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.

Players

Current roster
BK Liepāja roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Wt.Age
PG 0 Latvia Arturs Vuciņš 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) 76 kg (168 lb) 19 – (2004-05-12)12 May 2004
PG 1 Latvia Juris Vītols 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) 74 kg (163 lb) 17 – (2005-07-29)29 July 2005
SF 2 Latvia Adrians Visockis-Rubenis 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 18 – (2005-02-08)8 February 2005
SG 4 Latvia Raivo Cālītis 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 84 kg (185 lb) 21 – (2002-03-15)15 March 2002
PF 6 Latvia Frederiks Meinarts 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 86 kg (190 lb) 18 – (2004-10-03)3 October 2004
PG 7 Latvia Renārs Birkāns 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) 80 kg (176 lb) 25 – (1997-06-26)26 June 1997
SG 8 Latvia Edžus Brezinskis 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 80 kg (176 lb) 18 – (2005-01-21)21 January 2005
SG 9 Latvia Emīls Vizulis 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 79 kg (174 lb) 17 – (2005-06-27)27 June 2005
SF 10 Latvia Kristiāns Šulcs 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 88 kg (194 lb) 20 – (2002-09-26)26 September 2002
SG 11 Latvia Ričards Daniels Vanags 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) 83 kg (183 lb) 20 – (2002-12-29)29 December 2002
SF 13 Latvia Kārlis Žunda 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 98 kg (216 lb) 25 – (1997-07-25)25 July 1997
SG 14 Latvia Dāvis Geks 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 93 kg (205 lb) 28 – (1995-03-07)7 March 1995
SF 16 Latvia Kristaps Soldatenoks 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 82 kg (181 lb) 17 – (2005-09-18)18 September 2005
PF 17 Latvia Henriks Bajārs 2.12 m (6 ft 11 in) 93 kg (205 lb) 20 – (2002-05-31)31 May 2002
PF 24 Latvia Fransuā Nkojs-Eale 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in) 17 – (2005-09-08)8 September 2005
C 25 Latvia Kārlis Šiliņš 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) 113 kg (249 lb) 25 – (1997-07-22)22 July 1997
PG 27 Latvia Ojārs Bērziņš 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 84 kg (185 lb) 22 – (2001-01-26)26 January 2001
PF 34 Latvia Roberts Freimanis 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) 96 kg (212 lb) 31 – (1991-07-03)3 July 1991
PF 44 Latvia Arnolds Helmanis 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 98 kg (216 lb) 31 – (1992-02-08)8 February 1992
SG 22 Latvia Mārtiņš Kilups 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 83 kg (183 lb) 17 – (2006-03-10)10 March 2006
SG 3 Latvia Bogdans Kiseļovs 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 86 kg (190 lb) 19 – (2003-06-04)4 June 2003
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Physiotherapist(s)
  • Latvia Ance Zariņa
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured Injured
Updated: December 23, 2022

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.


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