NBA talent scouts are reportedly tracking the progress of Latvian sensation Arturs Zagars FIBA World Cup Outing with his remarkable performances in the tournament.
Last week, the Latvian national team achieved a historic Top 5 finish in their inaugural FIBA World Cup appearance, largely thanks to the exceptional skills of their number 55, Arturs Zagars. The 23-year-old point guard has now captured the attention of scouts from both the NBA and the Euroleague while currently being a free agent.
Yet, his outstanding displays on the international stage don’t end there. Zagars also established a new World Cup single-game record by dishing out 17 assists against Lithuania.
Arturs Zagars FIBA World Cup Performances
Following that game, the humble Latvian playmaker remarked, “I was just passing the ball, and my teammates made shots. It’s that simple,”
Zagars garnered recognition as one of the finest distributors in the FIBA tournament, steering his team to impressive victories against formidable opponents such as France, Spain, and Brazil.
WORLD CUP RECORD HOLDER.
Arturs Zagars made history with 17 assists ✍️#FIBAWC x #WinForLatvia ?? pic.twitter.com/aTL3oqXVoS
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 ? (@FIBAWC) September 9, 2023
The emerging star concluded his World Cup journey with averages of 12.4 points, shooting 55.6% from the field and 41.7% from beyond the arc. He also contributed 2.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists per match, all within just 25 minutes of playtime.
His coach, Luca Banchi, praised Zagars’ potential, saying, “I believe he played a solid tournament with big responsibilities. He was in big shoes. As for the first time in the World Cup, and first time as a starter in the senior national team in such a competition, replacing an iconic player like Janis Strelnieks is not easy,”
“In the second game, we lost our captain, but he continued to produce good basketball to help the team stay at this level, proving he can help Latvia to compete with the best teams on the planet,” Banchi added.
Banchi recognizes that Zagars is just embarking on his career and has a bright future ahead of him.
“But it’s just the first step. The next is to find a job for this guy because I believe he deserves it. He’s not like me, he’s young. I’m old, and I have to rest. He’s young and needs to play. Let’s hope he’ll find the job finally,” he concluded.
Oklahoma City forward Davis Bertans believes his Latvian teammate is an excellent fit for an NBA franchise. Bertans, an eight-year NBA veteran, explained why he thinks Zagars deserves at least a two-way contract with an NBA team.
“Honestly, yes,” he said. “I think it’s a fair shot. It’s all about timing, chance, and opportunity. Everything can happen if you end up at the right place at the right time. He has all the tools to do it. He’s relentless, as you can see. They’re putting their best defender on him every single night, and he still delivers for us.”
Bertans pointed to Zagars’ highlights from his 24-point performance against Germany, the eventual world champions, as evidence of his potential.
Zagars has faced significant challenges, including injuries, in recent years on his path to this stage of his career, as noted by his head coach.
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