Mindaugas Kupšas (born 9 April 1991) is a Lithuanian professional basketball player for Šiauliai of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL). Standing at 7 ft 1.25 in (2.17 m), he plays at the center position.
Professional career
Kupšas played for Lietkabelis in the 2012–13 season and averaged 10.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per 21 minutes of game action.[1] He went undrafted at the 2013 NBA draft.[2]
On August 6, 2014, Kupšas was loaned to the Estonian team BC Kalev/Cramo for the 2014–15 season.[3]
On August 14, 2016, Kupšas signed with Vytautas Prienai–Birštonas. On February 7, 2017, he parted ways with Vytautas to join CB Clavijo of the Spanish LEB Oro.[4]
On August 10, 2017, Kupšas signed a one-year deal with BC Juventus.[5]
On August 7, 2018, Kupšas returned to Lietkabelis Panevėžys for a second stint, signing for the 2018–19 season.[6] In 56 games played with Lietkabelis, he averaged 8.9 points and 4.7 rebounds, while shooting 62 percent from the field.
On August 14, 2019, Kupšas signed a one-year deal with Hapoel Jerusalem of the Israeli Premier League.[7]
On March 2, 2020, Kupšas parted ways with Hapoel Jerusalem to join Filou Oostende of the Belgian Pro Basketball League.[8]
On October 1, 2021, Kupšas signed with Kaohsiung Aquas of the T1 League.[9] On June 30, 2022, Kupšas was selected to the all-defensive first team of the T1 League in 2021–22 season.[10] On July 20, Kupšas re-signed with the Kaohsiung Aquas.[11] On August 6, 2023, Kupšas re-signed with the Kaohsiung Aquas.[12] He was the league's blocks leader for the 2023–24 season.[13] On May 9, 2024, Kupšas was selected to the T1 League all-defensive first team in 2023–24 season.[14] On May 10, 2024, Kupšas awarded the T1 League Defensive Player of the Year in 2023–24 season.[15]
On June 27, 2024, Kupšas signed one–year contract with Šiauliai of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL).[16]
References
- ^ "Mindaugas Kupšas LKL.lt". Archived from the original on 2016-10-09. Retrieved 2013-06-14.
- ^ "NBA naujokų biržos rinkimuose M. Kupšas savo pavardės neišgirdo". delfi.lt (in Lithuanian). 28 June 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
- ^ "M.Kupšas karjerą tęs Talino "Kalev/Cramo" klube". zalgiris.lt (in Lithuanian). 6 August 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
- ^ "Mindaugas Kupsas (ex Vytautas) agreed terms with CB Clavijo". Eurobasket.com. February 7, 2017. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
- ^ "Mindaugas Kupsas moves to Utenos Juventus". Sportando.basketball. August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
- ^ "KK Lietkabelis signs Mindaugas Kupsas". Sportando.basketball. August 7, 2018. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
- ^ "חיזוק ליטאי: קופשאס מצטרף לירושלים". basket.co.il (in Hebrew). August 14, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
- ^ "Welkom Mindaugas Kupsas". bcoostende.be (in Dutch). March 2, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
- ^ "立陶宛國家隊巨塔來了！ 中鋒庫薩斯加盟高雄海神". ETtoday. October 1, 2021. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
- ^ "T1最強防守專家是他！ 林秉聖再奪2項年度防守大獎". ETtoday. June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
- ^ "立陶宛巨塔續留海神 庫薩斯：目標就是連霸". United Daily News. July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
- ^ "海神與兩大冠軍班底續約 布銳克曼：新賽季目標絕對是冠軍". ETtoday. August 6, 2023. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
- ^ "T1職籃年度數據獎項出爐 雲豹、海神成最大贏家". ETtoday. April 30, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ "T1年度防守第一隊出爐！林秉聖、胡瓏貿連3年入列". ETtoday. May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
- ^ "海神無敵巨塔！ 庫薩斯勇奪T1職籃年度最佳防守球員". ETtoday. May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
- ^ ""Šiaulių" ekipoje – į Lietuvą grįžtantis M. Kupšas". bcsiauliai.lt (in Lithuanian). June 27, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2024.