[ExumInfernoParticipant]

 Before Kristaps Porzingis takes over the draft, I thought looking at previous Latvian stars in the NBA would be helpful.

I was wrong.

There isn’t a big sample size to look at, although maybe if the shooting of Vetra is combined with the size of Biedrins it is close to Porzingis.

When thinking about Latvian basketball I thought of Gundars Vetra.  I never remember him being on a court but he was pictured in a Minnesota uniform.  A 6-6 small forward, he apparently took three 3pointers and hit them all.  So by percentage he is the best to play in the NBA.  It seems he had some shooting and scoring ability but Minnesota didn’t keep him around.

Andris Biedrins was a lottery pick and is a good match for size, but nothing else for Porzingis.  6-11 and 240, Biedrins had little offense and free throw numbers around 50%.  He had a strange career, after 5 or so years he had become a double-double machine, but then his game completely fell away.

So with Latvia out of players, I checked on Estonia.  Latvia has actually had twice as many NBA players as Estonia.  Martin Muursepp, he was a mystery when drafted and might still be.  He is also closer to Porzingis than the other two players mentioned here.  Around 6-10 with a bit of a perimeter game, Muursepp didn’t get many minutes.  He did seem to improve from his first to second season but then diappeared.

Lithuanian players, there have been plenty of good ones.  There isn’t a direct comparison there though, Motiejunas but quicker and more athletic maybe.

For those playing fantasy basketball, looking at his stats in Spain he will be someone to grab in drafts.  A solid fg% but blocks, steals and 3s could make him a steal late in drafts.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[DolanCareParticipant]

Should we look at Dirk Nowitzki when examining any German players? Or Yao Ming for Chinese nationals? Don’t worry about their nationality and focus on their play. Especially considering that Lativa and Lithuania are rather arbitrary borders

[DolanCareParticipant]

Should we look at Dirk Nowitzki when examining any German players? Or Yao Ming for Chinese nationals? Don’t worry about their nationality and focus on their play. Especially considering that Lativa and Lithuania are rather arbitrary borders

[GBeeParticipant]

 Exactly. Who gives a sht? He’s not playing 2nd division cadet ball in Latvia.  He’s playing in the best league in the world outside of the NBA and he’s holding his own, playing well.

If he doesn’t pan out, it’ll have little to do with where he was born.

 

 

 

[GBeeParticipant]

 Exactly. Who gives a sht? He’s not playing 2nd division cadet ball in Latvia.  He’s playing in the best league in the world outside of the NBA and he’s holding his own, playing well.

If he doesn’t pan out, it’ll have little to do with where he was born.

 

 

 

[Author]

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