Kaspars Kambala facts for kids
Kambala with Latvia in 2009
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| Power forward / center | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 13 December 1978 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 | |
EuroLeague records
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Kaspars Kambala (born 13 December 1978) is a famous Latvian athlete. He is known for being a professional basketball player and a professional boxer. Kaspars is quite tall, standing at 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) (about 6 feet 9 inches). He usually played as a forward-center in basketball.
Contents
Early Life and High School Basketball
Kaspars Kambala was born in Jelgava, Latvia. He started playing professional basketball in Latvia when he was a teenager. Later, he moved to America for high school.
He went to Homestead High School in Mequon, Wisconsin. In his last year (1996–97), he was a star player. He scored about 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in each game. These great numbers helped him earn many awards. He was named All-Wisconsin, all-state, and the MVP of his conference.
College Basketball Career
After high school, Kaspars played college basketball for UNLV. He was part of the team from 1997 to 2001. He was a top scorer for UNLV in his junior and senior years.
By the time he finished college in 2001, Kaspars was one of UNLV's best players ever. He was among the top 10 highest scorers in the program's history. He also ranked fourth for the most rebounds, leading his team in rebounds for three out of his four seasons.
Professional Basketball Journey
After college, Kaspars Kambala continued his basketball career in Europe. He played for many well-known teams. Some of these teams include Efes Pilsen, Real Madrid, UNICS Kazan, and Fenerbahçe.
In December 2006, Kaspars faced a challenge when he was suspended from playing basketball. This was due to a doping violation. His suspension ended on 12 December 2008. After his suspension, he was eager to return to the court. He joined ASK Riga for a few games. Then, he moved to Russia to play for Enisey Krasnoyarsk. He spent about a year and a half there.
In September 2010, Kambala joined the Bulgarian team Lukoil Academic. Later that season, he returned to Turkey to play for Aliağa Petkim. In July 2011, he signed with Türk Telekom B.K. for one season. He also played for teams like Adanaspor and Near East University later in his career.
Playing for Latvia
Kaspars Kambala proudly represented his home country. He first played for the Latvian national basketball team in 2001. This was during the European Championship. He also played in two more Eurobasket tournaments in 2003 and 2009.
Beyond Basketball: Boxing and Books
During his suspension from basketball, Kaspars decided to try something new. He became a professional boxer! This shows his dedication and athletic spirit.
Kaspars also holds an impressive record in the Euroleague. He shares the record for the most points scored in a single game in the last decade. He scored 41 points against FC Barcelona on 30 October 2002. Only a few other players have achieved this amazing feat.
In April 2014, Kaspars Kambala released his autobiography. The book is titled "Kambala..., āmen!" It became a very popular book in Latvia.
Achievements and Awards
Kaspars Kambala has earned several honors throughout his career:
- 1998: Won the Western Athletic Conference Tournament with UNLV.
- 2000: Won the Mountain West Conference Regular Season and Tournament with UNLV.
- 2002, 2003: Won the Turkish League championship twice.
- 2002: Won the Turkish Cup.
- 2005, 2006: Selected for the FIBA EuroCup All-Star Day twice.
Professional Boxing Matches
Kaspars Kambala also had a short but successful career as a professional boxer. He won four of his five fights.
| 4 fights | 3 wins | 0 losses |
| By knockout | 3 | 0 |
| Draws | 1 | |
See also
In Spanish: Kaspars Kambala para niños
