Valdis Valters

Valdis Valters
Personal information
Born (1957-08-04) August 4, 1957
Riga, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union
Nationality Latvian
Listed height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight 195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
Playing career 1976–1989, 1993–1999
Position Point guard
Number 10
Coaching career 1996–2003, 2006–2010
Career history
As player:
1976–1989 VEF Rīga
1993–1999 BK Brocēni
As coach:
1996–2000 BK Brocēni
2000–2003 BK Skonto
2006–2007 ASK Juniors
2007–2010 VEF Rīga
Career highlights and awards

Valdis Valters (born August 4, 1957) is a retired Latvian basketball player. A point guard for the USSR, he is regarded as one of the greatest to have played the game in Europe in the 1980s.

Basketball career

Valdis Valters first made his name in European basketball when he was named as the MVP of EuroBasket 1981[1] when he scored 16.7 ppg led his squad to championship. He was also on the All-Tournament team of EuroBasket 1985.[2]

Valters played key role USSR team that won gold at 1982 FIBA World Championship in Colombia, when he was a starting guard and averaged 14.0ppg.[3]

In 1986 FIBA World Championship, Valters helped Soviet Union to rally from a nine-point deficit in the final minute[4] by scoring three-pointer at the end of regulation to send its semifinal against Yugoslavia to overtime and eventually earn a 91-90 win.[5]

In 1992, when he already had ended playing at the pro level, Valters returned to the court and represented Latvian National Team at Qualifying tournament of 1992 Olympics.[6]

He spent most of his club career playing for VEF Rīga. In 1982, he set USSR Premier Basketball League all-time record in points when he scored 69 against BC Dynamo Moscow.[7]

Valters also worked as basketball coach and general manager. He founded his own basketball school, the Valtera Basketbola Skola (VBS), now known as Keizarmezs, whose alumni include NBA player Andris Biedriņš as well as other top Latvian players.[8] He also helped to basketball league for Latvian youth players, the LJBL. Considering his lengthy work and deep connection, Valters has been one of the most influential persons in Latvian basketball.

Other

In 2013, he released his autobiographical book called "Dumpinieks ar ideāliem" (Rebel with ideals).[9]

He is currently working as an analyst for Latvian TV channel TV6 hosting weekly sports show Overtime. [10]

Personal

Both of his sons, Kristaps and Sandis, are also basketball players.[11]

References

External links


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