Ojārs Siliņš

Siliņš made his professional debut aged 16 with hometown team BK Ķeizarmežs during the 2009–10 season, playing in both the Latvian Basketball League and the Baltic Basketball League (6.8 points and 2.2 rebounds per game in the latter).[http://www.bbl.net/index.php/b19sYW5nPWVuJm9fc2Vhcz0yNiZvX2xlYWc9OSZmdXNlYWN0aW9uPXBsYXllcnMubWFpbiZwPTEyNDE= Ojars Silins stats in 2009/2010 BBL Challenge Cup season] Transferring midseason to youth side Stella Azzurra Roma, he participated in the Euroleague Next Generation Tournament with the team, finishing as top scorer of the Rome leg with 20.5 points per game, in addition to 5.3 rebounds.[http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?pcode=002323&gamecode=2&seasoncode=JT09 Ojars Silins stats in Junior Euroleague Rome Tournament 2009]

Siliņš had a trial with Italian professional side Trenkwalder Reggio Emilia, later signing a multi-year contract.[http://www.sportando.net/eng/italy/legadue/12419/reggio-emilia-tabs-latvian-prospect-ojars-silins.html Reggio Emilia tabs Latvian prospect Ojars Silins] His first team debut was in December 2011 in a Cup game, scoring 13 points.[https://archive.today/20130117174538/http://www.basketmercato.com/it/news/2011/12/08/scafati-supera-reggio-emilia-ed-approda-alle-Final-four-di-coppa-italia-1156 Scafati supera Reggio Emilia ed approda alle final four di Coppa Italia] During his first complete season as a pro, Siliņš averaged 2.0 points and 1.6 rebounds in 11.2 minutes per game.

On 25 April, Siliņš top-scored for Reggio Emilia with 14 points to help then get past Royal Halı Gaziantep in the EuroChallenge semi-final,[http://www.fibaeurope.com/eurochallenge/cid_04nV5LW1InMnPsDwhkujE0.gameID_9698-6-A-1.compID_BYg5Rb55Jw-G5I3MZ6JB01.season_2014.roundID_9682.html EuroChallenge 2014 semi-final: Reggio Emilia vs Royal Halı Gaziantep] as the side went on to win the competition.[http://www.fibaeurope.com/eurochallenge/cid_04nV5LW1InMnPsDwhkujE0.compID_BYg5Rb55Jw-G5I3MZ6JB01.roundID_9682.season_2014.gameID_9700-8-A-1.html Glorious Reggio Emilia Make History]

He started all but one game during the domestic season, posting 7.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in nearly 24 minutes per game. His averages increased to 9 points and 1.2 blocks during the playoff quarterfinals series against Montepaschi Siena. Siliņš was named the second best young player in Serie A.[http://www.olimpiamilano.com/en/gentile-is-the-best-young-player-in-the-italian-league/ Gentile is the best Young player in the Italian League]

Siliņš was an early entry for the 2014 NBA draft,[http://www.nbadraft.net/2014-early-entry-list 2014 Early Entry List] with a good performance at the adidas Eurocamp enhancing his stock,[http://www.nbadraft.net/adidas-eurocamp-top-prospects adidas Eurocamp: Top Prospects] though he would go undrafted.

He signed a two-year contract extension with Reggio Emilia in the summer.[http://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/sport/basket/2014/08/24/basket-reggio-e.-silins-fino-al-2016_72e886a0-367a-49c7-8505-a9fb797323b6.html Basket: Reggio E., Silins fino al 2016]

After being hampered by injuries during the first part of the 2014–15 season, he profited from being repositioned at his natural small forward position, performing well in the title playoffs as the team reached the finals. In September 2015, Siliņš won the Italian Supercoppa for the first time in club's history. In June, 2016, Siliņš and Reggio Emilia repeated their way back to Italian League finals, but, once again, lost. Later that month, OJ announced his intention to leave Reggio Emilia after six years spent there.[http://www.sportando.com/en/italy/serie-a/202580/ojars-silins-says-he-will-leave-reggio-emilia-this-summer.html Ojars Silins says he will leave Reggio Emilia this summer]

At the beginning of October 2016 Ojars signed a one-month deal with Bundesliga team Telekom Baskets Bonn and after an excellent performances during the month signed an extension for a season despite offers from other teams.{{cite web | url=http://www.telekom-baskets-bonn.de/newsletter/telekom-baskets-bonn-1617/ojars-silins-bleibt-bei-den-telekom-baskets.html | title=Ojars Silinš bleibt bei den Telekom Baskets }} In July 2017 OJ was the first summer acquisition of Aquila Basket Trento, signing a one-year-contract with the team and returning to ULEB Eurocup.[http://www.aquilabasket.it/news/103865028102/dolomiti-energia-il-primo-rinforzo-e-ojars-silins Dolomiti Energia, il primo rinforzo è Ojars Silins] Silins had his best season thus far, establishing himself as an elite shooter during season 2017/2018 and as a starter helped his underdog team to go to Italian finals.

In October 15, 2018 Ojars signed a deal with the Italian basketball club Pallacanestro Trieste.[https://sportando.basketball/en/ojars-silins-signs-a-two-month-contract-with-trieste/ Ojars Silins signs a two-month contract with Trieste] Despite good performances and growing role OJ decided to opt-out after two months. In January he signed with Sidigas Avellino.{{Cite web |url=https://www.scandonebasket.it/blog-post.php?post=Ojars_Silins_un_nuovo_giocatore_della_Sidigas&category=All |title=Sidigas Avellino - S.S. Scandone Basketball Club |access-date=2019-01-30 |archive-date=2019-01-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130221306/https://www.scandonebasket.it/blog-post.php?post=Ojars_Silins_un_nuovo_giocatore_della_Sidigas&category=All |url-status=dead }}

On December 4, 2019, he signed with Brescia Leonessa of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) a two month contract with an option to extend it until the end of the season as replacement for the injured Ken Horton.{{cite web |title=Brescia adds forward Silins |url=https://www.eurocupbasketball.com/eurocup/news/i/a8ceqwwgr96wykkv/brescia-adds-forward-silins |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206222128/https://www.eurocupbasketball.com/eurocup/news/i/a8ceqwwgr96wykkv/brescia-adds-forward-silins |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 6, 2019 |publisher=eurocupbasketball.com |date=4 December 2019 }}

On January 30, 2020, he has signed with Gravelines-Dunkerque of the French LNB Pro A.{{Cite news|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/ojars-silins-joins-gravelines-dunkerque/|title=Ojars Silins joins Gravelines-Dunkerque|date=January 30, 2020|newspaper=Sportando|language=En|access-date=January 31, 2020}} For the 2020-2021 season, Silins signed with BC Astana.{{cite news |title=Astana tabs Devyn Marble and Ojars Silins |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/astana-tabs-devyn-marble-and-ojars-silins/ |website=Sportando |access-date=October 16, 2020 |date=October 16, 2020}} There he made his VTB United League debut and stood out with a couple of stellar performances against then Euroleague team BC Khimki. At the end of the season he helped Astana to win Kazakhstan League title and was named the best foreigner in league finals.

On July 6, 2021 Silins signed a contract with BC Kalev. Under coach Roberts Štelmahers he transitioned back to the small forward position.

On September 5, 2022, he has signed with Stal Ostrów Wielkopolski of the Polish Basketball League (PLK).{{Cite news|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/bm-stal-ostrow-lands-ojars-silins/|title=BM Stal Ostrow lands Ojars Silins|last=|first=|date=September 5, 2022|website=|newspaper=Sportando|language=En|access-date=September 5, 2022 |last1=Skerletic |first1=Dario }} After a great regular season, in which Silins helped his team to win Polish Supercup and ENBL trophy, he extended the contract with the team for one more season.{{cite web | url=http://bmslamstal.pl/2023/05/10/ojars-silins-z-nowym-kontraktem-w-stalowce | title=Niebawem do Was wracamy }}

After two great seasons with BM Stal, on July 9 2024, Silins signed on to play for another ambitious Polish team Legia Warsaw.[https://legiakosz.com/aktualnosci/ojars-silins-nowym-zawodnikiem-legii-6214 Ojars Silins nowym zawodnikiem Legii]

Siliņš has played for the Latvian under-age sides at the Under-16, U-18, U-20 European Championships and the 2011 FIBA Under-19 World Championship.[https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20120801115125/http://latvia2011.fiba.com/pages/eng/fe/11/fu19m/player/p/eid/5194/lid//pid/78163/rid//sid/5194/tid/2134/profile.html Player profile at FIBA World Championship's website]

With the Under-20's, he would earn a silver medal at the 2013 U-20 European Championship played in Tallinn, averaging 12 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in about 38 minutes per game.

He was invited to the senior national team for EuroBasket 2013 subsequently but was unable to answer the call-up due to an injury; again due to an injury he was forced to miss EuroBasket 2015.

In 2016, Silins finally made a debut in Senior National Team and took a part in 2016 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournaments for Men, averaging 7.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blockshots per game.{{cite web| url = https://www.fiba.basketball/oqt/serbia/2016/player/Ojars-Silins| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230425135758/https://www.fiba.basketball/oqt/serbia/2016/player/Ojars-Silins| url-status = live| archive-date = April 25, 2023| title = Ojars SILINS (LAT)'s profile - FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2016 - FIBA.basketball}}

In 2017, once again Silins was forced to miss EuroBasket 2017 because of an injury acquired during the preparation process.{{cite web | url=http://basket.lv/izlases/viriesi/viriesu-valstsvieniba-pirmdien-trenina-ierinda-bus-13-viri-4038 | title=Vīriešu valstsvienība: Pirmdien treniņā ierindā būs 13 vīri }}

From 2017 he’s been a regular for Latvian NT in World Cup qualifiers.

Siliņš is {{height|m=2.04}} tall with shoes, with a {{height|m=2.15}} wingspan.[http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Ojars-Silins-49628/stats/ Ojars Silins profile ar DraftExpress] He's an athletic combo forward with a good physique, in addition to a decent three point shot, ability to drive-and-kick and post-up smaller opponents. Capable of guarding multiple positions, he runs the floor well, rebounds on both ends and can compete with stronger opponents in the post.[http://www.eurohopes.com/player/1247/ojars-silins/ Ojars Silins profile: by Kostas Psimoulis at Eurohopes]

Ojars is the son of a late Latvian movie and theater actor and sports enthusiast Aivars Siliņš. Mother Anita works in a theater. Also, his older sister Mara is a former actress but older brother Andrejs is a basketball writer. Ojars has also an older half-sister Elīna who's a former politician.

• {{flagicon|Italy}} Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia (2012–2016)
• 20px FIBA EuroChallenge Championship: (2014)
• 20px Lega Basket A Runner Up: (2015, 2016)
• 20px Supercoppa: (2015)
• {{flagicon|Italy}} Dolomiti Energia Trento (2017–2018)
• 20px Lega Basket A Runner Up: (2018)
• {{flagicon|Kazakhstan}} BC Astana (2020–2021)
• 20px Kazakhstan Basketball Championship: (2021)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Stal Ostrów Wielkopolski (2022–2024)
• 20px Polish Basketball Supercup: (2022)
• 20px European North Basketball League: (2023)
• 20px Polish Basketball League Bronze: (2023)
• 20px Polish Cup Runner Up: (2024)

• Best scorer of Euroleague Next Generation Tournament: (2009)
• Lega Basket Serie A Defensive Player of the Year: (2014)

• 20px FIBA Europe U-20 Championship Runner Up: (2013)

{{reflist|2}}

• [http://u20men.fibaeurope.com/en/cid_FW2Ym8GSJEAe2vpbWdQMR0.playerID_78163.compID_UIfgjyQcGqk-fPlnl66Tj0.season_2013.roundID_9372.teamID_2134.html Player profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202103655/http://u20men.fibaeurope.com/en/cid_FW2Ym8GSJEAe2vpbWdQMR0.playerID_78163.compID_UIfgjyQcGqk-fPlnl66Tj0.season_2013.roundID_9372.teamID_2134.html |date=2014-02-02 }} from FIBA Europe website
• [http://www.eurobasket.com/player.asp?Cntry=ITA&PlayerID=182523 Player profile] from Eurobasket.com website
• [http://web.legabasket.it/player/pbd.phtml?ply=SIL-OJA-93&year=2013&team=1243&type2=d1&name_search=Silins Player profile] from Lega Basket Serie A website
• [https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Ojars-Silins/Summary/24828 Player profile] from RealGM website
• {{Twitter}}

{{Legia Warszawa (basketball) current roster}}

{{Pallacanestro Reggiana 2013–14 EuroChallenge champions}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Silins, Ojars}}

Category:1993 births

Category:Living people

Category:Aquila Basket Trento players

Category:Pallacanestro Brescia players

Category:Basketball players from Riga

Category:BCM Gravelines players

Category:Forwards (basketball)

Category:Latvian expatriate basketball people in Estonia

Category:Latvian expatriate basketball people in Germany

Category:Latvian men's basketball players

Category:Lega Basket Serie A players

Category:Legia Warsaw (basketball) players

Category:Pallacanestro Reggiana players

Category:Pallacanestro Trieste players

Category:S.S. Felice Scandone players

Category:Stal Ostrów Wielkopolski players

Category:Telekom Baskets Bonn players