Position Power forward Listed height 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) NBA draft 2006 / Undrafted Role Basketball player Weight 107 kg Spouse Ieva Jankuniene (m. 2007) | Nationality Lithuanian Listed weight 250 lb (113 kg) Name Paulius Jankunas Height 2.05 m Career start 2003 | |
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League Lithuanian Basketball League
Euroleague Born April 29, 1984 (age 39)
Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR, USSR ( 1984-04-29 ) Current team BC Zalgiris (#13 / Power forward) Children Adam Jankunas, Matthew Jankunas | ||
Euroleague milestones paulius jankunas 1000 rebounds
Paulius Jankūnas (born April 29, 1984) is a Lithuanian professional basketball player for Žalgiris Kaunas of the Lithuanian Basketball League. He is also a member of the Lithuanian national team. He plays either forward position.
Contents
- Euroleague milestones paulius jankunas 1000 rebounds
- Early years
- Professional career
- Lithuanian national team
- Player profile
- Career statistics
- Personal
- References
Early years
Jankūnas played two seasons with the LKKA-Žalgiris and led them to a LKAL (Lithuanian League 2nd Division) title in 2003 and was named the MVP after averaging 20.0 points, 12.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.
He competed at the Reebok Eurocamp in Treviso in 2003.
Professional career
Jankūnas made his pro debut with the Žalgiris in the 2003-04 season. When asked about playing with European basketball legend Arvydas Sabonis in his rookie season, Jankūnas responded: "No doubt it was the most remarkable season. It was fantastic to play with Arvydas Sabonis. I was very young and it was very exciting. In the beginning, I was little bit afraid and uncomfortable, but later things got easy and I learned a lot from him. When I was a kid, I used to watch him playing on TV and never dared to dream that I would be playing with Arvydas Sabonis. One day I woke up and Sabonis was my teammate. It was great. He had huge experience and gave a lot of advice to me. It was big honor to play with him and I hope I learned something from Sabonis."
He was originally an early entry candidate for the 2005 NBA Draft before withdrawing his name from consideration.
Jankūnas helped Žalgiris win three Baltic League titles in 2005, 2008, and 2011, six Lithuanian League titles in 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2012 and four Lithuanian Cups in 2007 and 2008, 2011 and 2012.
He averaged 13.8 points and 8.0 rebounds in the 2008-09 Euroleague season and scored a season-high 23 points in a win against the Asseco Prokom Sopot on December 18, 2008. However, the Žalgiris finished with a 2-8 record and did not qualify to the Top 16.
Jankūnas was named the 2009 Baltic League MVP after averaging 15.4 points and 7.7 rebounds.
On August 14, 2009 he signed a 2-year contract with BC Khimki.
On July 24, 2010 it was announced that Jankūnas was coming back to Žalgiris Kaunas.
Lithuanian national team
Jankūnas played at the 2003 World U-19 Championship where the Lithuanians won silver medals.
Jankūnas led the 2004 European U-20 Championship in rebounding (12.3 rpg) in addition to posting 12.5 points per game. He led Lithuania to a 2005 World U-21 Championship title. He averaged 12.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
Jankūnas was a member of the Lithuania national team that won fifth place in the 2005 European Championship. He averaged 8.2 points and 4.0 rebounds.
He also helped the Lithuanians win a bronze medal at the 2007 European Championship and another Bronze medal at the 2010 FIBA World Championship.
Player profile
A well built 6 ft. 10 in. power forward, Jankūnas is good in rebounding and scoring. He prefers inside scoring and often provokes fouls from opposing team's players while he can also play as a stretch forward with help from his consistent mid-range and three point shot.
Career statistics
Note: The EuroLeague is not the only competition in which the player participated for the team during the season. He also played in domestic competition, and regional competition if applicable.
Personal
Jankūnas married his wife Ieva in the summer of 2007.