Website LithuanianBasketball.com is reporting that Mindaugas Kuzminskas has declared his intent to enter the NBA draft. According to the ‘site, Kuzminskas was reportedly checked out by New York Knicks vice president for basketball operations Glen Grunwald and international scout Kevin Wilson last month in Lithuanian League (LKL) play.
In last summer’s FIBA U20 European Championship Men, Kuzminskas went for a line of 9.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks per game over nine games in helping Team Lithuania to its fifth-place finish.
Playing for Šiauliai in 2009-10 – on loan from Zalgiris Kaunas, naturally – the power forward is currently averaging 17.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per LKL game for an overall rating of 16.86, good for third-best in the entire league. In Baltic Basketball League play, Kuzminskas is managing a line of just 13.25 ppg and 4.6 rbg. However, his 23-of-54 shooting on threes in the high-speed league is certainly of note: How many power forwards (even European fully-skilled power forwards) can keep up a 42.6% pace beyond the arc?
For Knicks’ fans to whet appetites, check out the videos below the break and/or his Draft Express profile here.
Our buddy Christophe over at European Prospects put together the following clip of Kuzminskas’ contributions in a recent Lithuanian League playoff game.
From this year’s Reebok Eurocamp, courtesy Eurohopes:
Finally, here’s Kuzminskas and the rest showboating and generally having a blast in the LKL All-Star Game.
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