Wikipedia

Rīgas Zeļļi

Rīgas Zeļļi is Latvian professional basketball team that is based in Riga, Latvia. It was founded in the summer of 2023.[1]

Rīgas Zeļļi
NicknameZeļļi
LeaguesLatvian–Estonian Basketball League
Latvian Basketball League
Founded2023
LocationRiga, Latvia
PresidentEdgars Buļs
General managerArtūrs Šēnhofs
Head coachJuris Umbraško
Websiterigaszelli.lv

History

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On July 13, 2023 it was announced that a new team named Rīgas Zeļļi will take part in Latvian-Estonian Basketball League, Latvian Basketball League and Latvian Basketball Cup. Its president is sports manager Edgars Buļs and former player Artūrs Šēnhofs is taking the role of a general manager. Previously, both worked together as hosts of a basketball show "Ūdenszeļļi" on television.

Club offers everyone to become its member by donating money, in return having a word in teams' decisions. It has also created a mobile app for a team to communicate with teams' management. It presents itself as the most innovative sports organizations in Latvia.[2]

On July 14, 2023 it was announced that the head coach of the team will be Juris Umbraško.[3]

On September 19, Andris Biedriņš, the first Latvian basketball player ever drafted in the NBA, joined the club as its ambassador.[4]

On September 30, 2023 Zeļļi played the first official game in a team's history beating Keila Coolbet in Arena Riga.[5]

The first foreign player signed by Zeļļi was Georgian forward George Natsvlishvili.[6] After the start of debut season Rīgas Zeļļi signed an American point guard Nigel Johnson.[7] Later he was replaced by Canadian shooting guard Isiah Osborne.[8]

On January 20, 2024, Rīgas Zeļļi announced that the team was joined by Aleksandrs Samoilovs, a two-time European silver medalist in Beach volleyball.[9] It was meant to be a marketing campaign and he actually played in only one game, scoring two points against KK Viimsi.[10]

On February 29, 2024 Rīgas Zeļļi signed a long-standing center of the Latvian national team Mārtiņš Meiers until the end of the season.[11] 10 days later team also signed Australian center Jordan Hunter.[12]

Players

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Current roster

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Rīgas Zeļļi roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age
PG 1   Juris Vītols 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 79 kg (174 lb) 19 – (2005-07-29)29 July 2005
PG 3   Toms Skuja 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) 85 kg (187 lb) 22 – (2002-01-02)2 January 2002
G 6   Markuss Mamajs 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) 20 – (2004-02-01)1 February 2004
PF 12   Kristers Skrinda 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 90 kg (198 lb) 18 – (2006-03-12)12 March 2006
PF 14   Zigmārs Raimo 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) 106 kg (234 lb) 26 – (1997-11-14)14 November 1997
SG 15   Uģis Pinete (C) 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 94 kg (207 lb) 33 – (1991-02-15)15 February 1991
SG 17   Dans Galdiņš 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 20 – (2004-07-01)1 July 2004
PF 22   Francis Lācis 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 98 kg (216 lb) 25 – (1999-02-22)22 February 1999
SF 32   Dāvids Vīksne 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 88 kg (194 lb) 23 – (2000-12-05)5 December 2000
SG 8   Roberts Bērziņš 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 93 kg (205 lb) 23 – (2001-01-10)10 January 2001
PG 13   Akuel Kot 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 75 kg (165 lb) 23 – (2001-01-10)10 January 2001
F 11   Artūrs Strēlnieks 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 96 kg (212 lb) 39 – (1985-08-31)31 August 1985
C 7   Krišs Helmanis 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) 98 kg (216 lb) 22 – (2002-04-07)7 April 2002
F 4   Justin McKoy 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 104 kg (229 lb) 23 – (2001-01-07)7 January 2001
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  •   Injured
Updated: September 13, 2024

Depth chart

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Pos. Starting 5 Bench
C
PF
SF
SG
PG

References

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  1. ^ "Team profile". September 13, 2023.
  2. ^ "Par un ap komandas izveidi | "Rīgas Zeļļi" podkāsts EP. 1". 28 September 2023 – via www.youtube.com.
  3. ^ "Debitanti "Rīgas Zeļļi" ar galveno treneri Umbraško paraksta trīs gadu līgumu". Sportacentrs.com. July 14, 2023.
  4. ^ Andris Biedriņš atgriežas basketbolā, kļūstot par "Rīgas Zeļļu" biedru un vēstnesi
  5. ^ "Results". www.estlatbl.com.
  6. ^ Official announcement on Rīgas Zeļļi Instagram account
  7. ^ 'Rīgas Zeļļi' pēc Skujas savainojuma piesaista amerikāni Džonsonu
  8. ^ "Rīgas Zeļļi" veic izmaiņas sastāvā – pievienojas Osborns, komandu atstāj Džonsons
  9. ^ "Zeļļi" nolūko papildinājumu: Samoilovs debitēs profesionālajā basketbolā
  10. ^ Box Score
  11. ^ Ilggadējais Latvijas izlases centrs pastiprina “Rīgas Zeļļu” groza apakšu
  12. ^ Kings centre Jordi Hunter has signed a short-term deal in Latvia
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