Linas Kleiza life and biography

Linas Kleiza is a Lithuanian professional basketball player with the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association. He is also a member of the Lithuanian national team. He can play either forward position. Kleiza signed a four year, $18.8 million contract in prior to the 2010–11 NBA season.

CAREER:

First-round draft choice (27th overall) by Portland in 2005; June 28, 2005: Draft rights traded by Portland with draft rights to forward Rudy Sanchez to Denver for draft rights to guard Jarrett Jack; August 10, 2009: Signed with Olympiakos of the Greek League; July 8, 2010: Signed an offer sheet with Toronto; July 26, 2010: Signed as a free agent by Toronto.

Has averaged 8.3 points and 3.5 rebounds in 301 regular season NBA games … Owns averages of 5.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 16.8 minutes in 12 playoff appearances … Has represented Lithuania in world competition … Averaged 11.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 18.6 minutes in eight games at the 2008 Beijing Olympics … Averaged 9.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 23.9 minutes in nine games for Lithuania at Eurobasket 07 – Europe’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament … Helped Lithuania finish third … Averaged 10.1 points and 5.6 rebounds for Lithuania at the 2006 FIBA World Championships … Played on the Lithuanian Junior National Team which took second place at the 2003 World Junior Championships … Led the tournament in scoring, averaging 29.1 points on .584 shooting in eight games … 2009-10 SEASON: Averaged 14.0 points and 5.1 rebounds in 31 regular-season appearances with Olympiakos … Shot .596 from the field, .374 from three-point range and .800 from the foul line … Scored in double figures in 26 games, with 20 or more on five occasions … Had a high of 27 points, with a season-best 3-5 3FG, against C.C. Marousi on Nov. 1 … Had 25 points and a season-high 13 rebounds Jan 3 vs. AEK … Posted double figures in rebounds in four games … In 22 Euroleague outings, contributed 17.1 points and 6.5 rebounds … Finished second in the league in scoring (19.7 points per game) in Euroleague regular season play … Scored in double figures in 21 of his 22 games … Topped 20 points in six contests … Had a high of 26 points in consecutive games against Assec Prokom on March 23 and 25 … Grabbed 10+ boards four times, with a high of 11 in three games … Made five-of-eight three-pointers Dec. 2 against Orleans … Was 14-of-16 from the charity stripe Nov. 26 versus Paritzan.

2008-09 :
Played in 82 games for Denver, averaging 9.9 points and 4.0 rebounds in 22.2 minutes … Started seven times … Only Nugget to appear every game . Scored in double figures 39 times, including eight games of 20+ points … Led the Nuggets in scoring five times and in rebounds twice … Grabbed his 1,000th career rebound at Dallas on Mar. 27 … Had 18 points and a season high-tying nine rebounds (3rd time) vs. Utah on Jan. 25 … Registered a season-high 27 points (11-17 FG) vs. Sacramento on Jan. 20 … Tallied 26 points and five rebounds in a season-high 37 minutes on Jan. 17 vs. Orlando … Scored his 2,000th career point at Atlanta on Dec. 29 … Notched 25 points (13-15 FT) vs. Milwaukee on Nov.18; his 13 FT makes and 15 FT attempts tied career-highs (2nd time each) ... Playoffs: Averaged 14.0 points and 6.5 rebounds in 30.5 minutes in four first-round games vs. the Los Angeles Lakers … Started the last three games … Shot .537 (22-41) from the field … Ranked fourth on the team in scoring and third in rebounding … Scored a career playoff-high 23 points off the bench in Game 1 …

COLLEGE :
Named Honorable Mention All-Big 12 by the league coaches as a sophomore … Earned All-Big 12 Tournament honours in 2005 after averaging 29.5 points and 9.0 rebounds in two games … As a sophomore, led team in scoring (16.1), rebounding (7.6) and minutes played (31.5) … Ranked ninth in the Big 12 in scoring and fifth in rebounding … In his freshman campaign, averaged 11.1 points and 8.4 rebounds in 23.1 minutes … Was the team’s third-leading scorer and top rebounder before missing the last 14 games of the season due to a dislocated right shoulder.

PERSONAL:
Has an older brother, Zilvinas … Speaks four languages: English, Lithuanian, Russian and German … Likes to watch TV and movies in his spare time … Parents moved to the U.S. in the mid-‘90s and he came over at the age of 16.

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