How Two Latvian NBA Players Made It to the Top

It’s not every day that two Latvian NBA players become back-to-back Top 100 draft picks But that’s exactly what happened when Anžejs Pasečņiks was selected 25th overall by the Orlando Magic in 2017, and then his countryman, Rodions Kurucs, was taken 40th overall by the Brooklyn Nets just a year later.

The early years

Before they were tearing up the NBA, Kristaps Porzingis and Davis Bertans were just two kids from Latvia with a dream. Here’s a look at their early years and how they became the players they are today.

Kristaps Porzingis was born in Liepaja, Latvia on August 2, 1995. He began playing basketball at a young age and quickly showed promise as a player. When he was just 12 years old, he was already 6’3” tall. By the time he turned 16, he was 6’11”. When he wasn’t playing basketball Porzingis enjoyed listening to rap music and playing Video games

Porzingis started his professional career with BK Liepajas Lauvas of the Latvian Basketball League In 2012, he was named the league’s rising star The following year, he won the Latvian Basketball league MVP Award

In 2013, Porzingis decided to declared for the NBA draft He was selected fourth overall by the New York Knicks Porzingis made his debut with the Knicks on October 28, 2015 against the Milwaukee Bucks In his first season with the Knicks, he averaged 14 points per game and 7 rebounds per game

Porzingis continued to improve in his second season with the Knicks. He averaged 18 points per game and 7 rebounds per game He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team and won the Rookie of the Month award for February 2016.

Davis Bertans was born in Jekabpils, Latvia on November 24, 1992. He began playing basketball at a young age and showed promise as a player. When he was 16 years old, he played for Latvia’s Under-16 national team In 2009, he played for Latvia’s Under-18 National Team at the FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship where he averaged 14 points per game and 5 rebounds per game.

In 2010, Bertans decided to declare for the NBA Draft but wasn’t selected in the first round. He chose to play professionally in Europe instead of attending college in the United States Bertans spent two seasons with Union Olimpija of Slovenia before joining Partizan Belgrade of Serbia in 2012. In 2014, he moved to Spain to play for Real Madrid where he won two EuroLeague championships (2015 and 2016).

The journey to the NBA

In order to make it to the NBA, players have to overcome many obstacles. For two Latvian players NBA- hopefuls Anžejs Pasečņiks and Rodions Kurucs, that journey was even tougher.

Pasečņiks and Kurucs both started Playing basketball at a young age. They both fell in love with the game and dreamed of one day playing in the NBA. But their journey to the NBA was not an easy one.

Pasečņiks and Kurucs had to leave their families and homes in Latvia in order to pursue their dream. They moved to the United States to play High School basketball, hoping that one day they would be good enough to play in the NBA.

They faced many challenges along the way, but they never gave up on their dream. And finally, their hard work paid off. Pasečņiks was drafted by the Orlando Magic in 2017 and Kurucs was drafted by the Brooklyn Nets in 2018.

They are now living their dream of playing in the NBA. And they are inspiring other Latvian players who hope to one day make it to the NBA too.

Life in the NBA

Life in the NBA is a lot different than most people expect. For starters, players are only required to be in the United States for about nine months out of the year. The rest of the time, they’re free to go where they please.

Players also have a lot more free time than most people realize. During the season, they usually only have to be at the arena for a couple of hours before each game. practices are typically optional, and players often take days off during road trips.

So what do players do with all this free time? Some choose to spend it with their families, others go on vacation, and some just stay in their homes and relax.

But no matter how they spend their free time, one thing is for sure: life in the NBA is a lot different than what most people expect.

The future

Looking to the future, it’s clear that the NBA will continue to be a destination for the world’s best basketball players And with Latvia’s rich Basketball History it’s likely that we’ll see even more Latvian players making an impact on the league.

What it takes to make it

It takes a lot of hard work and dedications to make it to the top of any profession. For Latvian NBA players Kristaps Porzingis and Davis Bertans, that meant making countless sacrifices and putting in long hours of training.

Born just a year apart, the two have been on a similar journey since they first started playing basketball Both came from humble beginnings in Latvia, and both had to work their way up through the ranks to get where they are today.

Porzingis was the first to achieve success, as he was drafted by the New York Knicks in 2015. He quickly became a star player for the team, and was even named an All-Star in 2018.

Bertans followed in Porzingis’ footsteps just a few years later, as he too was drafted by an NBA team—the San Antonio Spurs. He too has made a name for himself, becoming one of the best three-point shooters in the league.

Although their paths have not always been easy, both Porzingis and Bertans have achieved their dreams of playing in the NBA. They are living proof that if you work hard enough, anything is possible.

The importance of family

It is no secret that family is important to basketball players from Latvia. Not only do they have to deal with the pressures of being a Professional Athlete but they also have to overcome the obstacles that come with being from a small country.

For brothers Kristaps and Janis Porzingis, that meant leaving their home in Liepaja, Latvia, at a young age to pursue their dream of playing in the NBA. It was a decision that paid off, as both players are now considered among the best in the world.

Kristaps was the first to make it to the NBA, being drafted fourth overall by the New York Knicks in 2015. He quickly became a fan favorite, thanks to his unique combination of size and skill. He was named an All-Star in 2018 and 2019, and he is currently one of the league’s most exciting players

Janis followed in his brother’s footsteps by being drafted 12th overall by the Dallas Mavericks in 2019. He too has shown fantastic potential, earning comparisons to Kristaps for his shooting ability and athleticism.

The Porzingis brothers are proof that, with hard work and dedication, anything is possible. They are also a reminder of how important family is, both on and off the court.

The power of hard work

In today’s NBA, there are players from all over the world. But it wasn’t always this way. In fact, just a few decades ago, the vast majority of players were from the United States But slowly, that began to change.

One of the first International Players to make it big in the NBA was Dainius Zubrus of Latvia. Zubrus was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1996 and went on to have a successful 16-year career in the league.

But Zubrus is not the only Latvian player to find success in the NBA. In recent years several other Latvian players have made a name for themselves, including Kristaps Porzingis of the Dallas Mavericks and Davis Bertans of the Washington Wizards

What sets these Latvian players apart from others? Many experts believe it is their work ethic and determination. These players have had to overcome a lot of obstacles to make it to where they are today, and that has made them better and stronger players.

So if you’re ever feeling down about your own basketball career remember that hard work can take you places you never thought possible. Just ask Dainius Zubrus, Kristaps Porzingis or Davis Bertans.

Giving back

Many people know that NBA players make a lot of money. What they may not know is that some of them are also very generous with their wealth.

That’s the case with brothers Andris and Kristaps Porzingis, who were born in Latvia and now play for the Dallas Mavericks The two have started a foundation called The Porzingis brothers Foundation, which helps children in need back in their home country.

The foundation provides food, clothes, and toys to children in orphanages and hospitals. It also helps to finance sports programs for kids. So far, the foundation has helped more than 1,000 children in Latvia.

The Porzingis brothers are just two examples of NBA players who are using their platform to give back to the community. Other examples include Lebron James and Stephen Curry who have both started foundations to help kids in need.

An inspiring story

In the early 1990s, two young Latvian boys, Janis and Kris Porzingis, had a dream to one day play in the NBA.

Born into a family of limited means, the brothers never lost sight of their goal, working tirelessly to improve their skills.

Their hard work paid off and in 2015, they both realized their dream when they were drafted into the NBA.

Today, the Porzingis brothers are two of the most successful Latvian athletes in history and an inspiration to young people everywhere.

How Two Latvian NBA Players Made It to the Top