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
Leagues	Latvian–Estonian Basketball League Latvian Basketball League
Founded	1991; 32 years ago (1991)
History	Liepājas Metalurgs Baltika/Kaija BK Liepāja Līvu alus/Liepāja Liepājas Lauvas Betsafe/Liepāja BK Liepāja
Arena	Liepāja Olympic Center
Capacity	2542
Location	Liepāja, Latvia
Team colors	Dark blue, white and black
President	Āris Ozoliņš
Team manager	Normunds Atvars
Head coach	Artūrs Visockis-Rubenis
Website	liepajasbasketbols.lv
Home Away

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.

Players

Current roster

BK Liepāja roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age PG 0   Arturs Vuciņš 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) 76 kg (168 lb) 18 – (2004-05-12)12 May 2004 PG 1   Juris Vītols 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) 74 kg (163 lb) 17 – (2005-07-29)29 July 2005 SF 2   Adrians Visockis-Rubenis 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 17 – (2005-02-08)8 February 2005 SG 4   Raivo Cālītis 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 84 kg (185 lb) 20 – (2002-03-15)15 March 2002 PF 6   Frederiks Meinarts 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 86 kg (190 lb) 18 – (2004-10-03)3 October 2004 PG 7   Renārs Birkāns 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) 80 kg (176 lb) 25 – (1997-06-26)26 June 1997 SG 8   Edžus Brezinskis 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 80 kg (176 lb) 18 – (2005-01-21)21 January 2005 SG 9   Emīls Vizulis 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 79 kg (174 lb) 17 – (2005-06-27)27 June 2005 SF 10   Kristiāns Šulcs 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 88 kg (194 lb) 20 – (2002-09-26)26 September 2002 SG 11   Ričards Daniels Vanags 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) 83 kg (183 lb) 20 – (2002-12-29)29 December 2002 SF 13   Kārlis Žunda 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 98 kg (216 lb) 25 – (1997-07-25)25 July 1997 SG 14   Dāvis Geks 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 93 kg (205 lb) 27 – (1995-03-07)7 March 1995 SF 16   Kristaps Soldatenoks 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 82 kg (181 lb) 17 – (2005-09-18)18 September 2005 PF 17   Henriks Bajārs 2.12 m (6 ft 11 in) 93 kg (205 lb) 20 – (2002-05-31)31 May 2002 PF 24   Fransuā Nkojs-Eale 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in) 17 – (2005-09-08)8 September 2005 C 25   Kārlis Šiliņš 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) 113 kg (249 lb) 25 – (1997-07-22)22 July 1997 PG 27   Ojārs Bērziņš 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 84 kg (185 lb) 22 – (2001-01-26)26 January 2001 PF 34   Roberts Freimanis 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) 96 kg (212 lb) 31 – (1991-07-03)3 July 1991 PF 44   Arnolds Helmanis 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 98 kg (216 lb) 30 – (1992-02-08)8 February 1992 SG 22   Mārtiņš Kilups 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 83 kg (183 lb) 16 – (2006-03-10)10 March 2006 SG 3   Bogdans Kiseļovs 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 86 kg (190 lb) 19 – (2003-06-04)4 June 2003	Head coach   Artūrs Visockis-Rubenis Assistant coach(es)   Krists Pīternieks   Juris Umbraško   Agris Steckis Physiotherapist(s)   Ance Zariņa Legend (C) Team captain   Injured Roster Updated: December 23, 2022

Depth chart

Pos.	Starting 5	Bench 1	Bench 2	Reserve
C	Kārlis Šiliņš	Arnolds Helmanis	Henriks Bajārs
PF	Ričards Vanags	Roberts Freimanis	Frederiks Meinarts	Fransuā Nkojs-Eale
SF	Kārlis Žunda	Kristiāns Šulcs	Bogdans Kiseļovs	Adrians Visockis-Rubenis
SG	Dāvis Geks	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

•   Edgars Jeromanovs
•   Mareks Jurevičus
•   Mārtiņš Meiers
•   Mareks Mejeris
•   Jānis Porziņģis
•   Artūrs Štālbergs
•   Jānis Timma
•   Raimonds Vaikulis
•   Uģis Viļums
•   Paul Butorac
•   Vernon Hamilton
•   Josh Mayo
•   Ashton Mitchell
•   Malcolm Griffin
•   Kris Richard
•   Martynas Andriukaitis
•   Valdas Dabkus
•   Laimonas Kisielius

References

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

External links

• Official website (in Latvian)