BK Liepāja

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 Away

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]

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.

BK Liepāja roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age 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 F 33 Rihards Kuksiks 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 95 kg (209 lb) 36 – (1988-08-17)17 August 1988 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: December 16, 2024

• Official website (in Latvian)

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