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{{short description|Lithuanian basketball player}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Ovidijus Galdikas
| name = Ovidijus Galdikas
| image = PLK Ovidijus Galdikas Asseco Gdynia.jpg
| image = Ovidijus Galdikas (cropped).jpg
| image_size = 250
| image_size =
| caption =
| caption =Galdikas with [[Asseco Gdynia]] in 2014
| height_ft = 7
| height_ft = 7
| height_in = 2
| height_in = 2
| weight_lbs = 241
| weight_lbs = 241
| number =
| number =
| league = [[Polish Basketball League]]
| league =
| team = Wilki Morskie Szczecin
| team =
| position = [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| position = [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| nationality = Lithuanian
| nationality = Lithuanian
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|09|04}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|09|04|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Kaunas]], [[Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic|Lithuanian SSR]], [[Soviet Union]]
| birth_place = [[Kaunas]], [[Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic|Lithuanian SSR]], [[Soviet Union]]
| draft_year = 2010
| draft_year = 2010
| career_start = 2009
| career_start = 2009
| career_end =
| career_end = 2017
| career_number=5
| years1 = 2006–2007
| years1 = 2006–2007
| team1 = [[Žalgiris-Arvydas Sabonis school]]
| team1 = [[Žalgiris-Arvydas Sabonis school]]
Line 27: Line 29:
| years5 = 2013–2015
| years5 = 2013–2015
| team5 = [[Asseco Gdynia]]
| team5 = [[Asseco Gdynia]]
| years6 = 2015–present
| years6 = 2015–2016
| team6 = [[CB Gran Canaria|Herbalife Gran Canaria]]
| team6 = [[CB Gran Canaria|Gran Canaria]]
| years7 = 2016–present
| years7 = 2016
| team7 = →[[Wilki Morskie Szczecin]]
| team7 = →[[Wilki Morskie Szczecin]]
| years8 = 2016–2017
| team8 = [[BC Juventus|Juventus Utena]]
| years9 = 2017
| team9 = [[BC Prienai|Prienai–Birštonas]]
| highlights =
| highlights =
* [[Lithuanian Basketball League|Lithuanian League]] blocks leader ([[2016–17 LKL season|2017]])
| medaltemplates =
| medaltemplates =
}}
}}
'''Ovidijus Galdikas''' (born 4 September 1988) is a Lithuanian professional [[basketball]] player currently playing for [[Wilki Morskie Szczecin]] of the [[Polish Basketball League]], on loan from [[CB Gran Canaria|Herbalife Gran Canaria]].
'''Ovidijus Galdikas''' (born 4 September 1988) is a Lithuanian former professional [[basketball]] player.


==Career==
==Career==
Line 40: Line 47:
Galdikas spent 2006-07 training with the Žalgiris-Arvydas Sabonis school but, after suffering a broken arm, he stopped playing basketball at the behest of his mother and spent the next two years working various menial jobs to support his family.
Galdikas spent 2006-07 training with the Žalgiris-Arvydas Sabonis school but, after suffering a broken arm, he stopped playing basketball at the behest of his mother and spent the next two years working various menial jobs to support his family.


In around 2009, basketball agent Šarūnas Broga (his current agent) and Klemensas Patiejūnas (a Lithuanian basketball player who was playing in France at that time) started hearing stories of a 7 footer in Kaunas who wasn't playing basketball anywhere. Having found Galdikas, they realised that he wasn't yet ready for professional basketball and started working with him. Klemensas took him to France and, upon his return, Galdikas joined Vilnius KM-Magnus (a third-tier club) during the 2009–10 season, where he averaged 21.2 points, 10.9 rebounds. Next season, he moved up a tier to Anykščiai Puntukas and averaged 14.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3 blocks.<ref>[http://www.basketnews.lt/news-29842-milzinas-jaukinasi-krepsinio-kamuoli.html Giant starting again with basketball ball] {{lt icon}}</ref>
In around 2009, basketball agent Šarūnas Broga (his current agent) and Klemensas Patiejūnas (a Lithuanian basketball player who was playing in France at that time) started hearing stories of a 7 footer in Kaunas who wasn't playing basketball anywhere. Having found Galdikas, they realised that he wasn't yet ready for professional basketball and started working with him. Klemensas took him to France and, upon his return, Galdikas joined Vilnius KM-Magnus (a third-tier club) during the 2009–10 season, where he averaged 21.2 points, 10.9 rebounds. Next season, he moved up a tier to Anykščiai Puntukas and averaged 14.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3 blocks.<ref>[http://www.basketnews.lt/news-29842-milzinas-jaukinasi-krepsinio-kamuoli.html Giant starting again with basketball ball] {{in lang|lt}}</ref>


He missed the 2011-12 season due to injuries. In 2012 he joined [[BC Šiauliai|Šiauliai]].<ref>[http://www.basketnews.lt/news-53144-siauliai-sukirto-rankomis-su-galdiku.html Šiauliai signs Galdikas] {{lt icon}}</ref> However, the team didn't give him much playing time as they also had the more experienced [[Papa Dia (basketball)|Papa Dia]].
He missed the 2011-12 season due to injuries. In 2012 he joined [[BC Šiauliai|Šiauliai]].<ref>[http://www.basketnews.lt/news-53144-siauliai-sukirto-rankomis-su-galdiku.html Šiauliai signs Galdikas] {{in lang|lt}}</ref> However, the team didn't give him much playing time as they also had the more experienced [[Papa Dia (basketball)|Papa Dia]].


According to reports, the [[New York Knicks|Knicks]] have been watching him for over 3 years, and Knicks' president visited Šiauliai during the 2012-13 season to meet with Galdikas and watch him play, however, Galdikas was injured at the time<ref>[http://www.lrytas.lt/sportas/krepsinis/siauliu-aukstaugiui-o-galdikui-sezonas-jau-baigtas.htm Season is done for Ovidijus Galdikas] {{lt icon}}</ref>). In August 2013, the [[New York Knicks]] again showed interest in Galdikas, describing him as a 'diamond in the rough' and the 'third best Lithuanian center after [[Jonas Valančiūnas]] and [[Donatas Motiejūnas]].<ref>[http://www.15min.lt/naujiena/sportas/krepsinis/new-york-knicks-apie-ovidiju-galdika-atradome-neslifuota-deimanta-23-360272 New York Knicks about Ovidijus Galdikas: we found uncut diamond] {{lt icon}}</ref>
According to reports, the [[New York Knicks|Knicks]] have been watching him for over 3 years, and Knicks' president visited Šiauliai during the 2012-13 season to meet with Galdikas and watch him play, however, Galdikas was injured at the time<ref>[https://archive.today/20130811141803/http://www.lrytas.lt/sportas/krepsinis/siauliu-aukstaugiui-o-galdikui-sezonas-jau-baigtas.htm Season is done for Ovidijus Galdikas] {{in lang|lt}}</ref>). In August 2013, the [[New York Knicks]] again showed interest in Galdikas, describing him as a 'diamond in the rough' and the 'third best Lithuanian center after [[Jonas Valančiūnas]] and [[Donatas Motiejūnas]].<ref>[http://www.15min.lt/naujiena/sportas/krepsinis/new-york-knicks-apie-ovidiju-galdika-atradome-neslifuota-deimanta-23-360272 New York Knicks about Ovidijus Galdikas: we found uncut diamond] {{in lang|lt}}</ref>


During the 2014-2015 season he was scoring 11.2 points (74% FG), grabbing 10 rebounds and blocking 2.6 shots, while representing [[Asseco Gdynia]] club in [[Polish Basketball League|Poland]]. Following it, he decided to participate in the [[NBA Summer League]] to seek his dream of representing NBA club.<ref>{{cite web|title=O.Galdikas mėgins praverti NBA duris|url=http://www.krepsinis.net/naujiena/o-galdikas-megins-praverti-nba-duris/251071|website=Krepsinis.net|accessdate=1 June 2015}}</ref> He represented the [[New York Knicks]] in the [[2015 NBA Summer League|NBA Summer League]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Galdikas vasarą bandys prasibrauti į „Knicks“ (video)|url=http://www.basketnews.lt/news-86079-galdikas-vasara-bandys-prasibrauti-i-knicks-video.html|website=BasketNews.lt|accessdate=5 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Urbonas|first1=Donatas|title=Ovidijaus Galdiko stažuotė „Knicks“ – pokalbis su Carmelo Anthony ir kontaktas su Philu Jacksonu|url=http://www.15min.lt/24sek/naujiena/lietuva/ovidijaus-galdiko-stazuote-knicks-pokalbis-su-carmelo-anthony-ir-kontaktas-su-philu-jacksonu-875-521691|website=24sek.lt|accessdate=16 August 2015}}</ref>
During the 2014-2015 season he was scoring 11.2 points (74% FG), grabbing 10 rebounds and blocking 2.6 shots, while representing [[Asseco Gdynia]] club in [[Polish Basketball League|Poland]]. Following it, he decided to participate in the [[NBA Summer League]] to seek his dream of representing NBA club.<ref>{{cite web|title=O.Galdikas mėgins praverti NBA duris|url=http://www.krepsinis.net/naujiena/o-galdikas-megins-praverti-nba-duris/251071|website=Krepsinis.net|accessdate=1 June 2015}}</ref> He represented the [[New York Knicks]] in the [[2015 NBA Summer League|NBA Summer League]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Galdikas vasarą bandys prasibrauti į "Knicks" (video)|url=http://www.basketnews.lt/news-86079-galdikas-vasara-bandys-prasibrauti-i-knicks-video.html|website=BasketNews.lt|accessdate=5 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Urbonas|first1=Donatas|title=Ovidijaus Galdiko stažuotė "Knicks" – pokalbis su Carmelo Anthony ir kontaktas su Philu Jacksonu|url=http://www.15min.lt/24sek/naujiena/lietuva/ovidijaus-galdiko-stazuote-knicks-pokalbis-su-carmelo-anthony-ir-kontaktas-su-philu-jacksonu-875-521691|website=24sek.lt|accessdate=16 August 2015}}</ref>


On August 29, 2015, Galdikas signed with the Spanish team [[CB Gran Canaria|Herbalife Gran Canaria]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Ovidijus Galdikas is the last big man for Herbalife Gran Canaria|url=http://cbgrancanaria.net/noticias/english-news/ovidijus-galdikas-is-the-last-big-man-for-herbalife-gran-canaria/|work=cbgrancanaria.net|date=August 30, 2015}}</ref> He debuted by scoring 10 points, grabbing 4 rebounds and blocking 6 shots.<ref>{{cite web|title=O.Galdikas „Gran Canaria“ debiutavo 6 blokais|url=http://www.krepsinis.net/naujiena/o-galdikas-gran-canaria-debiutavo-6-blokais/254001|website=Krepsinis.net|accessdate=12 September 2015}}</ref>
On August 29, 2015, Galdikas signed with the Spanish team [[CB Gran Canaria|Herbalife Gran Canaria]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Ovidijus Galdikas is the last big man for Herbalife Gran Canaria|url=http://cbgrancanaria.net/noticias/english-news/ovidijus-galdikas-is-the-last-big-man-for-herbalife-gran-canaria/|work=cbgrancanaria.net|date=August 30, 2015}}</ref> He debuted by scoring 10 points, grabbing 4 rebounds and blocking 6 shots.<ref>{{cite web|title=O.Galdikas "Gran Canaria" debiutavo 6 blokais|url=http://www.krepsinis.net/naujiena/o-galdikas-gran-canaria-debiutavo-6-blokais/254001|website=Krepsinis.net|accessdate=12 September 2015}}</ref>

On 19 February 2016, Gran Canaria announced Galdikas would be loaned to Polish club [[Wilki Morskie Szczecin]] until the end of the [[2015–16 PLK season]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acb.com/redaccion.php?id=120413|title=Ovidijus Galdikas, cedido al King Wilki Morskie Szczecin|date=19 February 2016|language=Spanish|publisher=ACB.com}}</ref> Gran Canaria later released Galdikas. After a successful season with [[BC Juventus|Juventus Utena]] in 2016–17, Galdikas signed with [[BC Prienai|Vytautas Prienai–Birštonas]], but was released after a few games in September 2017. In October 2017, he retired from professional basketball for health reasons.<ref>{{cite web|title=O.Galdikas paskelbė apie karjeros pabaigą|url=http://www.krepsinis.net/naujiena/o-galdikas-paskelbe-apie-karjeros-pabaiga/278639|website=krepsinis.net|accessdate=17 October 2017|language=lt-LT|date=16 October 2017}}</ref>


On 19 February 2016, Gran Canaria announced Galdikas would be loaned to Polish club [[Wilki Morskie Szczecin]] until the end of the [[2015–16 PLK season]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acb.com/redaccion.php?id=120413|title=Ovidijus Galdikas, cedido al King Wilki Morskie Szczecin|date=19 February 2016|language=Spanish|publisher=ACB.com}}</ref>
==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Prior to becoming famous for his actions on the court, Galdikas appeared in the Lithuanian media because of his relationship with and subsequent marriage to an underage girl to avoid facing charges for statutory rape. He was 19 at the time and his wife, at 15 years old, was the youngest bride in Lithuania in 2008.<ref>[http://gatve.delfi.lt/news/veidai/vaiku-darzelis-jauniausia-lietuvos-nuotaka.d?id=16536971 Preschool: youngest Lithuanian wife] {{lt icon}}</ref>
Prior to becoming famous for his actions on the court, Galdikas appeared in the Lithuanian media because of his relationship with and subsequent marriage to an underage girl to avoid facing charges for statutory rape. He was 19 at the time and his wife, at 15 years old, was the youngest bride in Lithuania in 2008.<ref>[http://gatve.delfi.lt/news/veidai/vaiku-darzelis-jauniausia-lietuvos-nuotaka.d?id=16536971 Preschool: youngest Lithuanian wife] {{in lang|lt}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:1988 births]]
[[Category:1988 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Basketball players from Kaunas]]
[[Category:BC Juventus players]]
[[Category:CB Gran Canaria players]]
[[Category:CB Gran Canaria players]]
[[Category:Centers (basketball)]]
[[Category:Centers (basketball)]]
[[Category:Liga ACB players]]
[[Category:Liga ACB players]]
[[Category:Lithuanian basketball players]]
[[Category:Lithuanian expatriate basketball people in Poland]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Kaunas]]
[[Category:Lithuanian expatriate basketball people in Spain]]
[[Category:Lithuanian men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Wilki Morskie Szczecin players]]

Latest revision as of 16:20, 3 June 2024

Ovidijus Galdikas
Galdikas with Asseco Gdynia in 2014
Personal information
Born (1988-09-04) 4 September 1988 (age 36)
Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union
NationalityLithuanian
Listed height7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)
Listed weight241 lb (109 kg)
Career information
NBA draft2010: undrafted
Playing career2009–2017
PositionCenter
Number5
Career history
2006–2007Žalgiris-Arvydas Sabonis school
2009–2010KM-Magnus Vilnius
2010–2011Puntukas Anykščiai
2012–2013Šiauliai
2013–2015Asseco Gdynia
2015–2016Gran Canaria
2016Wilki Morskie Szczecin
2016–2017Juventus Utena
2017Prienai–Birštonas
Career highlights and awards

Ovidijus Galdikas (born 4 September 1988) is a Lithuanian former professional basketball player.

Career

[edit]

Galdikas spent 2006-07 training with the Žalgiris-Arvydas Sabonis school but, after suffering a broken arm, he stopped playing basketball at the behest of his mother and spent the next two years working various menial jobs to support his family.

In around 2009, basketball agent Šarūnas Broga (his current agent) and Klemensas Patiejūnas (a Lithuanian basketball player who was playing in France at that time) started hearing stories of a 7 footer in Kaunas who wasn't playing basketball anywhere. Having found Galdikas, they realised that he wasn't yet ready for professional basketball and started working with him. Klemensas took him to France and, upon his return, Galdikas joined Vilnius KM-Magnus (a third-tier club) during the 2009–10 season, where he averaged 21.2 points, 10.9 rebounds. Next season, he moved up a tier to Anykščiai Puntukas and averaged 14.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3 blocks.[1]

He missed the 2011-12 season due to injuries. In 2012 he joined Šiauliai.[2] However, the team didn't give him much playing time as they also had the more experienced Papa Dia.

According to reports, the Knicks have been watching him for over 3 years, and Knicks' president visited Šiauliai during the 2012-13 season to meet with Galdikas and watch him play, however, Galdikas was injured at the time[3]). In August 2013, the New York Knicks again showed interest in Galdikas, describing him as a 'diamond in the rough' and the 'third best Lithuanian center after Jonas Valančiūnas and Donatas Motiejūnas.[4]

During the 2014-2015 season he was scoring 11.2 points (74% FG), grabbing 10 rebounds and blocking 2.6 shots, while representing Asseco Gdynia club in Poland. Following it, he decided to participate in the NBA Summer League to seek his dream of representing NBA club.[5] He represented the New York Knicks in the NBA Summer League.[6][7]

On August 29, 2015, Galdikas signed with the Spanish team Herbalife Gran Canaria.[8] He debuted by scoring 10 points, grabbing 4 rebounds and blocking 6 shots.[9]

On 19 February 2016, Gran Canaria announced Galdikas would be loaned to Polish club Wilki Morskie Szczecin until the end of the 2015–16 PLK season.[10] Gran Canaria later released Galdikas. After a successful season with Juventus Utena in 2016–17, Galdikas signed with Vytautas Prienai–Birštonas, but was released after a few games in September 2017. In October 2017, he retired from professional basketball for health reasons.[11]

Personal life

[edit]

Prior to becoming famous for his actions on the court, Galdikas appeared in the Lithuanian media because of his relationship with and subsequent marriage to an underage girl to avoid facing charges for statutory rape. He was 19 at the time and his wife, at 15 years old, was the youngest bride in Lithuania in 2008.[12]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Giant starting again with basketball ball (in Lithuanian)
  2. ^ Šiauliai signs Galdikas (in Lithuanian)
  3. ^ Season is done for Ovidijus Galdikas (in Lithuanian)
  4. ^ New York Knicks about Ovidijus Galdikas: we found uncut diamond (in Lithuanian)
  5. ^ "O.Galdikas mėgins praverti NBA duris". Krepsinis.net. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  6. ^ "Galdikas vasarą bandys prasibrauti į "Knicks" (video)". BasketNews.lt. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  7. ^ Urbonas, Donatas. "Ovidijaus Galdiko stažuotė "Knicks" – pokalbis su Carmelo Anthony ir kontaktas su Philu Jacksonu". 24sek.lt. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  8. ^ "Ovidijus Galdikas is the last big man for Herbalife Gran Canaria". cbgrancanaria.net. August 30, 2015.
  9. ^ "O.Galdikas "Gran Canaria" debiutavo 6 blokais". Krepsinis.net. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  10. ^ "Ovidijus Galdikas, cedido al King Wilki Morskie Szczecin" (in Spanish). ACB.com. 19 February 2016.
  11. ^ "O.Galdikas paskelbė apie karjeros pabaigą". krepsinis.net (in Lithuanian). 16 October 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  12. ^ Preschool: youngest Lithuanian wife (in Lithuanian)