ASK Rīga is a former professional basketball club that was based in

Riga Riga ( ) is the capital, Primate city, primate, and List of cities and towns in Latvia, largest city of Latvia. Home to 591,882 inhabitants (as of 2025), the city accounts for a third of Latvia's total population. The population of Riga Planni ...

Latvia Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia, is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is one of the three Baltic states, along with Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south. It borders Russia to the east and Belarus to t ...

. "ASK" stood for "Armijas Sporta Klubs" (in English: Army Sports Club).

History

BK Rīga was then founded in 2004 as an attempt to revive the defunct club

Rīgas ASK Rīgas Armijas Sporta Klubs was a professional basketball club that was based in Riga, Latvia. History Rīgas ASK was founded in 1931, and started playing in the Latvian Basketball Championship. In the years that Latvia was controlled by the Sovi ...

which was founded in 1931 and considered the most successful Latvian club on international level. BK Riga got back the original name of ASK Rīga on March 23, 2006, which was supported by the

Riga City Council Riga City Council () is the government of the city of Riga, the capital of Latvia. Its meeting place is in the Riga Town Hall (''Rīgas rātsnams)'' at the Town Hall Square (''Rātslaukums'') in the very heart of Riga. The Riga City Council con ...

, the National Latvian Army Forces, and some powerful sponsors, as well as the brand new

Arēna Rīga Xiaomi Arena, formerly known as Arena Riga () is an indoor arena in Riga, Latvia. It is primarily used for ice hockey, basketball and concerts. Arena Riga holds a maximum of 14,500 and was opened on 15 February 2006. It was built to be used as ...

, with room for 12,500 fans. The team then made it to both the

Baltic League The Baltic League (officially known as the Triobet Baltic League) was a Baltic men's football club tournament held four times between the top club sides from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Launched in 2007 inspired by the now defunct Scandinavi ...

and the FIBA EuroCup quarterfinals, but the best was yet to come. The arrival of Torraye Braggs happened to be the key piece in a roster already featuring

Sandis Valters Sandis Valters (born 31 August 1978) is a retired professional basketball shooting guard, who last played for BK Ventspils. He is member of Latvia national basketball team. His father is a former Soviet basketball star, Valdis Valters, and his ...

, Raitis Grafs,

Curtis Millage Curtis Millage (born May 4, 1981) is an American professional basketball player for who last played for AZS Koszalin of the Polish Basketball League. He played college basketball for Arizona State. At and , he usually plays as a point guard, but ...

A.J. Bramlett Aaron Jordan Bramlett (born January 10, 1977) is an American former professional basketball player. Bramlett was a three-year letterman at La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, leading the Bears to a state championship in 1994. He c ...

, and

Sandis Buškevics Sandis Buškevics (born 28 January 1977 in Ventspils, Latvia) is a Latvian professional basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, c ...

. ASK won the best-of-seven 2006–07 Latvian League finals 4–2, and started a new era for the club, breaking

BK Ventspils BK Ventspils is a professional basketball club that is located in Ventspils, Latvia. The club competes in the Latvian-Estonian Basketball League. History BK Ventspils was founded in 1994. In first years Ventspils proved themselves as relevant p ...

's seven-year Latvian League dynasty. ASK hosted the EuroCup's 2007–08 opening game, but a plague of injuries did not allow the team to reach the competition's elimination rounds. In that season same 2007–08 season, ASK Rīga finished fourth in the

, and also finished in 3rd place in the Latvian League. The 2008–09 season was the last season of ASK Rīga to date.

Arena

ASK Rīga played its home games at the 12,500 seat

Honours

Domestic competitions

* Latvian League : Winners (1): 2006–07

Notable players

(28) *

Dairis Bertāns Dairis Bertāns (born 9 September 1989) is a Latvian professional basketball player for VEF Rīga of the Latvian–Estonian Basketball League. Bertāns also plays for the Latvia national basketball team. He is the older brother of Dāvis Bert� ...

(45) *

Gatis Jahovičs Gatis Jahovičs (born August 11, 1984) is a Latvian former professional basketball player. He last played for BK Liepājas Lauvas in LBL. He is 2.00 m (6 ft 6.75 in) and a small forward The small forward (SF), also known as the three, is ...

(9) *

Kaspars Kambala Kaspars Kambala (born 13 December 1978) is a Latvian former professional basketball player and a former professional boxer. Standing at , he plays at the position of forward-center. High school A 1997 graduate of Homestead High School in Mequo ...

(34) *

Roberts Štelmahers Roberts Štelmahers (born November 19, 1974) is a Latvian professional basketball coach and former player who played the point guard position. He is the current head coach for Czarni Słupsk of the Polish Basketball League (PLK). Štelmahers w ...

(7) *

(10) *

Arnis Vecvagars (15) * Flag of Latvia

Uģis Viļums Uģis Viļums (born 28 July 1979 in Saldus, Latvian SSR) is a former Latvian professional basketball guard, who played for Barons LMT. He was member of the Latvia men's national basketball team The Latvia men's national basketball team () ...

(7) *

Uvis Helmanis (4) * Flag of Latvia

Raitis Grafs (5) * Flag of Latvia

Ernests Kalve (11) * Flag of Latvia

Aigars Vītols (55) * Flag of Lithuania

Darius Lukminas * Flag of Lithuania

Martynas Andriukaitis Martynas Andriukaitis (March 28, 1981 – September 4, 2014) was a Lithuanian professional basketball player. He was born in Kaunas. Professional career During his pro club career, Andriukaitis won the Lithuanian League championship (2001), an ...

(13) *

Steponas Babrauskas Steponas Babrauskas (born June 20, 1984) is a Lithuanian professional basketball coach and former player. He currently serves as assistant coach at CBet Jonava. Professional career Babrauskas was a runner-up in the Lithuanian Basketball League ...

(11) *

Vytautas Danelius * Flag of Lithuania

Marius Runkauskas (10) * Flag of Lithuania

Andrius Mažutis Andrius Mažutis (born April 21, 1981) is a retired Lithuanian professional basketball player. Standing at 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in), Mažutis used to play as point guard The point guard (PG), also called the one or the point, is one of the ...

(12) *

Milutin Aleksić (7) * Flag of Croatia

Bruno Šundov (14) * Flag of Slovenia

Marko Antonijević * Flag of Slovenia

Smiljan Pavič * Flag of the United States

Rodney Billups (4) * Flag of the United States

Torraye Braggs (32) * Flag of the United States

A. J. Bramlett (42) * Flag of the United States

Corey L. Brewer (31) * Flag of the United States

Dwayne Broyles (8) * Flag of the United States

Ricardo Marsh (21) * Flag of the United States

(14) *

Aerick Sanders (34) * Flag of the United States

Sean Colson Sean Tyree Colson (born July 1, 1975) is an American former professional basketball player. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At a height of tall, he played at the point guard position. College career Colson attended the University of ...

(8) * List of ASK Rīga players

Notable coaches

Ramunas Butautas * Flag of Lithuania

Donaldas Kairys * Flag of Latvia

Raimonds Miglinieks Raimonds Miglinieks (born 16 July 1970) is a Latvian former professional basketball player and coach. Standing at a height of 1.90 m (6'2 ") tall, he was a point guard with excellent court vision. College career Miglinieks played college basketba ...

Notes

References

External links

EuroCup Team PageBaltic League Team PageLatvian League Team Page
{{Authority control Basketball teams in Latvia Sport in Riga Basketball teams established in 1929 Basketball teams established in 2005 Basketball teams in the Soviet Union