BK Liepāja

BK Liepāja is a professional basketball club in Liepāja, Latvia playing in the Latvian-Estonian Basketball League and Latvian Basketball League.

BK Liepāja
BK Liepāja logo
LeaguesLatvian–Estonian Basketball League
Latvian Basketball League
Founded1991 (1991)
HistoryLiepājas Metalurgs
Baltika/Kaija
BK Liepāja
Līvu alus/Liepāja
Liepājas Lauvas
Betsafe/Liepāja
BK Liepāja
ArenaLiepāja Olympic Center
Capacity2542
LocationLiepāja, Latvia
Team colorsDark blue, white and black
     
PresidentLatvia Āris Ozoliņš
Team managerLatvia Normunds Atvars
Head coachLatvia Artūrs Visockis-Rubenis
Websiteliepajasbasketbols.lv

History

Basketball team in the city of Liepāja was first founded in 1991, just after Latvia regained independence from Soviet Union. During the years team changed names, according to sponsorships. Previous team names were Liepājas Metalurgs, Baltika/Kaija, BK Liepāja, Līvu alus/Liepāja, Liepājas Lauvas, Liepāja/Triobet.

The club was dissolved in 2018 and was replaced by Liepājas Basketbols.[1] Team has a strong bond with the local basketball school.

Liepāja team's greatest achievement in Latvian Basketball League is gained second place in 1997, but in 2000, 2011 and 2012 team won the third place.

Since 2020, with the hiring of Latvian National team assistant and 2018 FIBA U18 European Championship silver medalist Artūrs Visockis-Rubenis as their head coach, BK Liepāja focuses on building teams around new talents.

In 2021/2022 season BK Liepāja made their international debut, competing in newly founded European North Basketball League. Liepāja won one of five games and finished the tournament at 5th place.

During the 2022/2023 season Liepāja won the bronze medal in Latvian league. Many players established themselves for the next level. After an excellent season with Liepāja, Kārlis Šiliņš signed in German Bundesliga. Renārs Birkāns signed with 10-time Latvian champion BK Ventspils.

Players

Current roster
BK Liepāja roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Wt.Age
PG 1 Latvia Ričards Vitoļskis 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 85 kg (187 lb) 22 – (2001-10-15)15 October 2001
SF 2 Latvia Adrians Visockis-Rubenis 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 93 kg (205 lb) 18 – (2005-02-08)8 February 2005
SG 3 Latvia Mārtiņš Kilups 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 83 kg (183 lb) 17 – (2006-03-10)10 March 2006
C 5 Latvia Reinis Avotiņš 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) 100 kg (220 lb) 25 – (1998-05-06)6 May 1998
PF 6 Latvia Ervīns Jonāts 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 101 kg (223 lb) 32 – (1991-02-10)10 February 1991
PF 7 Latvia Roberts Freimanis 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) 96 kg (212 lb) 32 – (1991-07-03)3 July 1991
PG 8 Latvia Emīls Krūmiņš 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 78 kg (172 lb) 22 – (2001-10-10)10 October 2001
SG 10 Latvia Kristiāns Šulcs 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 92 kg (203 lb) 21 – (2002-09-26)26 September 2002
PG 11 Latvia Gustavs Emīls Arājs 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 73 kg (161 lb) 17 – (2006-03-06)6 March 2006
C 15 Latvia Klāvs Dubults 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) 97 kg (214 lb) 27 – (1996-08-16)16 August 1996
SF 16 Latvia Kristaps Soldatenoks 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 98 kg (216 lb) 18 – (2005-09-18)18 September 2005
C 17 Latvia Henriks Bajārs 2.13 m (7 ft 0 in) 93 kg (205 lb) 21 – (2002-05-31)31 May 2002
SF 22 Latvia Kristaps Miglinieks 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 90 kg (198 lb) 33 – (1990-01-22)22 January 1990
PF 24 Latvia Francois Nkoy-Eale 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 96 kg (212 lb) 18 – (2005-09-08)8 September 2005
G 27 Latvia Ojārs Bērziņš 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 92 kg (203 lb) 22 – (2001-01-26)26 January 2001
SF 35 Latvia Kristaps Ķilps 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 89 kg (196 lb) 22 – (2001-03-20)20 March 2001
SG 42 Latvia Edžus Brežinskis 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 80 kg (176 lb) 18 – (2005-01-21)21 January 2005
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • Latvia Agris Steckis
  • Latvia Olafs Ozols
Physiotherapist(s)
  • Latvia Ance Zariņa
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured Injured
Updated: October 04, 2023

Depth chart
Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2 Reserve
C Kārlis Šiliņš Arnolds Helmanis Henriks Bajārs
PF Roberts Freimanis Frederiks Meinarts Fransuā Nkojs-Eale
SF Ričards Vanags Kristiāns Šulcs Bogdans Kiseļovs Adrians Visockis-Rubenis
SG Kārlis Žunda Ojārs Bērziņš Kristaps Soldatenoks Raivo Cālītis
PG Renārs Birkāns Juris Vītols Arturs Vuciņš Mārtiņš Kilups

Season by season
Season League Pos. Baltic League Pos. Latvian-Estonian League Pos.
1991–92 LBL 8th
1992–93 LBL 8th
1993–94 LBL 11th
1994–95 LBL 9th
1995–96 LBL 7th
1996–97 LBL 2nd
1997–98 LBL 5th
1998–99 LBL 5th
1999–00 LBL 3rd
2000–01 LBL 4th
2001–02 LBL 7th
2002–03 LBL 4th
2003–04 LBL 5th
2004–05 LBL 5th Challenge Cup 5th
2005–06 LBL 6th Elite Division 13th
2006–07 LBL 4th
2007–08 LBL 6th Challenge Cup 4th
2008–09 LBL 6th Challenge Cup 8th
2009–10 LBL 5th Elite Division 9th
2010–11 LBL 3rd Elite Division 12th
2011–12 LBL 3rd Elite Division 14th
2012–13 LBL 9th Regular season
2013–14 LBL 6th Round of 16
2014–15 LBL 4th Round of 16
2015–16 LBL 4th Quarterfinalist
2016–17 LBL 6th Quarterfinalist
2017–18 LBL 8th Regular season
2018–19 LBL 7th Latvian–Estonian Basketball League 13th
2019–20 LBL 7th Latvian–Estonian Basketball League cancelled
2020–21 LBL 3rd Latvian–Estonian Basketball League 7th
2021–22 LBL 6th Latvian–Estonian Basketball League 12th

Notable players

References
  1. "Ate papildina "Liepājas basketbols" komandas rindas" (in Latvian). IRLiepaja.lv. 22 July 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.