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BK Liepāja

BK Liepāja
LeaguesLatvian–Estonian Basketball League
Latvian Basketball League
Founded1991; 34 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 red
     
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 named “Sarkanais metalurgs” from the city of Liepāja first won Latvian SSR championship in 1963.[2] During the years teams changed names, since 1991, after Latvia regained independence from Soviet Union, 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.[3] 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
G/F 10 Latvia Kristiāns Šulcs 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 92 kg (203 lb) 22 – (2002-09-26)26 September 2002
PG Latvia Emīls Krūmiņš 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 84 kg (185 lb) 23 – (2001-10-10)10 October 2001
SG Latvia Edvards Egle 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 82 kg (181 lb) 19 – (2005-10-07)7 October 2005
PF Latvia Kristians Feierbergs 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 100 kg (220 lb) 22 – (2002-08-26)26 August 2002
PG Latvia Reds Martinsons 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 70 kg (154 lb) 17 – (2007-09-11)11 September 2007
PF Ukraine Vitalii Shymanskyi 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) 22 – (2003-03-11)11 March 2003
C Latvia Iļja Kurucs 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 18 – (2007-07-31)31 July 2007
SG United States Xavier Dusell 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 91 kg (201 lb) 23 – (2001-12-25)25 December 2001
SF Latvia Rinalds Timma 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 22 – (2003-03-24)24 March 2003
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Physiotherapist(s)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured Injured
Updated: August 13, 2025

Depth chart

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Pos. Starting 5 Bench
C Iļja Kurucs
PF Kristians Feierbergs Vitalii Shymanskyi
SF Xavier Dusell Rinalds Timma
SG Edvards Egle Kristiāns Šulcs
PG Emīls Krūmiņš Reds Martinsons

Squad changes for the 2025–26 season

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Historical rosters

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2024-25 season roster
Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2
C Latvia #15 Klāvs Dubults Latvia #88 Rinalds Mālmanis Latvia #17 Henriks Bajārs
PF Latvia #8 Rodijs Mačoha Latvia #7 Roberts Freimanis C Ukraine #12 Vitalii Kuznetsov
SF Latvia #22 Kristaps Miglinieks Latvia #33 Rihards Kuksiks Latvia #10 Kristiāns Šulcs
SG Latvia #35 Kristaps Ķilps Latvia #3 Mārtiņš Kilups
PG Latvia #25 Edgars Lasenbergs Latvia #1 Ričards Vitoļskis Latvia #5 Reds Martinsons

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
2024–25 LBL 6th Latvian–Estonian Basketball League 7th

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. ^ "Latvijas komandas – legendas, kausi, tituli" (in Latvian). basket.lv. 19 March 2025. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  3. ^ "Ate papildina "Liepājas basketbols" komandas rindas" (in Latvian). IRLiepaja.lv. 22 July 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
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