Discover the Complete List of Latvian NBA Players Making History in Basketball

I still remember the first time I heard about a Latvian player making waves in the NBA—it was back in 2016 when Kristaps Porziņģis dropped 29 points against the Detroit Pistons in just his fourth professional game. As someone who's followed international basketball for over a decade, I've got to say, watching Latvia's gradual emergence on basketball's biggest stage has been absolutely fascinating. When you think about basketball powerhouses, Latvia doesn't immediately come to mind—the country has roughly the same population as Albuquerque, New Mexico—yet here we are with multiple Latvian players making significant impacts in the world's premier basketball league.

The journey really begins with Porziņģis, who entered the league as the Knicks' fourth overall pick in 2015. Standing at 7'3" with guard-like skills, he immediately challenged conventional wisdom about what European big men could do. I've always admired how he transformed the Knicks' offense during his tenure there—before injuries unfortunately slowed his momentum. His rookie season numbers were staggering for a player his size: averaging 14.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks while shooting 42% from three-point range in his second year. These aren't just good numbers for a European player—they're elite numbers period. What many casual fans might not realize is that Porziņģis' success actually paved the way for other Latvian players to be taken seriously by NBA scouts.

Then came Dāvis Bertāns, the sharpshooting forward who joined the Spurs in 2016. I've always had a soft spot for specialists who perfect one particular skill, and Bertāns' three-point shooting is simply sublime. During his best season with the Wizards in 2019-2020, he connected on 42% of his three-point attempts while taking nearly eight per game—that's elite efficiency on high volume. What makes his story particularly compelling to me is how different his path was from Porziņģis—Bertāns was a second-round pick who had to prove himself in Europe before getting his NBA opportunity. His success demonstrates that Latvia's basketball development system can produce different types of NBA-caliber players, not just unicorn talents like Porziņģis.

The most recent addition to this exclusive club is Rodions Kurucs, who was drafted by the Brooklyn Nets in 2018. While his NBA journey has been more turbulent than his countrymen's, his athleticism and defensive versatility showed genuine promise during his rookie season. I actually watched his debut game against the Knicks where he put up 15 points and 4 rebounds—you could immediately see the potential despite the raw edges to his game. What's interesting about Kurucs is that he represents a different archetype—a mobile forward who can guard multiple positions, showing that Latvian players aren't just specialists but can bring diverse skill sets to the table.

Now, we're witnessing what I believe is a pivotal moment with the emergence of Dāvis Bertāns' younger brother, Dairis Bertāns, who had brief stints with the Pelicans and Thunder. While his NBA impact has been limited compared to his brother, his presence signifies something important—that Latvian basketball is developing depth. When you have multiple players from the same family making it to the league, that suggests the country's basketball culture is maturing in meaningful ways.

The significance of these players collectively can't be overstated. As Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann remarked about international players making the jump to the NBA, "This is a huge step"—and he's absolutely right. For a small nation like Latvia, having multiple players in the NBA represents more than individual achievement—it signals the country's arrival as a legitimate basketball nation. From my perspective following international basketball trends, this creates a virtuous cycle: success breeds interest, which leads to better funding and coaching, which produces more talent. I'm convinced we're seeing the beginning of what could become a golden generation for Latvian basketball.

What often gets overlooked in these discussions is how these players have influenced the game itself. Porziņģis in particular revolutionized the concept of the stretch-five—a seven-footer who can legitimately space the floor while protecting the rim. Before him, the idea of building your offense around a center shooting threes was considered radical. Now, it's almost expected that big men have some perimeter game. This stylistic innovation matters because it shows that Latvian players aren't just participating in the NBA—they're actively shaping how the game is played.

Looking at the broader picture, Latvia currently has produced 4 NBA players—a remarkable number for a country of just under 2 million people. To put that in perspective, that's approximately one NBA player per 500,000 people, a ratio that compares favorably with traditional basketball powers like Spain and France when adjusted for population. While these numbers might seem dry, they reveal an important truth—Latvia is punching far above its weight in basketball development.

As I look toward the future, I'm particularly excited about the next wave of Latvian prospects. The success of Porziņģis and the Bertāns brothers has undoubtedly inspired younger generations back home. I've seen footage of Latvian youth tournaments recently, and the skill level appears to be rising dramatically. The fundamental understanding of team basketball combined with individual skill development seems more sophisticated than what I observed even five years ago. While it's impossible to predict exactly who will be the next Latvian NBA player, the pipeline appears stronger than ever.

The impact extends beyond just player development. NBA teams are now regularly sending scouts to Latvia, and several have established partnerships with Latvian clubs. This infrastructure development might seem mundane, but from my experience covering international basketball, these relationships are crucial for sustained success. They create pathways for Latvian coaches to learn from NBA systems and for young players to be identified earlier in their development.

In my view, what makes the Latvian NBA story so compelling isn't just the individual achievements—it's the collective impact of these players representing a small nation on basketball's biggest stage. They've demonstrated that with the right development system and basketball culture, even countries without traditional basketball heritage can produce world-class talent. As more Latvian players enter the league and influence how the game is played, I believe we'll see the definition of basketball powerhouses expand to include nations that were previously overlooked. The complete list of Latvian NBA players may be short for now, but its impact on global basketball is already profound and, I suspect, just beginning.