 |
Mantas KalnietisLithuanian professional basketball player, player of Lokomotiv-Kuban and the Lithuanian national team.
Date of Birth: 06.09.1986
Country:  Latvia |
Content:
Biography of Mantas Kalnietis
Mantas Kalnietis is a Lithuanian professional basketball player who currently plays for Lokomotiv-Kuban and the Lithuanian national team.
Early Career
Kalnietis began playing basketball at Arvydas Sabonis' school, Zalgiris, where he played for two and a half years. In his second season, he averaged 17.7 points per game and 4.3 assists. In 2006, Kalnietis made his professional debut for Zalgiris in Kaunas. Playing in the EuroLeague, he averaged 6.8 points per game with a shooting percentage of 0.650. Kalnietis helped the team win the Baltic Basketball League title in 2008, as well as two Lithuanian championships and two Lithuanian cups. He was also named the MVP of the ULEB Summer League in 2007 and participated in the Reebok Eurocamp in Treviso in 2006 and 2008.
Successful Season
The 2008-09 season was particularly successful for Kalnietis. In the Lithuanian Basketball League, he averaged 11.3 points per game and 8.5 points per game in the EuroLeague, along with 3 assists. His best performance in the EuroLeague came on December 10, 2008, when he scored 20 points in a game against Siena, although his team did not win. In June 2009, Kalnietis signed a three-year contract with Benetton, but the FIBA canceled the transfer due to his existing contract with Zalgiris. On December 27, 2010, he signed an extended contract for three years with Zalgiris. However, in October 2012, it was announced that Lokomotiv-Kuban, a Russian club, was interested in Kalnietis. Eventually, on October 5, 2012, he signed a three-year contract with Lokomotiv-Kuban.
International Career
Kalnietis made his debut for the Lithuanian national team in 2005 at the European Youth Championship under 20, which took place in Russia. He averaged 11.5 points per game and 4.8 assists. He also represented Lithuania in the 2006 World Championship, where he averaged 6 points and 2.8 assists per game. Kalnietis played a key role as a starting point guard for Lithuania in the 2010 World Championship in Turkey, where they won the bronze medal.
Achievements
During his career, Kalnietis has achieved numerous accolades both at the club and international level. He has won the Lithuanian championship twice, the Lithuanian cup twice, and the Baltic Basketball League title once. He was also the winner of the slam dunk contest in the Baltic Basketball League in 2007 and the Lithuanian championship in 2008. Additionally, Kalnietis has been selected to participate in the All-Star Game of the Lithuanian championship multiple times and was named the MVP of the ULEB Summer League in 2007.
