Artūras Milaknis (born 16 June 1986) is a Lithuanian former professional basketball player and coach. Standing at 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in), he primarily played at the shooting guard position.
.jpg) Milaknis with Žalgiris Kaunas in 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 16 June 1986 Kaunas,[1] Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union | ||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Lithuanian | ||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 4.7 in (1.95 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 211 lb (96 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| NBA draft | 2008: undrafted | ||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 2004–2023 | ||||||||||||||
| Position | Shooting guard / small forward | ||||||||||||||
| Number | 21, 20, 24, 33 | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
| 2004–2006 | Bremena Tauragė | ||||||||||||||
| 2006–2011 | Žalgiris Kaunas | ||||||||||||||
| 2006–2007 | →Žalgiris-Arvydas Sabonis school Kaunas | ||||||||||||||
| 2008 | →Kaunas Triobet | ||||||||||||||
| 2011–2013 | Rūdupis Prienai / Prienai | ||||||||||||||
| 2013–2015 | Žalgiris Kaunas | ||||||||||||||
| 2015–2016 | UNICS Kazan | ||||||||||||||
| 2016–2022 | Žalgiris Kaunas | ||||||||||||||
| 2022–2023 | Tofaş | ||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
LKL records
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Medals
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Early career
editA native of Kaunas, Milaknis began his career in the second division National Basketball League (NKL), playing for Bremena Tauragė. In 2006, he went on to play with Žalgiris-Arvydas Sabonis school, the junior team of Žalgiris Kaunas.
Professional career
editIn the 2007-2008 season, Milaknis made his Žalgiris' main team debut. Since then, apart from playing two full seasons in 2009–2010 and 2010–2011, he would be loaned to a few different teams, up until 2013, when he signed a 2+1 deal after a successful season with BC Prienai. In the next two years, he became an important part of the team, and soon gained attention from various international clubs. In the summer of 2015, Milaknis was invited to join the Dallas Mavericks training camp.[2] On 9 July 2015, he signed a two-year contract with the Russian club UNICS Kazan.[3]
On 7 August 2016, Milaknis returned to Žalgiris as he signed a three-year contract.[4] It was extended for an additional year on 7 June 2019.[5]
On 14 October 2022, Milaknis signed a one-year deal with Tofaş of Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL).[6]
On 24 May 2024, Milaknis announced his retirement from professional basketball.[7]
National team career
editIn 2015, Milaknis was included into the senior Lithuanian national team extended candidates list, by the team's head coach, Jonas Kazlauskas.[8] Aged 29, he qualified into the final roster of the senior Lithuanian national team, for the first time in his career, and he represented the national team at the EuroBasket 2015.[9][10] The Lithuanian team ended up winning the silver medal at the tournament.
He played at the EuroBasket 2017.[11]
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 | PIR | Performance Index Rating |
| Bold | Career high |
EuroLeague
edit| * | Led the league |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG | PIR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007–08 | Žalgiris | 2 | 0 | 2.5 | .500 | .000 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.0 | 0.5 |
| 2008–09 | 5 | 0 | 14.8 | .611 | .571 | .500 | 1.2 | .2 | — | — | 6.2 | 5.0 | |
| 2009–10 | 11 | 0 | 8.0 | .500 | .500 | .500 | .4 | — | .3 | — | 2.5 | 1.0 | |
| 2010–11 | 15 | 9 | 15.5 | .368 | .308 | .800 | 1.0 | .4 | .7 | — | 3.9 | 1.3 | |
| 2013–14 | 24 | 4 | 18.3 | .458 | .432 | .667 | 2.0 | .7 | .3 | .0 | 6.4 | 4.8 | |
| 2014–15 | 24 | 10 | 25.9 | .462 | .462 | .778 | 1.8 | 1.4 | .3 | .1 | 10.0 | 8.0 | |
| 2016–17 | 30 | 8 | 21.1 | .474 | .386 | .762 | 1.5 | 1.0 | .3 | .0 | 7.3 | 4.6 | |
| 2017–18 | 36* | 8 | 22.4 | .471 | .449 | .826 | 2.0 | .9 | .4 | .1 | 8.0 | 6.6 | |
| 2018–19 | 34 | 10 | 23.1 | .403 | .417 | .853 | 1.4 | .9 | .6 | .1 | 7.0 | 5.3 | |
| 2019–20 | 28* | 10 | 21.6 | .466 | .395 | .833 | 1.5 | .6 | .9 | .0 | 7.4 | 6.7 | |
| 2020–21 | 25 | 12 | 18.2 | .473 | .470 | 1.000 | 1.0 | .7 | .5 | .1 | 6.0 | 5.6 | |
| 2021–22 | 31 | 5 | 20.2 | .428 | .416 | .931 | .9 | .6 | .5 | .1 | 7.3 | 6.0 | |
| Career | 265 | 76 | 20.4 | .443 | .425 | .826 | 1.4 | .8 | .5 | .1 | 6.9 | 5.1 | |
References
edit- ^ Milaknis: apie taiklių metimų receptą, snaiperio idealą ir atmosferą „Žalgiryje“
- ^ "Kauno "Žalgirio" snaiperis Artūras Milaknis išvyksta į NBA "Dallas Mavericks" klubo peržiūrą". 15min.lt. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ "Unics Kazan inks sharpshooter Milaknis". Eurocupbasketball.com. 9 July 2015. Archived from the original on July 10, 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
- ^ "Milaknis returns, Motum stays at Zalgiris". zalgiris.lt. 7 August 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
- ^ "Arturas Milaknis extends his contract with Zalgiris". zalgiris.lt. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
- ^ "Arturas Milaknis Tofaş'ta" (in Turkish). Tofaş. October 14, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
- ^ "Arturas Milaknis baigia karjerą ir pradeda naują gyvenimo etapą". basketnews.lt (in Lithuanian). 24 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
- ^ "Paviešintas Lietuvos rinktinės kandidatų sąrašas". Delfi.lt. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
- ^ "Dvejonės baigėsi – Jonas Kazlauskas paskelbė galutinį rinktinės dvyliktuką". 24sek.lt. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
- ^ Arturas Milaknis's profile | 2015 EuroBasket
- ^ Arturas MILAKNIS (LTU)'s profile - FIBA EuroBasket 2017
External links
edit- Artūras Milaknis at euroleague.net
- Artūras Milaknis at eurobasket.com
- Artūras Milaknis at fiba.com