Modestas Paulauskas facts for kids
Paulauskas in 1970, as a member of the USSR national team
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 19 March 1945 Kretinga, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union |
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| Nationality | Lithuanian | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 206 lb (93 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 1962–1976 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coaching career | 1977–1998 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As player: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1962–1976 | Žalgiris Kaunas | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As coach: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1991–1992 | Žalgiris Kaunas | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–1998 | Statyba-Lietuvos rytas Vilnius | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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As a player:
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Medals
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Modestas Paulauskas (born March 19, 1945) is a famous former Lithuanian professional basketball coach and player. He is known as one of the best Lithuanian basketball players ever.
As a player, he was the youngest person to win the EuroBasket MVP award. He was only 20 years old when he won it. Modestas was also chosen as the Lithuanian Sportsman of the Year seven times. This happened in 1965–1967 and again from 1969–1972. He was part of the Soviet team that won the gold medal at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.
In 1991, he was named one of FIBA's 50 Greatest Players. This list includes many basketball legends. In 2021, he was also added to the FIBA Hall of Fame.
Contents
Modestas Paulauskas's Club Career
Modestas Paulauskas played his entire club career with one team, Žalgiris Kaunas. This team is from his home country, Lithuania. Even though teams from Western Europe and the National Basketball Association (NBA) were interested in him, he stayed.
It was very difficult for players from the Soviet Union to travel abroad at that time. Also, Modestas truly loved his homeland and did not want to leave. He even turned down an offer to join Žalgiris Kaunas's main rival, CSKA Moscow.
Playing for the National Team
Modestas Paulauskas was a key player for the senior Soviet Union national basketball team. He helped them win a bronze medal at the 1968 Summer Olympic Games. Later, he won a gold medal at the 1972 Summer Olympic Games.
He became the captain of the Soviet national team in 1969. This shows how important he was to the team.
Modestas Paulauskas as a Coach
After he stopped playing basketball, Modestas Paulauskas became a coach. He coached the Soviet Union junior national teams from 1977 to 1989.
In the early 1990s, he became the head coach of his old club, Žalgiris Kaunas. After that, he coached basketball in schools. He coached in both Lithuania and Russia.
Images for kids
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Paulauskas in 1970, as a member of the USSR national team
See also
In Spanish: Modestas Paulauskas para niños
