Artūras Milaknis

Artūras Milaknis
Milaknis with Žalgiris Kaunas in 2018
Personal information
Born (1986-06-16) 16 June 1986 (age 38)
Kaunas,[1] Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union
NationalityLithuanian
Listed height6 ft 4.7 in (1.95 m)
Listed weight211 lb (96 kg)
Career information
NBA draft2008: undrafted
Playing career2004–2023
PositionShooting guard / small forward
Number21, 20, 24, 33
Career history
2004–2006Bremena Tauragė
2006–2011Žalgiris Kaunas
2006–2007→Žalgiris-Arvydas Sabonis school Kaunas
2008→Kaunas Triobet
2011–2013Rūdupis Prienai / Prienai
2013–2015Žalgiris Kaunas
2015–2016UNICS Kazan
2016–2022Žalgiris Kaunas
2022–2023Tofaş
Career highlights and awards

LKL records

  • LKL all-time leader in three-pointers made
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Lithuania
EuroBasket
Silver medal – second place 2015 France

Artūras Milaknis (born 16 June 1986) is a Lithuanian former professional basketball player and coach. Standing at 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in), he primarily played at the shooting guard position.

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 9 July 2015, he signed a two-year contract with the Russian club UNICS Kazan.[3]

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

On 14 October 2022, Milaknis signed a one-year deal with Tofaş of Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL).[6]

On 24 May 2024, Milaknis announced his retirement from professional basketball.[7]

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.[8] Aged 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.[9][10] The Lithuanian team ended up winning the silver medal at the tournament.

He played at the EuroBasket 2017.[11]

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

EuroLeague

* Led the league
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG PIR
2007–08 Žalgiris 2 0 2.5 .500 .000 — — — — — 1.0 0.5
2008–09 5 0 14.8 .611 .571 .500 1.2 .2 — — 6.2 5.0
2009–10 11 0 8.0 .500 .500 .500 .4 — .3 — 2.5 1.0
2010–11 15 9 15.5 .368 .308 .800 1.0 .4 .7 — 3.9 1.3
2013–14 24 4 18.3 .458 .432 .667 2.0 .7 .3 .0 6.4 4.8
2014–15 24 10 25.9 .462 .462 .778 1.8 1.4 .3 .1 10.0 8.0
2016–17 30 8 21.1 .474 .386 .762 1.5 1.0 .3 .0 7.3 4.6
2017–18 36* 8 22.4 .471 .449 .826 2.0 .9 .4 .1 8.0 6.6
2018–19 34 10 23.1 .403 .417 .853 1.4 .9 .6 .1 7.0 5.3
2019–20 28* 10 21.6 .466 .395 .833 1.5 .6 .9 .0 7.4 6.7
2020–21 25 12 18.2 .473 .470 1.000 1.0 .7 .5 .1 6.0 5.6
2021–22 31 5 20.2 .428 .416 .931 .9 .6 .5 .1 7.3 6.0
Career 265 76 20.4 .443 .425 .826 1.4 .8 .5 .1 6.9 5.1

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. Archived from the original on July 10, 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. ^ "Arturas Milaknis Tofaş'ta" (in Turkish). Tofaş. October 14, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  7. ^ "Arturas Milaknis baigia karjerą ir pradeda naują gyvenimo etapą". basketnews.lt (in Lithuanian). 24 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Paviešintas Lietuvos rinktinės kandidatų sąrašas". Delfi.lt. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  9. ^ "Dvejonės baigėsi – Jonas Kazlauskas paskelbė galutinį rinktinės dvyliktuką". 24sek.lt. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  10. ^ Arturas Milaknis's profile | 2015 EuroBasket
  11. ^ Arturas MILAKNIS (LTU)'s profile - FIBA EuroBasket 2017