Juris Umbraško (born 29 July 1978 in Jekabpils, Latvia) is a Latvian professional basketball coach and former player. He is the current head coach of Latvian-Estonian Basketball League team Rīgas Zeļļi.

Juris Umbraško
Rīgas Zeļļi
PositionHead coach
Personal information
Born (1979-07-29) July 29, 1979 (age 45)
Jekabpils, Latvia
NationalityLatvian
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
NBA draft2001: undrafted
Playing career1998–2015
PositionSmall forward
Number21
Coaching career2015–present
Career history
As player:
1998–2000ASK Broceni LMT
2000–2002CSKA Moscow
2002–2003BK Ventspils
2004–2006BC Khimik
2006–2007BC Cherkasy Mavpy
2006–2007Riga Barons
2007–2008Politehnika Galychyna
2008–2009BK Ventspils
2010–2011VEF Rīga
2011–2015Rakvere Tarvas
As coach:
2015Dynamo Moscow (assistant)
2015–2016Froya Basket
2016–2017Valga-Valka/ Maks&Moorits
2018–2021BC Rakvere Tarvas
2021–2023BK Liepāja (assistant)
2023–presentRīgas Zeļļi
Career highlights and awards

As head coach:

  • Best Coach of Latvian Basketball League (2024)

Club career

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Umbraško started his senior club career with Latvijas Basketbola līga team ASK Broceni LMT and later moved to European basketball powerhouse CSKA Moscow.

In 2002 he returned to Latvia to represent BK Ventspils and won the Latvian Championship titles in 2002 and 2003.

After unexpectedly good years abroad and in Latvia, he struggled to keep consistency in his game. He then played in Ukraine for almost 4 years, representing different teams, but achieving few success.

In 2008 he returned to Latvia, but only to play episodic role in VEF Riga's Latvian League triumph.

At the beginning of the 2011–2012 season, the Latvian joined Estonian team BC Rakvere Tarvas with fellow Latvians Kaspars Cipruss and Rinalds Sirsniņš, the team which has been represented by many decent Latvian players: Igors Melniks, Edmunds Valeiko, Ivars Timermanis and Raimonds Vaikulis.

Club coaching career

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Umbraško was named the Best Coach of the Latvian Basketball League by Latvian journalists after leading the Latvian-Estonian Basketball League club Rigas Zeļļi to the 2024 playoffs in the team's debut season.[1]

International career

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Juris Umbraško has been a frequent member of the Latvia national basketball team. He first represented Latvia in youth level, U22 games and caught attention of the senior team staff. He was then called up to the men's squad in 2000 and played regularly until 2002, while playing in CSKA Moscow. However, his latter stints have been occasional and he has never played in any major tournament with Latvian senior team.

Honours

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References

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  1. ^ "Balsojumā par sezonas MVP tiek atzīts "Ventspils" uzbrucējs Linards Jaunzems". 4 April 2024.
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