Rolands Šmits

Rolands Šmits (born June 25, 1995) is a Latvian professional basketball player for Žalgiris Kaunas of the LKL and the EuroLeague. At a height of 2.08 m (6'10"), and a weight of 106.4 kg (235 lbs.),[1][2] he can play at either the power forward or center positions.

Rolands Šmits
Šmits in a Barcelona jersey in 2022
No. 10 – Žalgiris Kaunas
PositionPower forward
LeagueLKL
EuroLeague
Personal information
Born (1995-06-25) June 25, 1995
Valmiera, Latvia
NationalityLatvian
Listed height6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
Playing career2012–present
Career history
2012–2017Montakit Fuenlabrada
2012–2013→ Óbila
2013–2014→ Fundacion Baloncesto Fuenlabrada
2014–2015→ Viten Getafe Fuenlabrada
2017–2022FC Barcelona
2017–2018→ Montakit Fuenlabrada
2022–presentŽalgiris Kaunas
Career highlights and awards

Early career

Šmits came up through the junior youth ranks of the Latvian club BK Valmiera. He left his native Latvia, for Spain in 2011. He joined the Spanish club Baloncesto Fuenlabrada, and played for their feeder team in the amateur Spanish fourth-tier level Liga EBA, in the 2011–12 season.

Professional career

Šmits made his debut in the Spanish top-tier level Liga ACB, with Fuenlabrada, during the 2012–13 season, while also seeing action for Grupo Eulen Carrefour El Bulevar de Ávila, in the country’s third-tier division LEB Plata, that same season. From 2013 to 2015, he primarily played for Fuenlabrada's reserve team in LEB Plata sides Fundación Baloncesto Fuenlabrada and the affiliated team Viten Getafe respectively.[3] But, he also earned increasing playing minutes in the top-tier level ACB.

In the 2016–17 season, Šmits won the European-wide 2nd-tier level EuroCup's Rising Star Award,[4] after shooting 55.1% from the field overall, 60.4% from 2 point field goal range, and 48.8% from 3 point field goal range, while averaging 9.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 0.9 assists, and 0.6 steals per game,[5] with Fuenlabrada during the EuroCup season.

In September 2017, he signed a five-year contract with FC Barcelona, but stayed on loan at Fuenlabrada until the summer of 2018.[6]

On July 3, 2022, he signed a two-year contract with Žalgiris Kaunas of the LKL and the EuroLeague.[7]

International career

Šmits competed with Latvia's junior national teams at the 2011 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship, and at the 2012 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship and 2013 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship. He also played with Latvia's junior national team at the 2014 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship and at the 2015 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship.[8][9]

Šmits received his first cap with the senior men's Latvian national basketball team in 2014.

Awards and accomplishments

Club
FC Barcelona

Individual

References
  1. ROLANDS SMITS HEIGHT: 6'10.0" (208 cm) WEIGHT: 235 lbs (107 kg).
  2. Rolands Smits Ht: 6-10 Wt: 235.
  3. "Federación Española de Baloncesto - Competiciones FEB". competiciones.feb.es. Retrieved 2017-02-15.
  4. 2016-17 7DAYS EuroCup Rising Star Trophy winner: Rolands Smits, Montakit Fuenlabrada.
  5. SMITS, ROLANDS EuroCup 2016-17 STATISTICS.
  6. "Agreement for the transfer of Rolands Smits to Barça Lassa".
  7. "Kauno „Žalgirį" papildys Barselonoje užsigrūdinęs latvis". Žalgiris (in Lithuanian). 2022-07-03. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
  8. "Rolands Smits | EuroBasket (2015) | FIBA Europe". www.fibaeurope.com. Retrieved 2017-02-15.
  9. Rolands SMITS (LAT).
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