BK Liepāja

Latvian basketball club

BK Liepāja

Leagues| Latvian–Estonian Basketball League
Latvian Basketball League
Founded| 1991; 33 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

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

## History

[edit]

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

[edit]

### Current roster

[edit]

BK Liepāja roster

Players | Coaches
| Pos. | No. | Nat. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Age |

|
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|
|

PG | 1 |  | Ričards Vitoļskis | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)  | 85 kg (187 lb)  |  23 – (2001-10-15)15 October 2001  |
SG | 3 |  | Mārtiņš Kilups | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)  | 83 kg (183 lb)  |  18 – (2006-03-10)10 March 2006  |
PF | 7 |  | Roberts Freimanis | 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in)  | 96 kg (212 lb)  |  33 – (1991-07-03)3 July 1991  |
G/F | 10 |  | Kristiāns Šulcs | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)  | 92 kg (203 lb)  |  22 – (2002-09-26)26 September 2002  |
C | 15 |  | Klāvs Dubults | 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in)  | 97 kg (214 lb)  |  28 – (1996-08-16)16 August 1996  |
C | 17 |  | Henriks Bajārs | 2.13 m (7 ft 0 in)  | 93 kg (205 lb)  |  22 – (2002-05-31)31 May 2002  |
SF | 35 |  | Kristaps Ķilps | 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)  | 89 kg (196 lb)  |  23 – (2001-03-20)20 March 2001  |
F | 8 |  | Rodijs Mačoha | 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)  | 91 kg (201 lb)  |  22 – (2002-10-29)29 October 2002  |
F | 12 |  | Vitalii Kuznetsov | 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)  | 100 kg (220 lb)  |  19 – (2005-01-25)25 January 2005  |
PG | 25 |  | Edgars Lasenbergs | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)  | 81 kg (179 lb)  |  29 – (1995-04-07)7 April 1995  |
F/C | 88 |  | Rinalds Mālmanis | 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)  | 95 kg (209 lb)  |  28 – (1996-04-12)12 April 1996  |
SF | 22 |  | Kristaps Miglinieks | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)  | 90 kg (198 lb)  |  34 – (1990-01-22)22 January 1990  |

Head coach

*   * Artūrs Visockis-Rubenis

Assistant coach(es)

*   * Agris Steckis
*   * Olafs Ozols
*   * Aigars Bergsons

Physiotherapist(s)

*   * Līvija Grantiņa

* * *

Legend

* (C) Team captain
* Injured

* * *

* Roster

Updated: August 9, 2024

### Depth chart

[edit]

Pos.  | Starting 5  | Bench 1  | Bench 2  |  |

|
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|

C | Rinalds Mālmanis | Klāvs Dubults | Henriks Bajārs |  |
PF | Vitalii Kuznetsov | Roberts Freimanis |  |  |
SF | Rodijs Mačoha | Kristaps Miglinieks | Kristiāns Šulcs |  |
SG | Kristaps Ķilps | Mārtiņš Kilups |  |  |
PG | Edgars Lasenbergs | Ričards Vitoļskis |  |  |

## Season by season

[edit]

Season  | League  | Pos.  | Baltic League | Pos.  | Latvian-Estonian League | Pos.

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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
2022–23 | LBL | 3rd  |  | Latvian–Estonian Basketball League | 10th
2023–24 | LBL | 4th  |  | Latvian–Estonian Basketball League | 11th

## Notable players

[edit]

* 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

[edit]

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

## External links

[edit]

* Official website (in Latvian)

* v
* t
* e

Latvijas Basketbola līga

Clubs|

* VEF Rīga
* BK Ventspils
* Valmiera/ORDO
* Betsafe/Liepāja
* BK Ogre
* Latvijas Universitāte

Seasons|

* 1991–92
* 1992–93
* 1993–94
* 1994–95
* 1995–96
* 1996–97
* 1997–98
* 1998–99
* 1999–00
* 2000–01
* 2001–02
* 2002–03
* 2003–04
* 2004–05
* 2005–06
* 2006–07
* 2007–08
* 2008–09
* 2009–10
* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24

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