League RBL Listed height 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) NBA draft 1989 / Undrafted Name Gundars Vetra Height 1.98 m Position Head coach | Nationality Latvian Listed weight 218 lb (99 kg) Pro career 1984–2002 Role Basketball Player Weight 99 kg | |
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Born May 22, 1967 (age 56)
Ventspils, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union ( 1967-05-22 ) | ||
Gundars v tra nba junioru draft latvie i ir tikpat talant gi k lietuvie i
Gundars Vētra (born May 22, 1967) is a Latvian former professional basketball player and a current coach. He most recently served as a head coach of Spartak St. Petersburg.
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Standing at 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m), he played at the shooting guard and small forward positions. He was the first Latvian to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played one season for the Minnesota Timberwolves from 1992–1993.
Coaching career
After finishing his playing career, Vētra became a coach. He first started as head coach of Barons, leading them to their first ever LBL finals appearance in 2005. For the 2005-06 season he was an assistant to Sharon Drucker with Ural Great. Following a season in Russia, Vētra returned to Latvia, where he re-united with Barons. His second stint with Barons wasn't as good as expected, and Vētra left them to try his hand in women's basketball. After four seasons in Russia he went back to Latvia, joining BK Ventspils, where his team made the Latvian League finals.
