Latvia guard Arturs Zagars sets Fiba World Cup record with 17 assists

MANILA, Philippines — Latvia guard Arturs Zagars is honored after setting a brand new Fiba World Cup file with 17 assists in a 98-63 rout of Lithuania for fifth place on Saturday at Mall of Asia Enviornment.

His particular person feat, nonetheless, solely comes secondary to what Latvia was capable of attain in its maiden World Cup marketing campaign.

“I used to be simply passing the ball and my teammates made the photographs early within the first half as nicely. That’s easy I simply handed the ball and so they made the photographs,” stated Zagars, who additionally had zero turnovers.

“Clearly, I’m grateful and grateful [but] it means extra that we completed high 5 than the file,” he added.

WORLD CUP RECORD HOLDER.

Arturs Zagars made historical past with 17 assists ✍️#FIBAWC x #WinForLatvia 🇱🇻 pic.twitter.com/aTL3oqXVoS

— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 🏆 (@FIBAWC) September 9, 2023

Zagars already had 10 assists by halftime. He tied the earlier file at 15 held by each Croatia’s Toni Kukoc and South Sudan’s Carlik Jones by helping on a floater by Anzejs Pasencniks with nonetheless 4:13 left within the sport earlier than doling out a pair extra to seal the mark.

Kukoc had 15 assists within the 1994 World Championships the place Croatia completed third whereas Jones momentarily shared the file final September 2 in a historic win over Angola that earned South Sudan its first Olympic berth.

Zagars downplayed his sensational sport as he stored deflecting the credit score to his teammates.

“I play plenty of choose and rolls ’trigger I’m some extent guard. And, I simply attempt to learn and belief my instincts. If I see an open man, I attempt to dish it. If he makes the shot, that’s an help,” stated Zagars, who went undrafted within the NBA Draft final 12 months.

“However, I don’t assume it’s one thing particular. Perhaps it was only a bit fortunate at this time. ‘Trigger each time I handed the ball, like I stated earlier than, they made the shot. Nothing a lot else so as to add.”

The 23-year-old Zagars added it was surreal to have surpassed an elite participant like Kukoc, who was an important piece of the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls staff that accomplished a three-peat from 1996 to 1998.

Latvia coach Lucha Banchi lauded Zagars, not for his file however due to his stable World Cup stint the place the 6-foot-3 playmaker averaged 12.4 factors and seven.4 assists in eight matches.

“I don’t wanna decide only a particular efficiency, I’m extra into the match. I imagine Arturs performed a stable match with a giant accountability. He was in massive footwear, as we used to say as a result of it’s his first time in a World Cup, the primary time as a starter in a males’s nationwide staff, in such a contest,” Banchi stated.

“Changing an iconic participant like Janis Strelnieks was not straightforward. Second sport, we misplaced our captain and our level of reference on the courtroom, however he continued to supply good basketball and to assist the staff to remain at this stage of efficiency and proving that he can compete with the most effective and he might help the Staff Latvia to compete with the most effective staff within the planet.”

Banchi hopes Zagars’ stable World Cup marketing campaign will open greater alternatives for him after taking part in in Europe within the membership leagues in Spain, Germany, Estonia, and Lithuania.

“It’s simply step one, the following is to discover a job for this man as a result of I imagine he deserves [it]. This man is younger and he must play so let’s hope he finds lastly a job and however I advised you, I imagine Arturs performed a stable match and collectively together with his teammates, he did a superb job to maintain the staff efficiency irrespective of who the opponent,” Banchi stated.

“The staff is on a very good path to proceed, to have enchancment and to maintain Latvia at a excessive stage and I want that Arturs will keep wholesome and targeted and once more, present enthusiasm to run the staff of this nation.”

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