Jānis Kaufmanis Explained

Jānis Kaufmanis
Position:Shooting guard
Height M:1.86
Weight Kg:88
Team:Gulbenes Buki
Number:5
Nationality:Latvian
Birth Date:3 October 1989
Birth Place:Rīga, Latvia
Career Start:2007
Years1:2007–2011
Team1:BK Valmiera
Years2:2011–2012
Team2:VEF Rīga
Years3:2012–2014
Team3:BK Valmiera
Years4:2014–2015
Team4:Força Lleida
Years5:2015–2018
Team5:Valmiera/Ordo
Years6:2018–2019
Team6:Valmiera Glass ViA
Years7:2019–2020
Team7:BK Ventspils
Years8:2020–2021
Team8:Kalev/Cramo
Years9:2021–2022
Team9:Valmiera Glass ViA
Years10:2022
Team10:Ermis Shimatariou
Years11:2023
Team11:Sant Antoni
Years12:2023–2024
Team12:Valmiera Glass ViA
Years13:2024-present
Team13:Gulbenes Buki
Highlights:

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.

Professional career

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

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.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kaufmanis atgriežas Valmierā. 27 August 2021. Sportacentrs.com. lv.
  2. Web site: Valmieras līderis Kaufmanis pāriet uz Latvijas vicečempioni Ventspili. 3 July 2019. Sportacentrs.com. lv.
  3. Web site: Janis Kaufmanis joins Kalev/Cramo. 17 August 2020. Eurobasket.com. en.
  4. Web site: Valmiera/Ordo pārraksta vēsturi un iegūst LBL zeltu. 31 May 2016. Sportacentrs.com. lv.
  5. Web site: Kaufmanim sezona beigusies. 9 October 2008. Sportacentrs.com. lv.
  6. Web site: VEF Rīga paraksta līgumu ar Kaufmani. 21 June 2011. Vefriga.com. lv.
  7. Web site: Valmieras basketbolisti izcīna LBL bronzas godalgas. 15 May 2013. Jauns.lv. lv.
  8. Web site: Kaufmanis no Spānijas atgriežas Valmierā. 20 July 2015. NRA.lv. lv.
  9. Web site: Valmieras basketbola leģenda Amoliņš atgriezīsies laukumā uz karjeras pēdējo spēli. 7 February 2020. Diena.lv. lv.
  10. http://www.fibaeurope.com/cid_KNce8jInH7Qj1EsyH5rjn2.gameID_5537-59-A-1.compID_8aYeHlfuGF-mF5IqO8aFH1.season_2007.roundID_5526.teamID_.html Lithuania 72-74 Latvia