Kęstutis Kemzūra
Encyclopedia
Kęstutis Kemzūra is a former Lithuanian basketball player and the current coach of Lithuania national basketball team
.
his first year. His next year was more successful – he recorded 12.5 points per game, 2 rebounds and 3 assists. In 1996, he moved to Šilutė
and then to BC Lietuvos Rytas
for the 1998–1999 season, where he became a playing coach. Kemzūra left the team in November and played for BC Kalnapilis. In 2000, he starred in Korać Cup
with BC Sema. His last playing season was the 2000–2001 season, in which he played for Gmunden Swans of Austria
. Kemzūra also played temporarily for Lithuania national basketball team
in 1994, when the team was qualifying for a spot in the Eurobasket 1995
.
as an assistant coach. The following year, he moved to BC Lietuvos Rytas
as an assistant coach and then as a head coach. For the next three years, he spent his life coaching Spartak Saint Petersburg
and Benetton Treviso
. In 2007, Kemzūra became the head coach of Khimki Moscow Region; he was replaced by Sergio Scariolo
in December 2008. In December 2009, he signed a coaching contract with Lokomotiv-Kuban Krasnodar.
Kemzūra also has experience coaching international teams. During Eurobasket 2005
and 2006 FIBA World Championship
, he served as an assistant coach for Lithuania
. In 2009, he became Latvian national basketball team head coach, which finished 13th in Eurobasket
. He declined to extend his contract with the team, instead becoming the head coach of Lithuania national basketball team in 2009. In 2011, he was chosen to become the foreign players' coach during the Russian All-Star game.
and 2006 FIBA World Championship
, he served as an assistant coach for Lithuania
. At the 2010 FIBA World Championship
he was a head coach for the Lithuanian national basketball team
, which won Bronze
medals.
Lithuania national basketball team
The Lithuanian national basketball team is the representative for Lithuania in international men's basketball. Lithuania won bronze medals in three out of five Olympic tournaments it participated in....
.
Playing career
Kemzūra started out as a guard in KK Atletas. He averaged 6.5 points per game, 2.5 rebounds and 1 assist in European CupSaporta Cup
Saporta Cup was the name of the second-tier level European professional club basketball competition, where the National Cup winners from all over Europe played against each other. The competition was organized by FIBA Europe...
his first year. His next year was more successful – he recorded 12.5 points per game, 2 rebounds and 3 assists. In 1996, he moved to Šilutė
KK Šilute
BC „Šilutė“ is a professional Šilutė, Lithuania basketball club, currently playing in National Basketball League. BC „Šilutė“ was founded in 1990 and currently is the oldest participant in NKL. From 1993 to 1999 seasons, BC „Šilutė“ played in Lithuania super basketball league LKL, their highest...
and then to BC Lietuvos Rytas
BC Lietuvos Rytas
BC Lietuvos rytas is a professional basketball club based in Vilnius, Lithuania playing in the Lithuanian Basketball League , the VTB United League, and the Eurocup...
for the 1998–1999 season, where he became a playing coach. Kemzūra left the team in November and played for BC Kalnapilis. In 2000, he starred in Korać Cup
Korac Cup
The Korać Cup was an annual basketball club competition held by FIBA between the 1971-72 and 2001-02 seasons. It was the third-tier level club competition in European basketball, after the European Champions' Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup...
with BC Sema. His last playing season was the 2000–2001 season, in which he played for Gmunden Swans of Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. Kemzūra also played temporarily for Lithuania national basketball team
Lithuania national basketball team
The Lithuanian national basketball team is the representative for Lithuania in international men's basketball. Lithuania won bronze medals in three out of five Olympic tournaments it participated in....
in 1994, when the team was qualifying for a spot in the Eurobasket 1995
EuroBasket 1995
EuroBasket 1995 final tournament stage was XXIX European basketball championship and was held in Athens, Greece from 21 June to 2 July, 1995. This European championship was the first one that saw the successful return of Lithuania national basketball team to the tournament, since its last triumph...
.
Coaching career
After leaving Gmunden Swans, Kemzūra pursued coaching career. During the 2001–2002 season, he was hired by Beşiktaş IstanbulBesiktas Cola Turka
Beşiktaş Milangaz is a professional basketball team of Beşiktaş J.K., which is a sports club from İstanbul, Turkey. Their home arena is the Sinan Erdem Dome with a capacity of 16,000 seats...
as an assistant coach. The following year, he moved to BC Lietuvos Rytas
BC Lietuvos Rytas
BC Lietuvos rytas is a professional basketball club based in Vilnius, Lithuania playing in the Lithuanian Basketball League , the VTB United League, and the Eurocup...
as an assistant coach and then as a head coach. For the next three years, he spent his life coaching Spartak Saint Petersburg
Spartak Saint Petersburg
BC Spartak Saint Petersburg is a Russian professional basketball team that is based in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The club is currently in the Russian Professional Basketball League.-Honors:*Soviet/Russian Super League:**2 times Champions...
and Benetton Treviso
Benetton Treviso
Benetton Treviso may refer to either of the following sports clubs in Treviso, Italy, both owned by clothing giant Benetton:* Benetton Rugby Treviso, an Italian rugby union club that currently participates in the Magners League...
. In 2007, Kemzūra became the head coach of Khimki Moscow Region; he was replaced by Sergio Scariolo
Sergio Scariolo
Sergio Scariolo is an Italian professional basketball coach. From 2008 to 2010 he was the head coach of Russian Super League club Khimki Moscow Region, now he is the head coach of the senior Spanish national basketball team, with whom he won the EuroBasket 2009 and the EuroBasket 2011- External...
in December 2008. In December 2009, he signed a coaching contract with Lokomotiv-Kuban Krasnodar.
Kemzūra also has experience coaching international teams. During Eurobasket 2005
Eurobasket 2005
The EuroBasket 2005 was held in Serbia and Montenegro between 16 September and 25 September 2005. Greece won the gold medal by defeating Germany, while France won the bronze medal over Spain...
and 2006 FIBA World Championship
2006 FIBA World Championship
The 2006 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Japan from August 19 to September 3, 2006. It was co-organised by the International Basketball Federation , Japan Basketball Association and the 2006 Organizing Committee...
, he served as an assistant coach for Lithuania
Lithuania national basketball team
The Lithuanian national basketball team is the representative for Lithuania in international men's basketball. Lithuania won bronze medals in three out of five Olympic tournaments it participated in....
. In 2009, he became Latvian national basketball team head coach, which finished 13th in Eurobasket
Eurobasket
The EuroBasket, also referred to as the FIBA European Basketball Championship, is the main basketball competition contested biennially by the men's national teams governed by FIBA Europe, the European zone within the International Basketball Federation. The championship was first held in 1935 and...
. He declined to extend his contract with the team, instead becoming the head coach of Lithuania national basketball team in 2009. In 2011, he was chosen to become the foreign players' coach during the Russian All-Star game.
Lithuanian national team
At the Eurobasket 2005Eurobasket 2005
The EuroBasket 2005 was held in Serbia and Montenegro between 16 September and 25 September 2005. Greece won the gold medal by defeating Germany, while France won the bronze medal over Spain...
and 2006 FIBA World Championship
2006 FIBA World Championship
The 2006 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Japan from August 19 to September 3, 2006. It was co-organised by the International Basketball Federation , Japan Basketball Association and the 2006 Organizing Committee...
, he served as an assistant coach for Lithuania
Lithuania national basketball team
The Lithuanian national basketball team is the representative for Lithuania in international men's basketball. Lithuania won bronze medals in three out of five Olympic tournaments it participated in....
. At the 2010 FIBA World Championship
2010 FIBA World Championship
The 2010 FIBA World Championship, hosted by Turkey, was the international basketball competition contested by the men's national teams. The tournament ran from August 28 to September 12, 2010. It was co-organized by the International Basketball Federation , Turkish Basketball Federation and the...
he was a head coach for the Lithuanian national basketball team
Lithuania national basketball team
The Lithuanian national basketball team is the representative for Lithuania in international men's basketball. Lithuania won bronze medals in three out of five Olympic tournaments it participated in....
, which won Bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
medals.
Awards and achievements
- 2010 FIBA World Championship, Turkey2010 FIBA World ChampionshipThe 2010 FIBA World Championship, hosted by Turkey, was the international basketball competition contested by the men's national teams. The tournament ran from August 28 to September 12, 2010. It was co-organized by the International Basketball Federation , Turkish Basketball Federation and the...
- Bronze medalist