Paulius Jankūnas facts for kids
Jankūnas with Žalgiris Kaunas in 2018
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| Žalgiris Kaunas | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 29 April 1984 Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union |
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| Nationality | Lithuanian | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 113 kg (249 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 2006 / Undrafted | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 2002–2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2003 | LKKA-Žalgiris Kaunas | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2009 | Žalgiris Kaunas | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2010 | BC Khimki | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2022 | Žalgiris Kaunas | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LKL records
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Paulius Jankūnas (born 29 April 1984) is a famous Lithuanian former professional basketball player. He spent most of his amazing career playing for Žalgiris Kaunas in the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL) and the top-level EuroLeague. He was also a key player for the senior Lithuanian national team. Jankūnas usually played as a power forward but could also play as a center. In 2018, he was even chosen for the All-EuroLeague Second Team, which means he was one of the best players in Europe!
Contents
Paulius Jankūnas: A Basketball Legend
Early Basketball Days
Paulius Jankūnas started his basketball journey playing for LKKA-Žalgiris. He played there for two seasons. In 2003, he helped his team win the Lithuanian League 2nd Division title. He was even named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of that league! He scored about 20 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and blocked 1.5 shots per game.
In 2003, he also took part in the Reebok Eurocamp in Treviso, which is a special event for young basketball talents.
Professional Journey
Playing for Žalgiris Kaunas
After his time in the Lithuanian 2nd Division, Jankūnas joined the big leagues. He started playing for Žalgiris Kaunas, a well-known Lithuanian EuroLeague club, in the 2003–04 season. He thought about joining the 2005 NBA draft but decided not to.
In the 2008–09 EuroLeague season, he was a star player. He averaged 13.8 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. He even scored 23 points in one game against a Polish team! He was also named the MVP of the 2008–09 Baltic Basketball League season, averaging 15.4 points and 7.7 rebounds.
Short Time with Khimki
On 14 August 2009, Paulius signed a two-year contract with Khimki Moscow Region, a Russian EuroLeague team. He played there for one season (2009–10). During that year, he competed in three different leagues with Khimki.
Back to Žalgiris: A Long Career
On 24 July 2010, Jankūnas made a big return to his home team, Žalgiris Kaunas. He played there for many more years! In May 2018, he was recognized as one of the best players in Europe when he was named to the All-EuroLeague Second Team for the 2017–18 season.
During his long career with Žalgiris Kaunas, Paulius helped the team win many championships. They won thirteen Lithuanian League titles and seven Lithuanian Cups! He also helped them win the Lithuanian Super Cup in 2012 and four Baltic League championships.
Paulius re-signed with Žalgiris Kaunas on 12 August 2021. He played his very last EuroLeague game on 3 April 2022, scoring 13 points in a winning game. On 3 June 2022, Paulius Jankūnas officially retired from professional basketball.
Representing Lithuania
Junior National Teams
Before playing for the senior team, Paulius was a key player for Lithuania's junior national teams. He won silver medals at the 2003 FIBA Under-19 World Cup. He also earned a bronze medal at the 2004 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship, where he was the top rebounder.
In 2005, he helped Lithuania win a gold medal at the 2005 FIBA Under-21 World Cup. He was a strong player, averaging 12.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
Senior National Team
Jankūnas joined the senior Lithuanian national team for the first time at a major tournament in 2005. He helped Lithuania win a bronze medal at the 2007 EuroBasket and another bronze medal at the 2010 FIBA World Championship. He also won a silver medal with Lithuania at the 2015 EuroBasket.
He represented Lithuania in many other important tournaments, including the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2016 Summer Olympics.
How He Played
Paulius Jankūnas was a strong player, standing 2.05 meters (about 6 feet 9 inches) tall. He was known for being a very good rebounder, meaning he was great at grabbing the ball after a missed shot. He was also a good scorer, especially close to the basket. He often made opposing players commit fouls. Paulius could also shoot well from mid-range and even from the three-point line, which made him a versatile player.
Personal Life
Paulius Jankūnas married his wife, Ieva, in the summer of 2007.
See also
In Spanish: Paulius Jankūnas para niños
