Davis Bertans

Davis Bertans's Biography

Dāvis Bertāns, born on 12 November 1992, is a Latvian professional basketball player known for his work not only on the domestic front but also internationally, where he has represented Latvia’s national team. Nicknamed the “Latvian Laser,” Bertāns has displayed an indomitable spirit and extraordinary skill in the game.

Bertāns’ journey in professional basketball began in the 2007-08 season when he played for ASK Kadeti II. Over the next two years, he would play for BAA Riga, Latvia’s second-division team while also having the chance to play in the top division with ASK Riga and BK Keizarmezs Riga.

In the 2010-11 season, he switched to BK Barons and eventually signed a multi-year deal with the Slovenian club, Union Olimpija. The consequent season might have been the breaking point in his career as the Indiana Pacers chose him as the 42nd pick in the 2011 NBA draft. They, however, traded his rights to the San Antonio Spurs.

Following this, he left Olimpija in January 2012 and joined Partizan Belgrade, a Serbian club. However, adversity struck when he tore his ACL during the Serbian League finals in 2013, which forced him to sideline for nine months. This injury, though devastating, served as a testament to his resilience as he returned to the court in March 2014. During this time, he gave an admirable performance, scoring 20 points in a Euroleague match against Lokomotiv-Kuban.

Subsequently, he signed with the Spanish club Laboral Kutxa Baskonia in July 2014. Unfortunately, in March 2015, he re-injured his right knee ACL. Despite this setback, he demonstrated admirable spirit and statistics, averaging 11 points and 2.9 rebounds per Euroleague game. Following his injury, a touching display of support from his Baskonia teammates, who wore his number 42 jerseys, reflected his impact on and off the court.

In July 2016, Bertāns proceeded to sign with the San Antonio Spurs. He made his debut for the Spurs later that year, scoring five points in four minutes off the bench in a game against the Golden State Warriors. This marked the beginning of a series of remarkable performances, including securing 21 points in a game against Charlotte Hornets.

In 2018, Bertāns scored a record career-high of 28 points in a game against the Sacramento Kings. He continued to excel, re-signing with the Spurs in July for two years, and scoring a season-high 21 points early in 2019.

However, his career took a turn in July 2019 when he was traded from the Spurs to the Washington Wizards. Following the trade, he scored 23 points in his first game against his former team, the Spurs. Despite this promising start, three months into the NBA’s hiatus, Bertāns chose to sit out the NBA’s Orlando restart, a decision he made citing personal reasons. Despite the financial implications and the missed opportunity, the Wizards supported his decision. Later that year, he signed a five-year, $80 million deal with the Wizards.

Bertāns proved his mettle again in February 2021 when he scored a career-high of 35 points in a game against the Denver Nuggets. He made a significant career move in 2022 when he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks. This was followed by successive trades to Oklahoma City Thunder and Charlotte Hornets till he eventually signed with the newly formed Dubai BC of the ABA League in 2024.

Today, Bertāns is known not just for his stunning performances on the court but also his resilience off it, and his unwavering dedication and passion for the game. In his personal life, he had a stint with veganism, and currently maintains a dairy-free pescatarian diet. As for family lineage, his older brother, Dairis, also has a noteworthy career in basketball, while their father, Dainis, has a longstanding background in sports both as a player and a coach.

Undeniably, Dāvis Bertāns has established his legacy as an inspiring basketball professional, making significant contributions to the sport at both domestic and international levels.