Aivar Kuusmaa
Encyclopedia
Aivar Kuusmaa is a retired Estonia
n professional basketball
player who played mostly at the shooting guard
position.
He won the Soviet Union league championship in 1991 as a member of the Tallinn Kalev basketball team. Kuusmaa mostly played in Estonia, but he also spent three seasons in Greece, with Panathinaikos and one season in Belgium, with Liege Basket
. Also, during the service in the Soviet Army
, Kuusmaa was stationed in Latvian SSR
and played in the local army sports club ASK Riga
. After retiring in 2005 he has been coaching BC Kalev/Cramo
(2005–2007 & 2010-present) and TTÜ KK
(2007–2010).
As a coach
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who played mostly at the shooting guard
Shooting guard
The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team...
position.
He won the Soviet Union league championship in 1991 as a member of the Tallinn Kalev basketball team. Kuusmaa mostly played in Estonia, but he also spent three seasons in Greece, with Panathinaikos and one season in Belgium, with Liege Basket
Liege Basket
Liège Basket is a Belgian professional basketball club from Liège, Belgium. Known as Belgacom Liège Basket for sponsorship reasons, The club competes in the Basketball League Belgium. Founded in 1967, the team plays at 5,600 seat Country Hall Ethias Liège, in the Belgian city of Liège.-External...
. Also, during the service in the Soviet Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
, Kuusmaa was stationed in Latvian SSR
Latvian SSR
The Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Latvian SSR for short, was one of the republics that made up the Soviet Union. Established on 21 July 1940 as a puppet state during World War II in the territory of the previously independent Republic of Latvia after it had been occupied by...
and played in the local army sports club ASK Riga
ASK Riga
ASK Rīga is the name of a former professional basketball club based in Riga, Latvia. "ASK" stands for "Armijas Sporta Klubs" .-History:...
. After retiring in 2005 he has been coaching BC Kalev/Cramo
BC Kalev/Cramo
BC Kalev/Cramo is a professional basketball club based in Tallinn, Estonia participating in Korvpalli Meistriliiga, Baltic Basketball League and VTB United League. Kalev/Cramo plays their home games at Saku Suurhall and Kalevi Spordihall. The club was previously known under the name Ehitustööriist,...
(2005–2007 & 2010-present) and TTÜ KK
TTÜ KK
TTÜ KK is an Estonian professional basketball club, which belongs to Tallinn Technical University. The club participates in Korvpalli Meistriliiga and in the Baltic Basketball League Challenge Cup. So far the club has won no titles. In 2010 TTÜ/KK and Tallinna Kalev joined and made a new...
(2007–2010).
Achievements
As a player- 1985–86 Estonian SSREstonian Soviet Socialist RepublicThe Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic , often abbreviated as Estonian SSR or ESSR, was a republic of the Soviet Union, administered by and subordinated to the Government of the Soviet Union...
Championship (Standard) - 1986–87 Latvian SSR Championship (ASK RigaASK RigaASK Rīga is the name of a former professional basketball club based in Riga, Latvia. "ASK" stands for "Armijas Sporta Klubs" .-History:...
) - 1987–88 Estonian SSR Championship (Standard)
- 1988–89 Estonian SSR Championship (Tallinna Kalev)
- 1989–90 World Basketball LeagueWorld Basketball LeagueWorld Basketball League was a minor professional basketball league in the United States and Canada. It was founded as the International Basketball Association in November 1987, before changing its name prior to the 1988 season. One of the major differences between it and other leagues was that it...
Championship (Youngstown Pride) - 1990–91 Soviet Union Championship (Tallinna Kalev)
- 1991–92 Estonian League Championship (Tallinna Kalev)
- 1992–93 Estonian League Championship (Tallinna Kalev)
- 1995–96 Greek Basketball CupGreek basketball CupThe Greek Basketball Cup or Hellenic Basketball Cup is an annual pro basketball national cup competition. It is organized by the Hellenic Basketball Federation .-History and format:...
(Panathinaikos) - 1998–99 Estonian Basketball CupEstonian Basketball CupThe Estonian Basketball Cup is an annual pro basketball national cup competition. The tournament is organized by Eesti Korvpalliliit.- Winners :*1946 – Tallinna Kalev*1947 – N/A*1948 – Tallinna Kalev...
(BC Tallinn) - 1998–99 Estonian League Championship (BC Tallinn)
- 1999–00 Estonian League Championship (Tallinna Kalev)
- 2003–04 Estonian Basketball Cup (TTÜ/A.Le Coq)
As a coach
- 2005–06 Estonian Basketball Cup (BC Kalev/CramoBC Kalev/CramoBC Kalev/Cramo is a professional basketball club based in Tallinn, Estonia participating in Korvpalli Meistriliiga, Baltic Basketball League and VTB United League. Kalev/Cramo plays their home games at Saku Suurhall and Kalevi Spordihall. The club was previously known under the name Ehitustööriist,...
) - 2005–06 Estonian League Championship (BC Kalev/Cramo)
- 2006–07 Estonian Basketball Cup (BC Kalev/Cramo)
- 2010–11 Estonian League (BC Kalev/Cramo)
External links
- Profile at basketpedya.com