Gundars Vētra (born 22 May 1967) is a Latvian former professional basketball player and a current coach.
 | |
| Free Agent | |
|---|---|
| Position | Head coach |
| Personal information | |
| Born | 22 May 1967 Ventspils, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Nationality | Latvian |
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Listed weight | 218 lb (99 kg) |
| Career information | |
| NBA draft | 1989: undrafted |
| Playing career | 1984–2002 |
| Position | Shooting guard / small forward |
| Number | 2 |
| Coaching career | 2002–present |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1984–1986 | VEF Rīga |
| 1986–1987 | Rīgas ASK |
| 1987–1992 | VEF Rīga |
| 1992–1993 | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 1993–1994 | Ādaži Rīga |
| 1994–1995 | Brocēni Rīga |
| 1995–1996 | CSKA Moscow |
| 1996–1997 | Galatasaray |
| 1997–2000 | CSKA Moscow |
| 2000–2002 | Fabriano Basket |
| As coach: | |
| 2002–2005 | Barons |
| 2005–2006 | Ural Great (assistant) |
| 2006–2007 | Barons |
| 2007–2009 | CSKA Moscow (women) |
| 2009–2011 | UMMC Ekaterinburg (women) |
| 2011–2012 | Ventspils |
| 2012–2013 | Spartak Primorye |
| 2013–2014 | Spartak St. Petersburg |
| 2014–2016 | Dynamo Kursk (women) |
| 2017–2022 | Arka Gdynia (women) |
| 2021–2023 | Latvia (women) |
| 2023–2024 | Tartu Ülikool |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
Medals | |
Standing at 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m), he played at the shooting guard and small forward positions. He was the first Latvian to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He appeared in 13 games for the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 1992–1993 season.
Coaching career
editAfter finishing his playing career, Vētra became a coach. He first started as head coach of Barons, leading them to their first ever LBL finals appearance in 2005. For the 2005–06 season he was an assistant to Sharon Drucker with Ural Great. Following a season in Russia, Vētra returned to Latvia, where he re-united with Barons. His second stint with Barons wasn't as good as expected, and Vētra left them to try his hand in women's basketball. After four seasons in Russia he went back to Latvia, joining BK Ventspils, where his team made the Latvian League finals.
Personal life
editVētra has two daughters who played NCAA Division I college basketball. Laura played at Fairfield Stags from 2009 to 2013. Ruta was a guard at NJIT Highlanders from 2013 to 2017.
NBA career statistics
edit| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
Regular season
edit| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992–93 | Minnesota | 13 | 0 | 6.8 | .475 | 1.000 | .667 | .6 | .5 | .2 | .0 | 3.5 |
| Career | 13 | 0 | 6.8 | .475 | 1.000 | .667 | .6 | .5 | .2 | .0 | 3.5 |
External links
edit- Gundars Vētra at basketball-reference.com