Artūras Milaknis

Artūras Milaknis (born 16 June 1986) is a Lithuanian professional basketball player for Žalgiris Kaunas of the Lithuanian Basketball League and the EuroLeague. Standing at 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in), he primarily plays as a shooting guard, but can also play as small forward when needed.

Artūras Milaknis
Milaknis with Žalgiris Kaunas in 2018
No. 21 – Žalgiris Kaunas
PositionShooting guard / Small forward
LeagueLKL
EuroLeague
Personal information
Born (1986-06-16) 16 June 1986
Kaunas,[1] Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union
NationalityLithuanian
Listed height6 ft 4.7 in (1.95 m)
Listed weight198 lb (90 kg)
Career information
NBA draft2008 / Undrafted
Playing career2004–present
Career history
2004–2006Bremena Tauragė
2006–2011Žalgiris Kaunas
2006–2007→Žalgiris-Arvydas Sabonis school Kaunas
2008→Baltai Kaunas
2011–2013Rūdupis Prienai / Prienai
2013–2015Žalgiris Kaunas
2015–2016UNICS Kazan
2016–presentŽalgiris Kaunas
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Lithuania
EuroBasket
2015 France

Early career

A native of Kaunas, Milaknis began his career in the second division National Basketball League (NKL), playing for Bremena Tauragė. In 2006, he went on to play with Žalgiris-Arvydas Sabonis school, the junior team of Žalgiris Kaunas.

Professional career

In the 2007-2008 season, Milaknis made his Žalgiris' main team debut. Since then, apart from playing two full seasons in 2009–2010 and 2010–2011, he would be loaned to a few different teams, up until 2013, when he signed a 2+1 deal after a successful season with BC Prienai. In the next two years, he became an important part of the team, and soon gained attention from various international clubs. In the summer of 2015, Milaknis was invited to join the Dallas Mavericks training camp.[2] On July 9, 2015, he signed a two-year contract with the Russian club UNICS Kazan.[3]

On August 7, 2016, Milaknis returned to Žalgiris as he signed a three-year contract.[4] It was extended for an additional year on June 7, 2019. [5]

National team career

In 2015, Milaknis was included into the senior Lithuanian national team extended candidates list, by the team's head coach, Jonas Kazlauskas.[6] At age of 29, he qualified into the final roster of the senior Lithuanian national team, for the first time in his career, and he represented the national team at the EuroBasket 2015.[7] [8] The Lithuanian team ended up winning the silver medal at the tournament.

He played at the EuroBasket 2017.[9]

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  PIR  Performance Index Rating
 Bold  Career high

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.

EuroLeague
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG PIR
2007–08 Žalgiris 202.5.500.000.000.0.0.0.01.0.5
2008–09 5014.8.611.571.5001.2.2.0.06.25.0
2009–10 1108.0.500.500.500.4.0.3.02.51.0
2010–11 15915.5.368.308.8001.0.4.7.03.91.3
2013–14 24418.3.458.432.6672.0.7.3.06.44.8
2014–15 241025.9.462.462.7781.81.4.3.110.08.0
2016–17 30821.1.474.386.7621.51.0.3.07.34.6
2017–18 36822.4.471.449.8262.0.9.4.18.06.6
2018–19 341023.1.403.417.8531.4.9.6.17.05.3
Career 1814920.3.439.426.7921.6.8.4.16.95.1

References
  1. Milaknis: apie taiklių metimų receptą, snaiperio idealą ir atmosferą „Žalgiryje“
  2. "Kauno "Žalgirio" snaiperis Artūras Milaknis išvyksta į NBA "Dallas Mavericks" klubo peržiūrą". 15min.lt. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  3. "Unics Kazan inks sharpshooter Milaknis". Eurocupbasketball.com. 9 July 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  4. "Milaknis returns, Motum stays at Zalgiris". zalgiris.lt. 7 August 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  5. "Arturas Milaknis extends his contract with Zalgiris". zalgiris.lt. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  6. "Paviešintas Lietuvos rinktinės kandidatų sąrašas". Delfi.lt. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  7. "Dvejonės baigėsi – Jonas Kazlauskas paskelbė galutinį rinktinės dvyliktuką". 24sek.lt. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  8. Arturas Milaknis's profile | 2015 EuroBasket
  9. Arturas MILAKNIS (LTU)'s profile - FIBA EuroBasket 2017
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