Rodions Kurucs
{{Short description|Latvian basketball player (born 1998)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Rodions Kurucs
| image = Rodions Kurucs.jpg
| image_size =
| caption =
| number = 00
| league = Liga ACB
| team = UCAM Murcia
| position = Small forward
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|2|5|df=y}}
| birth_place = Cēsis, Latvia
| nationality = Latvian
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 9
| weight_lbs = 228
| draft_year = 2018
| draft_round = 2
| draft_pick = 40
| draft_team = Brooklyn Nets
| career_start = 2012
| career_end =
| years1 = 2012–2015
| team1 = VEF Rīga
| years2 = 2015–2018
| team2 = FC Barcelona
| years3 = 2015–2017
| team3 = →Barcelona B
| years4 = {{nbay|2018|start}}–{{nbay|2020|end}}
| team4 = Brooklyn Nets
| years5 = 2018–2020
| team5 = →Long Island Nets
| years6 = {{nbay|2020|end}}
| team6 = Houston Rockets
| years7 = {{nbay|2020|end}}
| team7 = Milwaukee Bucks
| years8 = 2021–2022
| team8 = Partizan
| years9 = 2022
| team9 = Real Betis
| years10 = 2022–2023
| team10 = SIG Strasbourg
| years11 = 2023–present
| team11 = Murcia
| highlights =
- Copa del Rey winner (2018)
- 3× LBL champion (2011, 2013, 2014)
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport|Men's basketball}}
{{MedalCountry|{{flagicon|LAT}} Latvia}}
{{MedalCompetition|FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship}}
{{MedalSilver|2014 Latvia|}}
}}
Rodions Kurucs (born 5 February 1998) is a Latvian professional basketball player for UCAM Murcia of the Spanish Liga ACB. At {{height|ft=6|in=9}} tall,{{cite web |title=Kurucs, Rodions |url=https://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?pcode=005713 |website=euroleague.net |access-date=7 March 2019}} he plays the small forward position.
Professional career
=Early career=
In March 2014, Kurucs signed a multi-year contract with the Latvian club VEF Rīga,{{Cite web|url=https://www.vefriga.com/en/news/news/vef-riga-sign-rodions-kurucs-1566|title=VEF Rīga sign Rodions Kurucs|website=www.vefriga.com|access-date=16 April 2016}} after having played for the club's youth academy, VEF Rīga Skola, in Latvia's second men's division (LBL2). He made his debut on VEF's first team, during the 2014–15 campaign, logging his first minutes in Latvia's top-tier level league, the LBL,{{Cite web|url=http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/gamecent/p/pid/6064539/playerview.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426091845/http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/gamecent/p/pid/6064539/playerview.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 April 2016|title=Rodions Kurucs profile|website=www.fiba.com|access-date=16 April 2016}} in the Eastern European regional VTB United League,{{Cite web|url=http://www.vtb-league.com/en/player/1825491/?seasonId=89632|title=Rodions Kurucs – game statistics, games, data, player photo Rodions Kurucs, VEF|website=www.vtb-league.com|access-date=16 April 2016}} and in Europe's second-tier level league, the EuroCup. He played at the Adidas Next Generation Tournament in 2015.{{Cite web|url=http://www.adidasngt.com/u18/news/latest/i/5yiudajyheqei8c5/vef-riga-star-kurucs-looks-to-stands-for-guidance|title=VEF Riga star Kurucs looks to stands for guidance|website=ADIDAS Next Generation Tournament|access-date=16 April 2016}}
=FC Barcelona=
In July 2015, Kurucs agreed to a four-year deal with the Spanish powerhouse FC Barcelona.{{cite news|title=FCB Lassa inks teenage star Kurucs for four years|url=http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/67sovyyxrrrgnby6|access-date=16 April 2016|work=EuroLeague.net|date=21 July 2015}} He then spent the 2015–16 season playing in the junior club of FC Barcelona. In 2016, after turning 18 years of age, Kurucs joined the reserve team of FC Barcelona, FC Barcelona B, of the LEB Oro, which is the second-tier level in the Spanish league system.{{cite web |title=Resultados y estadísticas – Kurucs, Rodions |url=http://competiciones.feb.es/estadisticas/Jugador.aspx?i=733212&c=2159647&med=0 |website=competiciones.feb.es |access-date=7 March 2019 |language=es-ES}}
Kurucs made his debut in the European-wide top-tier level EuroLeague, on 24 March 2017, in a 67–54 home win against Crvena zvezda Belgrade. In his first EuroLeague game, he logged three minutes of playing time, and scored two points.{{cite web |title=FC Barcelona Lassa vs. Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade – Game |url=https://www.euroleague.net/main/results/showgame?gamecode=222&seasoncode=E2016 |website=euroleague.net |access-date=7 March 2019}} On 13 July 2018, Kurucs parted ways with FC Barcelona, but the Catalan club reserved the player's rights in case he returned to play in Europe.{{cite news |title=Acord per a la desvinculació de Rodions Kurucs |url=https://www.fcbarcelona.cat/seccions/basquet/primer-equip/noticies/2018-2019/acord-desvinculacio-rodions-kurucs |access-date=13 July 2018 |work=FC Barcelona |date=13 July 2018 |language=ca-ES}}
=NBA draft rights=
Kurucs entered his name into the 2017 NBA draft,{{Cite web|url=https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2017/04/rodions-kurucs-enters-2017-nba-draft.html|title=Rodions Kurucs Enters 2017 NBA Draft|website=Hoops Rumors|access-date=1 May 2017}} being one of a record-high 182 underclassmen to do so that year. Despite being consistently considered a first round draft pick throughout most mock drafts, Kurucs ultimately withdrew his name from the draft, on 12 June 2017; the deadline date that international players had decide to whether or not to withdraw their names from the draft. Kurucs entered his name for the 2018 NBA draft on 21 April 2018{{cite web |last1=Givony |first1=Jonathan |title=Euroleague's Rodions Kurucs declares for NBA draft again |url=http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23276351/rodions-kurucs-euroleague-declare-nba-draft-again |website=ESPN.com |access-date=24 February 2019 |date=21 April 2018}} as one of 236 underclassed prospects willing to enter the draft.{{cite web |last1=Givony |first1=Jonathan |title=NBA draft: Every player who has declared early for 2018 |url=http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23306502/2018-nba-draft-every-player-declared-early |website=NBA.com |access-date=24 February 2019 |date=24 April 2018}}
=Brooklyn Nets (2018–2021)=
On 21 June 2018, Kurucs was selected by the Brooklyn Nets in the second round (40th overall).{{cite web |last1=Dowd |first1=Tom |title=Brooklyn Nets Select Dzanan Musa, Rodions Kurucs in 2018 NBA Draft |url=https://www.nba.com/nets/news/draft/2018/brooklyn-nets-select-dzanan-musa-rodions-kurucs-in-2018-nba-draft |website=NBA.com |access-date=3 October 2018 |date=22 June 2018}} On 16 July 2018, Kurucs signed a multi-year contract with the Nets.{{cite web |title=Brooklyn Nets Sign Rodions Kurucs |url=https://www.nba.com/nets/news/2018/07/16/brooklyn-nets-sign-rodions-kurucs |website=NBA.com |access-date=16 July 2018 |date=16 July 2018}} Kurucs made his NBA debut on 17 October and scored three points in 103–100 season-opening loss to the Detroit Pistons.{{cite web |last1=Eliņš |first1=Rolands |title=Kurucs NBA debitē ar trim punktiem un saspringtu zaudējumu Detroitā |url=http://sportacentrs.com/basketbols/nba/18102018-kurucs_debite_nba_ar_trim_punktiem_un_sas |website=Sportacentrs.com |access-date=10 January 2019 |language=lv-LV |date=18 October 2018}} On 21 December, Kurucs scored a career-high 24 points in the Nets' 114–106 loss to the Indiana Pacers.{{cite web |last1=Lewis |first1=Brian |title=Nets rookie making it 'hard' to take him out after career night |url=https://nypost.com/2018/12/22/nets-rookie-making-it-hard-to-take-him-out-after-career-night/ |website=New York Post |access-date=10 January 2019 |date=21 December 2018}} On 23 December, Kurucs recorded his first career double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds in a 111–103 win over the Phoenix Suns.{{cite web |last1=Lewis |first1=Brian |title=Rodions Kurucs giving Nets no reason to change starting lineup |url=https://nypost.com/2018/12/24/rodions-kurucs-giving-nets-no-reason-to-change-starting-lineup/ |website=New York Post |access-date=10 January 2019 |date=23 December 2018}} On 26 December, he had 13 points and a career-high 12 rebounds in a 134–132 double overtime win over the Charlotte Hornets.{{cite web |last1=Lewis |first1=Brian |title=Nets rookie Rodions Kurucs looking like the real deal |url=https://nypost.com/2018/12/27/nets-rookie-rodions-kurucs-looking-like-the-real-deal/ |website=New York Post |access-date=10 January 2019 |date=27 December 2018}} On 7 January 2019, he repeated his career high 24 points in a 116–95 loss to the Boston Celtics.{{cite web |last1=Lewis |first1=Brian |title=Shorthanded Nets get dose of reality in lopsided loss to Celtics |url=https://nypost.com/2019/01/07/shorthanded-nets-get-dose-of-reality-in-lopsided-loss-to-celtics/ |website=New York Post |access-date=10 January 2019 |date=7 January 2019}} On 29 January, Kurucs was named a participant of the 2019 Rising Stars Challenge as a member of the World Team.{{cite web |title=Doncic, Simmons headline Mtn Dew Ice Rising Stars rosters |url=https://www.nba.com/article/2019/01/29/2019-mtn-dew-ice-rising-stars-roster-official-release |website=NBA.com |access-date=7 March 2019 |date=29 January 2019}}
=Houston Rockets (2021)=
On 14 January 2021, Kurucs was traded to the Houston Rockets in a multi-player, three-team deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers that sent James Harden to Brooklyn Nets.{{cite web|title=Brooklyn News Acquire James Harden|url=https://www.nba.com/nets/news/2021/01/14/brooklyn-nets-acquire-james-harden|website=NBA.com|access-date=14 January 2021|date=14 January 2021}}
=Milwaukee Bucks (2021)=
On 19 March 2021, Kurucs was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks along with P. J. Tucker for D. J. Augustin, D. J. Wilson, and the right to swap draft picks in the 2021 NBA draft.{{Cite web|title=Milwaukee Bucks Acquire P.J. Tucker And Rodions Kurucs From The Houston Rockets|url=https://www.nba.com/bucks/news/milwaukee-bucks-acquire-pj-tucker-and-rodions-kurucs-houston-rockets|date=19 March 2021|website=NBA.com|access-date=20 March 2021}} On 12 May, he was waived by the Bucks after making five appearances.{{cite web|title=Milwaukee Bucks Request Waivers on Rodions Kurucs|url=https://www.nba.com/bucks/news/milwaukee-bucks-request-waivers-rodions-kurucs|date=12 May 2021|website=NBA.com|accessdate=12 May 2021}}
=Partizan (2021–2022)=
On 7 July 2021, Kurucs signed with KK Partizan of the Basketball League of Serbia and the ABA League.{{cite news|first=Alessandro|last=Maggi|title=KK Partizan announces Rodions Kurucs|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/kk-partizan-announces-rodions-kurucs/|date=7 July 2021|newspaper=Sportando|accessdate=7 July 2021}}
In May 2022, after not appearing in any games since early March, Kurucs parted ways with Partizan as the club allowed him to continue training individually in Latvia due to not featuring in coach Željko Obradović's plans.{{cite web |title=Kuruc napustio Partizan usred ABA finala |url=https://www.b92.net/sport/kosarka/vesti.php?yyyy=2022&mm=05&dd=31&nav_id=2163790 |website=b92.net |access-date=31 May 2022}}
Kurucs joined the Toronto Raptors for the 2022 NBA Summer League.{{Cite web |title=Toronto Raptors 2022 NBA2K23 Summer League Roster |url=https://www.nba.com/summer-league/2022/vegas/team/1610612761/raptors |access-date=5 July 2022 |website=NBA.com}}
=Real Betis (2022)=
On 23 August 2022, he signed with Real Betis of the Liga ACB.{{Cite news|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/real-betis-rodions-kurucs-agree-to-1-year-deal/|title=Real Betis, Rodions Kurucs agree to 1-year deal|last=|first=|date=23 August 2022|website=|newspaper=Sportando|language=En|access-date=23 August 2022|last1=Borghesan |first1=Ennio Terrasi }}
=SIG Strasbourg (2022–2023)=
On 19 December 2022, he signed with SIG Strasbourg of the French LNB Pro A.{{Cite web|url=https://sigstrasbourg.fr/2022/12/rodions-kurucs-renforce-la-sig-strasbourg|title=Rodions Kurucs renforce la SIG Strasbourg|last=|first=|date=19 December 2022|website=sigstrasbourg.fr|publisher=|language=fr|access-date=19 December 2022}}
=UCAM Murcia (2023–present)=
National team career
Kurucs played for the Latvian national under-16 team at the 2014 Baltic Sea Cup, and at the 2014 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship. He played a crucial role in helping Latvia win the silver medal at the tournament, as he averaged 13.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.1 blocked shots per game,{{Cite web|url=http://www.fibaeurope.com/compID_YUjW-7-FJ,kK9s431Lyr41.season_2014.roundID_9771.teamID_2134.playerID_116175.html|title=Rodions Kurucs|website=www.fibaeurope.com|access-date=16 April 2016}} en route to earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team,{{Cite web|url=http://www.fibaeurope.com/compID_YUjW-7-FJ,kK9s431Lyr41.season_2014.roundID_9771.coid_RZGz4WBjI0EEwGX6OT5LZ1.articleMode_on.html|title=Tillie Towers Above The Competition|website=www.fibaeurope.com|access-date=16 April 2016}} and being selected to the Eurobasket.com's website All-European Championship Under-16 First Team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurobasket.com/European-Championships-U16/basketball_2014.aspx|title=European Championships U16 Basketball, Teams, Scores, Stats, News, Standings - eurobasket.com|website=www.eurobasket.com|access-date=16 April 2016}}
Career statistics
{{NBA player statistics legend}}
=Regular season=
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2018}}
| style="text-align:left;"|Brooklyn
| 63 || 46 || 20.5 || .450 || .315 || .783 || 3.9 || .8 || .7 || .4 || 8.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2019}}
| style="text-align:left;"|Brooklyn
| 47 || 9 || 14.6 || .446 || .367 || .632 || 2.9 || 1.1 || .5 || .1 || 4.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan=3|{{nbay|2020}}
| style="text-align:left;"|Brooklyn
| 5 || 0 || 3.2 || .333 || .500 || {{sort|-|—}} || .6 || .4 || .0 || .0 || .6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|Houston
| 11 || 0 || 6.8 || .238 || .133 || .500 || 1.0 || .4 || .5 || .4 || 1.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|Milwaukee
| 5 || 0 || 6.8 || .625 || .750 || 1.000 || 1.8 || .8 || .6 || .0 || 3.0
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career
| 131 || 55 || 16.1 || .444 || .329 || .739 || 3.1 || .9 || .6 || .3 || 6.0
{{s-end}}
=Playoffs=
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|2019
| style="text-align:left;"|Brooklyn
| 4 || 3 || 17.0 || .400 || .250 || .778 || 5.0 || .8 || .5 || .0 || 6.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|2020
| style="text-align:left;"|Brooklyn
| 4 || 1 || 14.5 || .550 || .000 || .000 || 3.3 || .8 || .3 || .5 || 5.5
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career
| 8 || 4 || 15.8 || .475 || .125 || .636 || 4.1 || .8 || .4 || .3 || 5.9
{{s-end}}
Personal life
Kurucs' brother Artūrs is also playing competitive basketball.{{cite web|title=RODIONS KURUCS BUILT HIS ROAD TO BROOKLYN FROM A FAMILY TREE GROWING UP IN LATVIA WITH YOUNGER BROTHER ARTURS, THEIR GRANDFATHER GUIDED THEM TO THE GAME|url=https://www.nba.com/nets/news/2018/09/18/rodions-kurucs-built-his-road-to-brooklyn-from-a-family-tree|date=18 September 2018|website=NBA.com|access-date=18 September 2018}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{basketballstats |nba=1629066 |bbr=k/kurucro01}}
- [http://www.acb.com/jugador.php?id=FXJ Rodions Kurucs] at acb.com {{in lang|es}}
- [http://basketball.eurobasket.com/player/Rodions_Kurucs/272338 Rodions Kurucs] at eurobasket.com
- [http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?pcode=005713#!careerstats Rodions Kurucs] at euroleague.net
- [http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Rodions-Kurucs-83103/stats/ Rodions Kurucs] at draftexpress.com
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20170131200805/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/p/rpp//q/rodions%20kurucs/pid//_//players.html Rodions Kurucs] at fiba.com (archive)
- [http://www.fibaeurope.com/compID_YUjW-7-FJ,kK9s431Lyr41.season_2014.roundID_9771.teamID_2134.playerID_116175.html Rodions Kurucs] at fibaeurope.com
{{CB Murcia current roster}}
{{2018 NBA draft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kurucs, Rodions}}
Category:2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup players
Category:Brooklyn Nets draft picks
Category:Brooklyn Nets players
Category:FC Barcelona Bàsquet players
Category:Houston Rockets players
Category:Latvian expatriate basketball people in Serbia
Category:Latvian expatriate basketball people in Spain
Category:Latvian expatriate basketball people in the United States
Category:Latvian men's basketball players
Category:Long Island Nets players
Category:Milwaukee Bucks players
Category:NBA players from Latvia