebounds.

Aron Baynes is easily the biggest success story in this Euroleague season. Seven double doubles and helping a team with one million euro budget get three wins is more than impressive and more than enough to attract attention of European biggest teams. Baynes, who led the league in rebounding (9.8 per game) this season, established himself in the Euroleague and might stay here for a long time.

10. Shelden Williams (Elan Chalon, France)

Statistics in 2011-12 (NBA): 4.6 points, 6 rebounds.

Signing Shelden Williams was a risky move for Elan Chalon, but it paid off in a big way. In his debut season, Williams averaged 11.3 points and 7.6 rebounds in 23 minutes of action and was more reminiscent of a Euroleague veteran than a former NBA player, who needed time to adjust to European game. It didn't take long for Williams to get noticed by elite Euroleague teams as the latest reports link him to Fenerbahce Ulker. The former Duke star's French adventure might end soon and we'll see what Williams is capable to do on a winning team.

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As the Euroleague 2012-13 regular season slowly comes to an end, RealGM presents the ultimate positional rankings of the league's best players. In this fourth edition, RealGM ranked the elite power forwards from one to ten. 

1. Viktor Khryapa (CSKA Moscow, Russia)

Statistics in 2011-12 (Euroleague): 8.2 points, 4 rebounds, 3.3 assists.

In eight season with CSKA Moscow, Viktor Khryapa has established himself as a true symbol of the club on and off the court. Being 6-foot-8, Khryapa is a very versatile big men who can play the wing and do a bit of everything. The 30-year-old Russian is also a great facilitator; making his teammates better on offense, while at the same time, can create his own offense as well. However, the defensive end of the floor is what makes Khryapa a special player and the Euroleague best defender prize he won in 2009-2010 only proves how productive Khryapa can be on both ends.

2. Georgios Printezis (Olympiakos Piraeus, Greece)

Statistics in 2011-12 (Euroleague): 10.6 points (60.2% 2FG), 4.1 rebounds.

Georgios Printezis' game-wining shot in the Euroelague title game sparked talks about his chances to join the NBA, but most forgot how great Pritezis had been all season long. His aggressiveness, energy and hustle were the strengths of Olympiakos, which ended up winning a championship in May. Printezis also had his career-best Euroleague game (31 performance index ranking) last season, as he scored 21 points (7/7 FG), grabbed seven rebounds and helped his team beat Fenerbahce Ulker.

3. Felipe Reyes (Real Madrid, Spain)

Statistics in 2011-12 (Euroleague): 8.4 points, 6.3 rebounds.

Euroleague veteran Felipe Reyes, who is currently playing his eight Euroleague season with Real, is still an important piece of the team and is among the elite power forwards in the league. Reyes ranked second in the Euroleague in rebounds per 100 possessions (18.4) last season and averaged 6.3 rebounds per game in only 18 minutes. Reyes' role changed dramatically in 11-12, from a starter to bench player, but he remained a face of Real.

4. Paulius Jankunas (Zalgiris Kaunas, Lithuania)

Statistics in 2011-12 (Euroleague): 7.8 points, 5.6 rebounds.

At the age of 28, Paulius Jankunas could be already called a true Euroleague veteran as he's currently playing in his 10th season in the strongest European competition. He had many ups and downs last season - from having career-best game to two consecutive scoreless games - but this year Jankunas reminds himself. Once again, Jankunas is a captain his teammates can trust and one of the reasons of Zalgiris success this season.

5. Marcus Slaughter (Real Madrid, Spain)

Statistics in 2011-12 (Euroleague): 11.8 points, 7.2 rebounds.

It didn't take much time for RealGM's 11-12 Euroleague All-Rookie 1st Team selection Marcus Slaughter to get signed by a European powerhouse such as Real Madrid. You cannot expect anything less after a superb debut season Slaughter had with Brose Baskets, where he averaged 11.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.7 steals in 26 minutes. One of the most athletically gifted Euroleague players, Slaughter has quickly adapted to Real's style of play and became a big threat coming off the bench to any opponent.

6. Mike Batiste (Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul, Turkey)

Statistics in 2011-12 (Euroleague): 9.7 points, 4.6 rebounds.

Mike Batiste, three-time Euroleague champion, has been a huge part of the success of Panathinaikos Athens. In eight seasons with Panathinaikos, Batiste established himself as a dominant power in the paint, who created a strong connection with head coach Zeljko Obradovic. Things are different for Batiste in Turkey, where he represents Fenerbahce Ulker and is no more than a role player so far this season.

7. Stephane Lasme (Panathinaikos Athens, Greece)

Statistics in 2011-12 (Liga Endesa): 10.9 points, 6.3 rebounds.

Stephen Lasme is one of those players who have been migrating between Europe and the United State, but since he played for Partizan Belgrade in 08-09, it was obvious his place was in the Euroleague. Lasme joined Panathinaikos this season, where once again demonstrates how efficient he can be. Despite Lasme comes off the bench, he leads the league in block shots per 100 possessions (6.4) and is fifth in rebounds per 100 possessions (17.3). Lasme is clearly back where he belongs.

8. Kyle Hines (Olympiakos Piraeus, Greece)

Statistics in 2011-12 (Euroleague): 9.9 points, 4.5 rebounds.

The European version of Charles Barkley, Kyle Hines has been proving Mark Twain's quote "it's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog" throughout his career as he established himself as a 6-foot-5 Euroleague level big men. Same as Slaughter, Hines had an amazing debut season in Brose Baskets, and then got signed by future Euroleague champions Olympiakos straightaway. In only his third Euroleague season, Hines is looking forward to repeat as a champion with still-looking-strong Olympiacos.

9. Milko Bjelica (Caja Laboral Vitoria, Spain)

Statistics in 2011-12 (Euroleague): 10.6 points, 3.9 rebounds.

Caja Laboral's Milko Bjelica is one of very few players, who averaged more than 10 points and 3.5 rebounds in last three Euroleague seasons. Bjelica, who had a breakout season with Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius, is also a great at the free throws as he made 84.2% shots from the line. However, same as his team Caja Laboral, the 28-year-old forward is having a rough season and all his statistical numbers went down dramatically.

10. Lior Eliyahu (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel)

Statistics in 2011-12 (Euroleague): 8.5 points, 3 rebounds.

Over the past few years, Lior Eliyahu's career has slowed down. At the age of 27, Eliyahu didn't become a dominant Euroleague as expected, but he still should be named among the best power forwards in the league. Inconsistency has been a problem for Eliyahu as he can be terrific in a game or two, and then simply disappears in the next one. Nevertheless, he's still an important part of Maccabi and the hope of Israel basketball.

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