Andris Biedriņš facts for kids
Biedriņš with the Warriors
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| Center | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2 April 1986 Riga, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Nationality | Latvian |
| Listed height | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) |
| Listed weight | 245 lb (111 kg) |
| Career information | |
| NBA Draft | 2004 / Round: 1 / Pick: 11th overall |
| Selected by the Golden State Warriors | |
| Pro career | 2002–2014 |
| Career history | |
| 2002–2004 | BK Skonto |
| 2004–2013 | Golden State Warriors |
| 2013–2014 | Utah Jazz |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 3,247 (6.3 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 3,631 (7.0 rpg) |
| Blocks | 580 (1.1 bpg) |
Andris Biedriņš (born April 2, 1986) is a former professional basketball player from Latvia. He played as a center, which is usually the tallest player on a basketball team. He was chosen by the Golden State Warriors as the 11th pick in the 2004 NBA draft.
Contents
Andris's Basketball Journey
Starting in Latvia (2002–2004)
Andris Biedriņš began his professional basketball career at just 16 years old. He joined the Latvian team BK Skonto for the 2002–03 season. Even at a young age, he quickly became an important player.
He played in 41 games in the Latvian League, scoring about 2.9 points and grabbing 4.6 rebounds per game. He also blocked 1.32 shots per game. Because of his great start, he was named the Latvian League Newcomer of the Year. In his second year, he continued to improve, averaging 18.0 points and 8.9 rebounds. After this season, Andris decided to try for the NBA.
Playing for the Golden State Warriors (2004–2013)
First Years in the NBA (2004–2006)
The Golden State Warriors picked Andris as the 11th player in the 2004 NBA draft. In his first year (2004–05), he was the youngest player in the league at 18 years old. He didn't play much and often got into foul trouble quickly.
In his second year (2005–06), he played in more games but still struggled with fouls and shooting free throws. Fans sometimes called him "The One Minute Man" because he seemed to get fouls so fast.
Becoming a Starter (2006–2007)
Things changed for Andris in his third year. The Warriors got a new coach, Don Nelson, who was known as one of the NBA's "Greatest Coaches of All Time." Coach Nelson saw Andris's talent and made him the starting center.
Andris played much better in this new role. He averaged 10.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game. He also led the NBA in field goal percentage, meaning he made a lot of his shots. He had some amazing games, like when he scored 31 points against Denver and grabbed 18 rebounds against Charlotte. He even finished fifth in the voting for the NBA Most Improved Player award!
Big Contract and More Rebounds (2008–2009)
In 2008, Andris signed a new six-year contract with the Warriors. He was also named a co-captain of the team. On January 27, he had a career-high game, grabbing 26 rebounds against the New York Knicks. For the whole season, he set new personal bests in points (11.9), rebounds (11.2), and blocks (1.6) per game.
Dealing with Injuries (2009–2011)
The next few seasons were tough for Andris because of injuries. In the 2009–10 season, he played in only 33 games due to back and groin problems. He even had surgery on his groin. His stats dropped, and he struggled with free throws.
In the 2010–11 season, he started strong with some great rebounding games, like getting 20 rebounds against the Utah Jazz. But injuries kept bothering him, and he found it hard to get back to his best form.
Final Years with Warriors (2011–2013)
Andris continued to face challenges in the 2011–12 season. He had more ankle injuries and struggled to stay effective on the court. His playing time and statistics were the lowest since his second year in the league.
In his last season with the Warriors (2012–13), he played in 53 games but for very few minutes. He attempted very few shots and free throws.
Moving to the Utah Jazz (2013–2014)
On July 5, 2013, Andris was traded to the Utah Jazz. This trade helped the Warriors make space for another player. Andris played only 6 games for the Jazz in the 2013–14 season. His final NBA game was on December 16, 2013. He was released by the Jazz in April 2014.
Playing for His Country
Andris Biedriņš also played for his home country, the Latvian national team, since he was a teenager.
- In 2001, at age 15, he was part of the Latvian team at the Euro Cadet Championship. He was 4th in scoring and 3rd in rebounding.
- In 2004, he played in the Under-18 European Championship, where he averaged 21.8 points, 14.4 rebounds, and 4.4 blocks per game. He had impressive games, like scoring 26 points and grabbing 20 rebounds against Italy.
Andris's Life Off the Court
Andris Biedriņš has a son named Emīls. He is also known for helping out with different charities. During his time with the Warriors, he participated in many community programs. He helped serve food for Thanksgiving, hosted a holiday party for kids, and visited injured American troops. When he first came to the U.S., his English wasn't very good, but he taught himself to speak it in just six months!
Images for kids
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Biedriņš with the Warriors
See also
In Spanish: Andris Biedriņš para niños
