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BK Liepāja

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BK Liepāja
LeaguesLatvian–Estonian Basketball League
Latvian Basketball League
Founded1991; 33 years ago (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

BK Liepāja, known as Betsafe/Liepāja for sponsorship reasons, is a professional basketball club in Liepāja, Latvia playing in the Latvian-Estonian Basketball League and Latvian Basketball League.

Liepāja team's greatest achievement in Latvian Basketball League came in 1997 when it won second place. It has also come in third in 2000, 2011, 2012, and 2023.[1]

History

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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.

In May 2018, the team was reorganized into Liepājas Basketbols with the goal of creating a unified basketball system for Liepāja for junior and professional player development.[2] The team announced the beginning of its sponsorship by Betsafe following Betsson's decision to merge the Triobet brand, which previously sponsored BK Liepāja, into that brand.[1]

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

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Current roster

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BK Liepāja roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age
PG 1 Latvia Ričards Vitoļskis 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 85 kg (187 lb) 23 – (2001-10-15)15 October 2001
SG 3 Latvia Mārtiņš Kilups 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 83 kg (183 lb) 18 – (2006-03-10)10 March 2006
PF 7 Latvia Roberts Freimanis 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) 96 kg (212 lb) 33 – (1991-07-03)3 July 1991
G/F 10 Latvia Kristiāns Šulcs 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 92 kg (203 lb) 22 – (2002-09-26)26 September 2002
C 15 Latvia Klāvs Dubults 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) 97 kg (214 lb) 28 – (1996-08-16)16 August 1996
C 17 Latvia Henriks Bajārs 2.13 m (7 ft 0 in) 93 kg (205 lb) 22 – (2002-05-31)31 May 2002
SF 35 Latvia Kristaps Ķilps 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 89 kg (196 lb) 23 – (2001-03-20)20 March 2001
F 8 Latvia Rodijs Mačoha 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 91 kg (201 lb) 22 – (2002-10-29)29 October 2002
F 12 Ukraine Vitalii Kuznetsov 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 100 kg (220 lb) 19 – (2005-01-25)25 January 2005
PG 25 Latvia Edgars Lasenbergs 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) 81 kg (179 lb) 29 – (1995-04-07)7 April 1995
F/C 88 Latvia Rinalds Mālmanis 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 95 kg (209 lb) 28 – (1996-04-12)12 April 1996
F 33 Latvia Rihards Kuksiks 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 95 kg (209 lb) 36 – (1988-08-17)17 August 1988
SF 22 Latvia Kristaps Miglinieks 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 90 kg (198 lb) 34 – (1990-01-22)22 January 1990
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Physiotherapist(s)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured Injured
Updated: December 16, 2024

Depth chart

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Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2
C Rinalds Mālmanis Klāvs Dubults Henriks Bajārs
PF Rihards Kuksiks Roberts Freimanis Vitalii Kuznetsov
SF Rodijs Mačoha Kristaps Miglinieks Kristiāns Šulcs
SG Kristaps Ķilps Mārtiņš Kilups
PG Edgars Lasenbergs Ričards Vitoļskis

Season by season

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

Notable players

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References

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  1. ^ a b ""Liepāja"/"Triobet" pārtop par "Betsafe"/"Liepāja"". irliepaja.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2024-12-17.
  2. ^ "Ate papildina "Liepājas basketbols" komandas rindas" (in Latvian). IRLiepaja.lv. 22 July 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
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