How Chicago helped a tiny Baltic country produce star NBA players

VILNIUS, Lithuania — Arena Vilnius, half the size of the United Center, feels bigger than it is when hometown heroes Rytas play against the Žalgiris basketball team from Kaunas. Sections of cheering fans wave giant flags and shout songs of adoration to their teams. Huge stationary flamethrowers send pillars of fire into the air, warming anyone within 20 yards. When the underdogs Rytas briefly lead at the end of the third quarter, during a Sunday night game in April, the exuberance of the Rytas…