Vytautas Budriūnas

Vytautas Budriūnas (Americanized his first name as Walter "Whitey", last name as Budrunas[1][2] or Budrun; born December 19, 1908; died June 28, 2003[3]) was a Lithuanian basketball player. He won gold medal at EuroBasket 1939 with Lithuania national basketball team. He was notable for his one-handed jumpshot (he used it because of a left arm that never straightened after being broken)[4][5] and is one of the hookshot founders.

Vytautas Budriūnas
Vytautas Budriūnas in 1939
Personal information
BornDecember 19, 1908
Waukegan, Illinois
DiedJune 28, 2003(2003-06-28) (aged 94)
Wisconsin, United States
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight192 lb (87 kg)
Medal record
Men's basketball
Representing  Lithuania
FIBA EuroBasket
Gold medal – first place1939 KaunasTeam competition
Vytautas Budriūnas with Lithuania team

Biography

In 1934 he graduated from Marquette University. He played for the college stars team (Marquette University team). In 1938 he arrived in Lithuania and competed for the Lithuania national basketball team during EuroBasket 1939.[6] During EuroBasket 1939 he scored 73 points combined.

Later he returned to the United States and worked as a coach and school sports director (1940–1959).

In 2007, he ranked fourth in a listing of the best-known Lithuanian basketball players.

References
  1. "Co-Captains Equal on Scoring Honors". Kenosha News. Kenosha, WI. December 15, 1931. p. 12. Retrieved June 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  2. "Keeping Score". Press of Atlantic City. Atlantic City, NJ. February 1, 1938. p. 11. Retrieved June 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  3. United States Social Security Death Index, FamilySearch. (in English)
  4. Darts & Laurels, in «The News Sun - Waukegan», August 8, 2003. (in English)
  5. European Championships for Men, Lithuanian Basketball Research. (in English)
  6. Marquette Men's Basketball In the Summer Olympics, gomarquette.com. (in English)

Sources
  • Stanislovas Stonkus, Vytautas Budriūnas - Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija, T. III (Beketeriai-Chakasai). – Vilnius: Science and encyclopedia publishing institute, 2003, page 563
  • Vidas Mačiulis, Vytautas Gudelis. Halė, kurioje žaidė Lubinas ir Sabonis. 1939–1989 – Respublikinis sporto kombinatas, Kaunas, 1989


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