Jānis Kaufmanis

(Redirected from Janis Kaufmanis)

Jānis Kaufmanis (born October 3, 1989) is a Latvian professional basketball player who plays for his hometown team Valmiera Glass ViA.[1] Prior he has played for top tier Latvian teams BK Valmiera, VEF Rīga, BK Ventspils[2] and Kalev/Cramo.[3] Kaufmanis is two time Latvian champion [4] and Estonian champion.

Jānis Kaufmanis
No. 5 – Gulbenes Buki
PositionShooting guard
Personal information
Born (1989-10-03) October 3, 1989 (age 35)
Rīga, Latvia
NationalityLatvian
Listed height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Listed weight88 kg (194 lb)
Career information
Playing career2007–present
Career history
2007–2011BK Valmiera
2011–2012VEF Rīga
2012–2014BK Valmiera
2014–2015Força Lleida
2015–2018Valmiera/Ordo
2018–2019Valmiera Glass ViA
2019–2020BK Ventspils
2020–2021Kalev/Cramo
2021–2022Valmiera Glass ViA
2022Ermis Shimatariou
2023Sant Antoni
2023–2024Valmiera Glass ViA
2024-presentGulbenes Buki
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Latvia
European U-18 Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2007 Spain U-18 Team

Professional career

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Jānis Kaufmanis started his professional career for his hometown team Valmiera in 2007. In his second season shooting guard suffered knee injury that sidelined player for half of a year.[5] In 2010 Kaufmanis started ascending as one of teams leaders, receiving interest from VEF Rīga which signed a three-year deal with Kaufmanis in 2011.[6] Due to an injury ruined season, Kaufmanis stayed with VEF for only one year before coming back to Valmiera.

In a very successful 2012-2013 campaign Kaufmanis, together with Jānis Bērziņš, forged Latvian League bronze medals for Valmiera.[7] In that time Kaufmanis proved himself as one of the deadliest sharpshooters in Latvian basketball and his isolation move was Valmiera's teams go-to play in low shot clock situations.

In the 2014-2015 season Kaufmanis tried his force abroad, joining Spanish LEB Oro team Força Lleida. After year in Spain basketball player came back to his home towns team Valmiera/Ordo,[8] who in this point due to financial influx was rapidly growing its ambitions in local basketball stage. Spring of 2016 came with a historical triumph for Valmiera basketball, winning Latvian League championship in a seven-game series over VEF Rīga. Kaufmanis was a substantial contributor coming off the bench.

Next two seasons Kaufmanis stayed with Valmiera/Ordo, but due to financial instability team could not repeat its championship conquest. In 2018 Kaufmanis overtook all time leading scorer position in Valmiera basketball history previously held by Sandis Amoliņš.[9] After Valmiera/Ordo bankruptcy Kaufmanis joined Valmiera student basketball team Valmiera Glass ViA which was promoted to newly founded Latvian-Estonian League, where Kaufmanis become second highest scorer in tournaments first season.

In least seasons shooting guard has played for Latvian championships richest team BK Ventspils and Estonian powerhouse Kalev/Cramo.

Latvian National Team

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Kaufmanis has played for Latvian U16, U18 and U20 National teams. In 2007, Kaufmanis was a part of the Latvian Under-18 junior national team that won the bronze medal at the 2007 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship, which was held in Madrid, Spain.[10] That was first medal for Latvian youth basketball in European championships. Kaufmanis debuted for Latvian national team in 2010.

References

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  1. ^ "Kaufmanis atgriežas Valmierā". Sportacentrs.com (in Latvian). 27 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Valmieras līderis Kaufmanis pāriet uz Latvijas vicečempioni Ventspili". Sportacentrs.com (in Latvian). 3 July 2019.
  3. ^ "Janis Kaufmanis joins Kalev/Cramo". Eurobasket.com. 17 August 2020.
  4. ^ "Valmiera/Ordo pārraksta vēsturi un iegūst LBL zeltu". Sportacentrs.com (in Latvian). 31 May 2016.
  5. ^ "Kaufmanim sezona beigusies". Sportacentrs.com (in Latvian). 9 October 2008.
  6. ^ "VEF Rīga paraksta līgumu ar Kaufmani". Vefriga.com (in Latvian). 21 June 2011.
  7. ^ "Valmieras basketbolisti izcīna LBL bronzas godalgas". Jauns.lv (in Latvian). 15 May 2013.
  8. ^ "Kaufmanis no Spānijas atgriežas Valmierā". NRA.lv (in Latvian). 20 July 2015.
  9. ^ "Valmieras basketbola leģenda Amoliņš atgriezīsies laukumā uz karjeras pēdējo spēli". Diena.lv (in Latvian). 7 February 2020.
  10. ^ Lithuania 72-74 Latvia FIBA Europe
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