Artūrs Žagars Explained

Artūrs Žagars
Position:Point guard
Height M:1.90
Weight Kg:78
League:BSL
EuroLeague
Team:Fenerbahçe Beko
Number:32
Birth Date:2000 4, df=yes
Birth Place:Riga, Latvia
Draft Year:2022
Career Start:2017
Years1:2017–2022
Team1:Joventut Badalona
Years2:2018–2019
Team2:CB Prat
Years3:2021
Team3:Kalev/Cramo
Years4:2022
Team4:Basketball Löwen Braunschweig
Years5:2022–2023
Team5:Nevėžis Kėdainiai
Team6:Fenerbahçe Beko
Years6:2023–present
Team7:BC Wolves
Years7:2023–2024

Artūrs Mārtiņš Žagars (born 21 April 2000) is a Latvian professional basketball player for Fenerbahçe Beko of the Turkish BSL and the EuroLeague. Standing at, he primarily plays at the point guard position.

Early career

Žagars spent much of his early career playing for Latvian club BS DSN Riga.[1]

Professional career

In 2017, Žagars signed a long-term contract with Spanish club Joventut Badalona. On 11 March 2018, Žagars made his Liga ACB debut, scoring two points in seven minutes versus Baskonia.[1]

In November 2018, Žagars suffered a torn ligament in his ankle and was sidelined until early March 2019 after undergoing surgery.[2]

On 19 April 2019, Žagars declared for the 2019 NBA draft.[3] [4]

On 16 February 2021, Žagars was loaned to Estonian powerhouse Kalev/Cramo.[5]

On 12 January 2022, he was loaned to Löwen Braunschweig of the German Basketball Bundesliga.[6]

On 20 July 2022, Žagars signed with Nevėžis Kėdainiai of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL).[7] In 22 league matches, he averaged 15.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.1 steals per contest.

On 18 September 2023, Žagars signed a three-year contract with Turkish giants Fenerbahçe.[8] He was subsequently loaned to Lithuanian club BC Wolves for the 2023–24 season. Already at the beginning of October, Žagars suffered a severe injury to the lateral ligament of his knee. Due to the injury, Žagars will have to miss at least five months.[9]

National team career

Žagars was named to the All-Star Five of the 2018 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship in Riga after averaging 18.9 points, 6.3 assists, and 1.9 steals per game, while leading the Latvian national under-18 team to its first finals appearance and silver medal at the tournament.[10]

Žagars represented Latvia during the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup which achieved 5th place during its debut.[11] Moreover, Žagars achieved the world cup's all-time record of assists by dishing out 17 assists in a game versus Lithuania.[11] In recognition of his individual play, Žagars was named to the All-FIBA World Cup Second Team.[12]

Career statistics

EuroCup

|-| style="text-align:left;"|2019–20| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="3"|Joventut Badalona| 10 || 3 || 10.4 || .385 || .333 || .750 || .7 || 1.8 || .5 || .0 || 2.7 || 2.8|-| style="text-align:left;"|2020–21| 7 || 0 || 4.6 || .222 || .200 || .667 || .1 || .6 || .1 || .0 || 1.0 || 0.3|-| style="text-align:left;"|2021–22| 3 || 0 || 15.0 || .467 || .286 || .500 || .3 || 2.0 || .3 || .0 || 5.7 || 3.7|-| style="text-align:left;"|2023–24| style="text-align:left;"|Vilnius Wolves| 1 || 1 || 24.0 || .383 || .400 || .1000 || 1.0 || 4.0 || .0 || .0 || 10.0 || 7.0|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan=2|Career| 21 || 4 || 10.1 || .352 || .310 || .727 || .5 || 1.5 || .3 || .0 || 2.9 || 1.5

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hein . David . Zagars inspired by former Joventut greats . . 19 May 2019 . 30 March 2018.
  2. Web site: U19 World Cup an 'amazing opportunity' for Latvia to put name out there, Zagars says . . 19 May 2019 . 6 May 2019.
  3. Web site: John. Askounis. Louis Olinde among latest Europeans entering NBA draft . EuroHoops . 19 May 2019 . 20 April 2019.
  4. Web site: Talantīgais Žagars pieteicies NBA draftam . TV NET . 19 May 2019 . Latvian . 20 April 2019.
  5. Web site: Arturs Žagars joins BC Kalev / Cramo. 16 February 2021. bckalev.ee. et.
  6. Web site: Europäisches Top-Talent Arturs Zagars verstärkt die Löwen. January 12, 2022. basketball-loewen.de. de. January 19, 2022.
  7. Web site: Kėdainių „Nevėžio-Optibet“ atakoms diriguos latvis Artūras Martinas Žagaras. lt. kknevezis.lt. July 20, 2022. September 29, 2022.
  8. Web site: Fenerbahce signs Arturs Zagars, will join Wolves on loan. EuroLeague. 18 September 2023. 20 September 2023.
  9. Web site: Oficiāli: Žagaram traumas dēļ būs jāizlaiž vismaz pieci mēneši, sliktākās prognozes nepiepildās. Delfi. sports.delfi.lv. 2023-10-25. 2023-10-19. lv.
  10. Web site: Serbia big man Pecarski named MVP, tops All-Star Five . . 19 May 2019 . 5 August 2018.
  11. Web site: Zagars' record-breaking assist tally caps Latvia's historic World Cup finish . BasketNews.com . 9 September 2023.
  12. Web site: World Cup 2023 All-Second Team, Best Coach and Best Defensive Player Awards revealed. FIBA. September 10, 2023. September 15, 2023.