Kaspars Kambala facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Kaspars Kambala

Kambala with Latvia in 2009
Power forward / center
Personal information
Born	(1978-12-13) 13 December 1978 (age 45) Jelgava, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union
Nationality	Latvian
High school	Homestead (Mequon, Wisconsin)
Listed height	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight	275 lb (125 kg)
Career information
College	UNLV (1997–2001)
NBA Draft	2001 / Undrafted
Pro career	2001–2020
Career history
1993–1995	Rīgas Laiks
2001–2003	Efes Pilsen
2003–2004	Real Madrid
2004–2005	UNICS Kazan
2005–2007	Fenerbahçe
2009	ASK Riga
2009–2010	Enisey
2010	Lukoil Akademik
2011	Aliağa Petkim
2011	Mahram Tehran
2011–2012	Türk Telekom
2013	Pİ Koleji
2013–2014	Ankara DSI
2014–2015	Barons
2015–2016	Adanaspor
2016–2017	Near East University
2019	Jūrmala
2019–2020	Ogres milži
2020	Varenie runči
Career highlights and awards
2× Turkish League champion (2002, 2003) Turkish Cup champion (2002) 2× FIBA EuroCup All-Star Day (2005, 2006) EuroLeague records since the 2000–01 season Most points in a game Most 2-point field goals made in a game Most 2-point field goals attempted in a game

Kaspars Kambala (born 13 December 1978) is a Latvian former professional basketball player and a former professional boxer. Standing at 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in), he plays at the position of forward-center.

High school

A 1997 graduate of Homestead High School in Mequon, Wisconsin and a native of Riga, Latvia. He averaged 21 points and 12 rebounds in his senior season (1996–97) and earned All-Wisconsin honors, all-state, MVP of the Northshore Conference and all-county. Homestead compiled a 16-9 overall record and finished second in conference. Kambala played in the Eddie Jones Classic All-Star game, which was held at the Pyramid in Long Beach, California, on 15 April 1997.

College

Kambala played college basketball at UNLV from 1997 to 2001. He led the team in scoring in 1999–2000 (18.5 average) and 2000–01 (16.9). He finished up in 2001 as the program's 10th all-time highest scorer and ranks fourth on the school's all-time rebounding list, leading the team in boards in three of his four seasons on campus.

Professional career

Kaspars Kambala actually played professional basketball as a teenager in Latvia before going to America where he attended high school in Wisconsin and played college basketball at UNLV. He continued his career in Europe, playing for such high-level clubs as Efes Pilsen, Real Madrid, UNICS Kazan, Fenerbahçe.

In December 2006 he was suspended for doping. His suspension in basketball ended on 12 December 2008. When his sanction from playing basketball ended, Kas, as he is often called by fans, stated that he was in great shape and that he was once again ready to play at the highest level of European basketball. For few games he joined ASK Riga, but soon after went to Russia to play for Enisey Krasnoyarsk, where he spent next year and a half. In September 2010 Kambala joined Bulgarian team Lukoil Academic. In the middle of the season Kambala returned to Turkey and joined Aliağa Petkim. In July 2011 he signed with Türk Telekom B.K. for one season.

On 11 July 2015 Kambala signed with Adanaspor.

On 7 June 2016 he signed with Yakın Doğu Üniversitesi Spor Kulübü for a one-year $48000 contract.

Latvian national men's basketball team

In 2001 was Kaspars Kambala's first appearance for the Latvian national basketball team when he participated in the European Championship. He also participated in two more Eurobasket tournaments (2003, 2009).

Trivia

During his suspension from basketball Kaspars decided to become a professional boxer.

Kambala shares the Euroleague's single-game scoring record for last decade - 41 points against FC Barcelona on 30 October 2002 – with three players, Bobby Brown, Carlton Myers and the late Alphonso Ford.

In April 2014, Kambala released his autobiography "Kambala..., āmen!" that became a bestseller in Latvia.

Honors and awards

• 1998: Western Athletic Conference Tournament Champions (UNLV)
• 2000: Mountain West Conference Regular Season and Tournament (UNLV)

Professional boxing record

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
5	Win	4–0–1	Aliaksandr Niakhaichyk	TKO	4 (4), 2:33	23 Mar 2019	Arēna Rīga, Riga, Latvia
4	Win	3–0–1	Ronnie Weaver	TKO	1 (4), 2:08	8 Jul 2008	Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.
3	Win	2–0–1	Emile Whiterock	UD	4	9 May 2008	Orleans Hotel & Casino, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
2	Win	1–0–1	Mike Goins	KO	2 (4), 1:48	7 Mar 2008	Orleans Hotel & Casino, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
1	Draw	0–0–1	Álvaro Morales	MD	4	11 Jan 2008	Orleans Hotel & Casino, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.

See also

In Spanish: Kaspars Kambala para niños