Martynas Andriuškevičius

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Martynas Andriuškevičius
Position Center
Height ft 2 in (2.18 m)
Weight 240 lb (110 kg)
League LEB Oro league
Team Alicante Costa Blanca
Born March 12, 1986 (1986-03-12) (age 22)
Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union
Nationality Flag of Lithuania Lithuanian
College none
Draft 2nd round, 44th overall, 2005
Orlando Magic
Pro career 2003–present
Former teams Žalgiris Kaunas reserve team (2003–2004)
Žalgiris Kaunas (2004–2005)
Cleveland Cavaliers (2005–2006)
Chicago Bulls (2006–2007)
Alicante Costa Blanca (2007-2008)

Martynas Andriuškevičius (pronounced Mahr-teen-us Un-drew-shcke-vihch-ews) (born March 12, 1986, in Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union) is a Lithuanian professional basketball player. He is currently playing for Alicante Costa Blanca team from Spain's LEB Oro league, the country's 2nd division.

Andriuškevičius was drafted by the Orlando Magic with the 44th pick in the 2005 NBA Draft. He was then traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers before being traded to the Bulls.

At 2.18 m (7 ft 2 in) and 109 kg (240 lb), he is an intriguing prospect because of his height. He developed through the youth academies at Žalgiris Kaunas, where he was tabbed as one of the top young players in the game. He played in 15 Euroleague games for the club during the 2004-05 season and was originally projected as one of the top picks in the draft, but a disappointing season in Europe and an apparent lack of improvement sent his draft stock spiraling down.

Andriuškevičius has noted perimeter skill for a player of his size, and has trained with former NBA center Arvydas Sabonis.

On August 18, 2006, Andriuškevičius was traded by the Cavaliers to the Chicago Bulls for swingman Eddie Basden. On December 21, he sustained a serious head injury when he was attacked by Awvee Storey. The center suffered a fractured skull, severe concussion, and a two-centimeter hematoma on the left side of his brain. Doctors initially thought it'd be months before he could speak, but he was able to within a month, and stated his desire to play basketball within a year.[1] [2]

On March 12, 2007, Chicago Bulls doctors cleared Andriuškevičius to participate in contact practices. The Chicago Tribune said it was "a remarkable recovery from the serious brain injury".[3] On April 6, head coach Scott Skiles considered moving the player to the active roster, as he soon started practicing.[4]

In August 11, 2007 his agent announced that he would play in Joventut Badalona, and he signed for the team five days later, but his contract with the team was cancelled shortly after.[5] He then signed for Alicante Costa Blanca on September.[6]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^
    ERROR ::

[edit] External links