Jānis Strēlnieks


Jānis Strēlnieks is a Latvian professional basketball player for CSKA Moscow of the VTB United League and the EuroLeague. He also represents the senior National Team of Latvia. Standing at tall, he plays at shooting guard.

Professional career

Strēlnieks started his professional career in 2007, with Latvian team Ventspils, where he played for four years. In 2010, he was pursued by the EuroLeague club Union Olimpija, which was then head coached by Jure Zdovc. However, Ventspils didn't let him go to Slovenia. After all, in November 2011, he finally got a chance to play for coach Zdovc, as he was at the time coaching the Russian team Spartak Saint Petersburg, that had bought out Strēlnieks' contract from Ventspils. He spent the next two seasons with Spartak. One of the highlights of his time in Spartak, was making the EuroCup's 2012 Final Four.
In August 2013, Strēlnieks joined the EuroLeague team Budivelnyk, signing a two-year contract with them. Strēlnieks enjoyed a successful season with Budivelnyk, that included winning the Ukrainian Super League championship, and playing in the EuroLeague for the first time. However, after the season ended, he had to opt out of his contract, due to the unstable political situation in Ukraine at the time.
In July 2014, he signed a one-year deal with the German club Brose Bamberg. In the following three seasons, Strēlnieks won the German Basketball Bundesliga championship with Bamberg. In the 2015–16 and 2016–17 seasons, Strēlnieks also played in the EuroLeague with Brose.
On June 20, 2017, Strēlnieks signed a two-year contract with Olympiacos, of the Greek Basket League and the EuroLeague.
On July 8, 2019, Strēlnieks signed a two-year deal with CSKA Moscow.

National team career

Latvian junior national team

In 2007, Strēlnieks was a part of the Latvian Under-18 junior national team that won the bronze medal at the 2007 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship, which was held in Madrid, Spain. He made a game-winning basket in the last seconds of regulation against Lithuania's Under-18 junior national team, in the bronze medal game.

Latvian senior national team

Strēlnieks is a member of the senior Latvian national basketball team. With Latvia, he played at the following tournaments: the EuroBasket 2011, the EuroBasket 2013, the EuroBasket 2015, the Belgrade 2016 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament, and the EuroBasket 2017.

Career statistics

EuroLeague

Personal life

His older brother, Artūrs, is also a professional basketball player.