| Latvia Latvija | |||
| FIBA Ranking | 38th | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Joined FIBA | 1932 (co-founders) | ||
| FIBA Zone | FIBA Europe | ||
| National Federation | Latvian Basketball Union | ||
| Coach | Ainārs Bagatskis | ||
| Olympic Games | |||
| Appearances | 1 (1936) | ||
| Medals | None | ||
| World Championships | |||
| Appearances | None | ||
| Medals | None | ||
| EuroBasket | |||
| Appearances | 13 (1935, 1937, 1939, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011) | ||
| Medals | Gold: 1935 Silver: 1939 |
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| Uniforms | |||
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The Latvian national basketball team (Latvian: Latvijas basketbola izlase) is the basketball side that represents Latvia in international competitions.
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The Latvians won the first European basketball championship, the EuroBasket 1935 held by the International Basketball Federation's FIBA Europe continental federation. They defeated Hungary in the preliminary round, Switzerland in the semifinals, and Spain in the final to finish atop the ten-nation field. Latvia is one of eight nations that originally founded FIBA in 1932.
Latvia held their opponents to 49 points over three games, the lowest points-against average in the tournament. Their scoring rate, 98 points over three games for 32.67 points per game, was second only to France.
The reigning champions finished in a relatively disappointing sixth place in the second European championship, EuroBasket 1937, which they hosted. Their 32–25 loss to Poland in the preliminary round put them in a three-way tie for the lead of the four-team group; Latvia came out on the bottom of the tie-breaker against Poland and France. This result came about despite the Latvians being the highest-scoring team in the entire tournament and allowing fewer opponent points than any of the other teams in their group.
Being in the bottom half of the preliminary group meant that the team could finish no better than fifth. In the classification semifinal, Latvia faced Egypt, which had withdrawn after their first two preliminary matches. They advanced to the 5th/6th playoff, which they lost to Estonia 41–19.
In 1939, despite losing twice, including a rematch of the 1937 final against Estonia and the game against eventual champions Lithuania, Latvia had five wins, which were enough to secure second place, since only Poland also had a 5–2 record. Latvia had won their game against Poland, thus they received the silver medal whilst Poland took the bronze.
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1935 EuroBasket: finished 1st among 10 teams
Rudolfs Jurcins, Herberts Gulbins, Dzems Raudzins, Visvaldis Melderis, Martins Grundmanis, Eduards Andersons, Aleksejs Anufrijevs, Janis Lidmanis, Hudins (Coach: Valdemars Baumanis)
1936 Olympic Games: finished 18th among 21 teams
Rudolfs Jurcins, Visvaldis Melderis, Martins Grundmanis, Dzems Raudzins, Eduards Andersons, Maksis Kazaks, V.Helmuts (Coach: Valdemars Baumanis)
1937 EuroBasket: finished 6th among 8 teams
Rudolfs Jurcins, Martins Grundmanis, Eduards Andersons, Visvaldis Melderis, Dzems Raudzins, Aleksejs Anufrijevs, Aleksandrs Martinsons, Voldemars Smits, Janis Jansons, Andrejs Krisons (Coach: Adolfs Grasis)
1939 EuroBasket: finished 2nd among 8 teams
Visvaldis Melderis, Maksis Kazaks, Voldemars Smits, Karlis Arents, Juris Solovjovs, Karlis Satins, Aleksandrs Vanags, Alfreds Krauklis, Teodors Grinbergs, Janis Graudins (Coach: Valdemars Baumanis)
1993 EuroBasket: finished 10th among 16 teams
Ainars Bagatskis, Raimonds Miglinieks, Karlis Muiznieks, Andrejs Bondarenko, Aigars Zeidaks, Edmunds Valeiko, Igors Melniks, Edgars Sneps, Janis Azacis, Ivars Zankovskis, Dzintars Jaunzems, Ivars Liepa (Coach: Armands Kraulins)
1997 EuroBasket: finished 16th among 16 teams
Roberts Stelmahers, Ainars Bagatskis, Uvis Helmanis, Raimonds Miglinieks, Edmunds Valeiko, Karlis Muiznieks, Andrejs Bondarenko, Igors Melniks, Edgars Sneps, Ivars Liepa, Ralfs Jansons, Janis Azacis (Coach: Igors Miglinieks)
2001 EuroBasket: finished 8th among 16 teams
Kaspars Kambala, Raimonds Miglinieks, Uvis Helmanis, Roberts Stelmahers, Ainars Bagatskis, Kristaps Valters, Edmunds Valeiko, Kaspars Cipruss, Raitis Grafs, Arnis Vecvagars, Aigars Vitols, Maris Laksa (Coach: Armands Kraulins)
2003 EuroBasket: finished 13th among 16 teams
Kaspars Kambala, Roberts Stelmahers, Ainars Bagatskis, Uvis Helmanis, Armands Skele, Kristaps Valters, Trojs Ostlers, Aigars Vitols, Edgars Sneps, Raitis Grafs, Arnis Vecvagars, Maris Laksa (Coach: Armands Kraulins)
2005 EuroBasket: finished 14th among 16 teams
Roberts Stelmahers, Uvis Helmanis, Sandis Valters, Kristaps Valters, Armands Skele, Janis Blums, Martins Skirmants, Raitis Grafs, Kaspars Cipruss, Aigars Vitols, Kristaps Janicenoks, Ivars Timermanis (Coach: Karlis Muiznieks)
2007 EuroBasket: finished 13th among 16 teams
Andris Biedriņš, Armands Šķēle, Uvis Helmanis, Janis Blums, Sandis Valters, Aigars Vitols, Kaspars Cipruss, Kristaps Janicenoks, Raitis Grafs, Pavels Veselovs, Raimonds Vaikulis, Gatis Jahovics (Coach: Karlis Muiznieks)
| Year | Position | Host |
|---|---|---|
| 1935 | 1 | EuroBasket 1935 |
| 1937 | 6 | EuroBasket 1937 |
| 1939 | 2 | EuroBasket 1939 |
| 1993 | 10 | EuroBasket 1993 |
| 1995 | – | EuroBasket 1995 |
| 1997 | 16 | EuroBasket 1997 |
| 1999 | – | EuroBasket 1999 |
| 2001 | 8 | EuroBasket 2001 |
| 2003 | 13 | EuroBasket 2003 |
| 2005 | 13 | EuroBasket 2005 |
| 2007 | 13 | EuroBasket 2007 |
| 2009 | 13 | EuroBasket 2009 |
| 2011 | 22 | EuroBasket 2011 |
| Year | Position | Host |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 7 | U20 European Championship 2004 |
| 2005 | 7 | U20 European Championship 2005 |
| 2006 | 13 | U20 European Championship 2006 |
| 2007 | 14 | U20 European Championship 2007 |
| 2008 | 11 | U20 European Championship 2008 |
| 2009 | 10 | U20 European Championship 2009 |
| 2010 | 11 | U20 European Championship 2010 |
| Year | Position | Host |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 12 | U18 European Championship 2004 |
| 2005 | 8 | U18 European Championship 2005 |
| 2006 | 12 | U18 European Championship 2006 |
| 2007 | 3 | U18 European Championship 2007 |
| 2008 | 7 | U18 European Championship 2008 |
| 2009 | 9 | U18 European Championship 2009 |
| 2010 | 3 | U18 European Championship Men 2010 Division A |
| Year | Position | Host |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 8 | European Championship for Cadets 2001 |
| 2003 | – | European Championship for Cadets 2003 |
| 2004 | 13 | U16 European Championship 2004 |
| 2005 | 11 | U16 European Championship 2005 |
| 2006 | 11 | U16 European Championship 2006 |
| 2007 | 9 | U16 European Championship 2007 |
| 2008 | 10 | U16 European Championship 2008 |
| 2009 | 9 | U16 European Championship 2009 |
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