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I will cover Lithuania, leaving Estonia to someone more knowledgeable on that country.

Widespread basketball adoption predate not the dissolution of the USSR, but Lithuania's occupation and incorporation in to it in 1940.

I. The Founding Fathers

Basketball was introduced in Lithuania in early 1920's in large part thanks to the effort of Steponas Jucevičius-Darašius better known as Steponas (or Stepas) Darius- an American-Lithuanian, Purple Heart awardee, who returned to Lithuania in 1920 and took place in few key historical events (Klaipėda "revolt", December coup). But his main preecupation in this time was popularizing sports. As chairman of Physical Education Union and Sport League he was instrumental in establishing basketball, baseball, football, ice hokey and boxing in Lithuania. On the side he was also a rising in ranks of military aviation. Darius and his co-pilot Stasys Girėnas (born Stanislovas Girskis, a.k.a. Stanley Girch) tragically died in Lituanica crash (July 17, 1933) making both national heroes and martyrs (both are household names in Lithuania to this day).

However, other sports remained on the sidelines of national interest- frankly all sports in Lithuania are on the sidelines compared to basketball- basketball was saved by Konstantinas Savickas- an American-Lithuanian lawyer who lived in Kaunas for a time. Enthusiast of basketball, he was disheartened by Lithuanian national team defeat in Riga in 1935 (final result: 123-10) and took upon himself to fix situation. As chief coach he pulled strings to recruit prominent basketball player from American-Lithuanian community: Jonas Žukas (Joe Zukas- a somewhat prominent tennis player in Chicago), Pranas Talzūnas and most importantly- Feliksas Kriaučiūnas (his brother, known as Moose Krause become prominent coach in USA collage basketball in 50's).

II. The Mythic Age of Glory and (American-Lithuanian) Might

Just before the second FIBA European Championship in 1937, Savickas resigned, leaving Kriaučiūnas as head coach. The first championship in 1935 seen Latvia victorious and by a large margin, so it was quite surprise to see them losing in the group and relegated to final fight for the 5th place (that they lost to Estonia). The finals were between Lithuania and Italy, that Lithuanians just managed to win (24-23).

This, by all accounts, was what made basketball in to national "second religion" (yes, people say that. Unironically.). Frenzy only increased closer to 1939, then third championship was approaching, taking place in Kaunas. In a meantime national woman team (coached by Kriaučiūnas) took silver in first women Euro Championship (1938), but all eyes were on newly build Kaunas Sports Hall.

Playing against its arch-nemesis- Latvia this time was the first game for Lithuanians and probably the hardest (37-36), with Pranas Lubinas successful last-seconds attack managing to snack victory from the jaws of defeat. After that, Lithuanians marched on unchallenged wining gold for a second time. As a fun side note: Finland was an absolute punching bag in 1939 (lost to Latvia 108-7, to Estonia 91-1, to Lithuania 112-9 and so on).

Now the sad truth: Lithuania should have been disqualified in both cases. The core of the team in both cases were American-Lithuanians. And whats more important- all USA born and citisens. In 1937 it was Feliksas Kriaučiūnas, Jonas Žukas and Pranas Talzūnas (MVP of the championship- he frankly carried the team). In 1939 it was Kriaučiūnas, Andrulis, Vytautas Budriūnas, Mykolas Ruzgys and first Lithuanian superstar Pranas Lubinas.

The last one was especially noticeable as he was (as Frank Lubin) also part of gold-winning USA team in 1936 Olympics. However, no one was able to provide documented proof to FIBA and all "Americans" were in fact ethnic Lithuanians, no different to locals so no-one was able to catch them in flagrante delicto.

As Lithuania was a new and relatively small country, whose entire right to exist was still in denied by a certain neighbor, a desire for international recognition was certainly a part of the basketball appeal, that perfectly synergised with underdog triumph story of 1937. 1939 fully solidified basketball as Lithuanian passion.

Next year Lithuania was occupied by the USSR.

"Americans" returned to USA before that, were they continue to live they lives. Ruzgys was the coach of Spanish team in First World Championship (1950), Lubinas had a respectable career in Florida. Albeit LA Times overstate his importance to Lithuania, Lubinas visit to Kaunas in 1988 was nothing short of triumphant hero's return.

Most of the other players ended up in emigration by the end of the war. Most interesting case is that of Leonas Petrauskas. He settled down in New Guinea and Austrialia, become a doctor and respectable member of community with some recognition (Margaret Mead's "New Lives for Old: Cultural Transformation in Manus, 1928–1953 " dedicated to him). Also he was nazi jesuit pedofile satanist MK-ULTRA known as "dr. Mark" in Fiona Barnett testimonies. At least if internet is to be believed.

Four members on the national team ended up GULAG'ed, most "deservedly" so- Stasys Šačkus, who was an active member of anti-nazi/anti-communist resistance.

Only Eugenijus Nikolskis had something of sport career in USSR- he fell back on his other passion- table tennis and got a job as trainer in Moskow.

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III. The No Less Mythic Age of Playing as Resistance

Basketball returned to Lithuania before the war ended. "The Tournament of Ten" in July of 1944 was the only official championship held during Nazi period. The last game at home for pre-war generation, it was also were 'golden five": Stepas Butautas, Vincas Sercevičius, Justinas Lagunavičius, Vytautas Kulikauskas and Kazys Petkevičius first played in official capacity.

Lithuania entered USSR basketball with Kaunas team participating in 6th Tournament of USSR Cities (June 1945, Kaunas) were Kaunas team lost to Moscow and took second place. While proganda at the time made big fuss about

Team coach Stasys Šačkus (member of 1937 team, also an active member of anti-nazi/anti-communist resistance) soon was GULAG'ed along four other Kaunas team players. Mykolas Šliūpas (member of 1939 national team) and Albertas Lukošaitis never returned to sport. Other three were released in a few years. Vilius Variakojis fell back to his other passion- table tennis (become USSR champion in 1950) and teaching (number of his students become prominent in both fields), while Albertas Lukošaitis and Vincas Sercevičius went back to playing.

Despite this setbacks, Kaunas managed to main basketball culture. Members of the above mentioned "golden five" played large role in USSR victory at Euro Championships in 1947 and 1951, silver in the 1952 and 1956 Olympics- in the late 40's to mid 50's some combination of "golden five"+Algirdas Lauritėnas was present in USSR national team. After retiring they all become coaches and trainers (most notably Butautas, who prepared Cuban team for Olympics of 1972), it took time for new Lithuanians to climb up to national team. in late 60's and early 70's Modestas Paulauskas was the only Lithuanian in the national team (with total count of four Europe Championship, two World Cup and one Olympic gold medals collected between 1967 and 1974), and then 80's approached. 80's and early 90' were the golden days of Arvydas Sabonis, Rimas Kurtinaitis, Sergejus Jovaiša, Šarūnas Marčiulionis and Valdemaras Chomičius who formed the core of Soviet national team in the 80's, most notably in 1988 Olympics and continue to be center of Lithuania national team in 90's.

However, the main focus of interest for game fans in Lithuania was USSR Championship. Like mentioned, Lithuania's best were collected in Kaunas, and specifically in Žalgiris basketball club. Housed in Kaunas Sports Hall, Žalgiris become unofficial continuation of national team, to the point that in 80's even officially released media presented pre-war national team as Žalgiris backstory (f.e. Viktoras Starošas movie "Aukso karštligė", 1983). And for many Lithuanians sport was the only venue to expresses very hard felt difference between "them" and "us": Lithuania was occupied country and hostility and otherness of the occupier was always felt, but could was not allowed to be articulated.

But let's not drag Husserl in to this. Short version is: every time Lithuanian(s) were playing against Russian(s), much more than joy of the game could be felt from fans. Another factor was inhered boredom induced by informational vacuum of Soviet media, but that is big topic, I don't want to go in to now.

Already in 1945, during above mentioned tournament, official press constantly and repeatedly noted and forewarned against cold reception of the guest teams and in a few years Žalgiris playing against Russian clubs was THE thing for Lithuanian fans. And club delivered- gold in 1947 and 1951, silver in 1949 and 1952 and bronze in 1953, 1954 and 1955.

However by the end of 50's things began to change. There is this thing in Moscow- Central Sports Club of the Army (before 1960 it went under other name) or CSKA for short. Soviet leadership used it to pull a sneaky one on everyone- for all matters and purposes it was a professional club of full-time players, but by merit of the official designation it's players were able to represent USSR in Olympics, World Cup etc.

Before 1960, the top of the championship was closed club, but after 1960 real competition went for second and third place only: out of 23 championships held in 1960-1984, CSKA took 21 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze. There's conviniant table.

In the early 80's, with new "golden "generation forming up in Lithuania and ensuring they will not be absorbed to CSKA via mandatory military service (this was as simple as enrolling them in to any university), the annual battles between Žalgiris and CSKA was main event not only in sport, but quite frankly in general. Above mentioned "Aukso karštligė" captures the period quite well. I could not find a subbed version, but take a look from 15:00 onwards to what mood movie sets for the last moments of the game- it's something usually reserved for high suspense thrillers. The first Žalgiris victory in 1985 had pretty much explosive effect (even if it look very tame by American standards).

Soon after that Prerestroika and National Revival put all other things in second place, but this era of basketball had very satisfying closure in 1992.

In Barcelona Olympics, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia went as separate teams, while rest of former USSR republics send joint team, known as CIS. And it so happened that game for bronze was between Lithuania and CIS. With basis of both teams being formed from "Žalgiris" and CSKA line-up, for many Lithuanians it was not only final match between this two, but also closest you can get to Lithuania versus USRS game.

Lithuanians won. While wearing uniforms designed by Grateful Dead.

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Karalevičius S. XX a. Lietuvos krepšinio legenda. Kaunas, 2011.

Eidilas R. Krepšinis pirmą kartą tapo sovietiniu: po turnyro ištrėmė į Sibirą.

Bertašius A.,Stonkus S. Su Lietuvos vardu per Europą per pasaulį. Lietuvos krepšinio rinktinės kelias (1925- 2008 m.). Vilnius, 2009.

Stonkus S. Sportas tarpukario Lietuvoje. Kaunas, 2007.

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Also news/propaganda reel from 1939 if someone interest how basketball looked back then.