Gert Kullamäe

Gert Kullamäe (born June 3, 1971) is a retired Estonian professional basketball player who mostly played in a shooting guard position and was a great 3-point shooter. Gert Kullamäe is seven-time Estonian Champion and USSR, Lithuanian, Belgian and Dutch champion. Currently he is the head coach of his last team Tartu Ülikool/Rock.

Kullamäe was born in Tallinn, Estonia, and made his senior club debut with TPI (Tallinn University of Technology) team in Estonian SSR Championship (today Korvpalli Meistriliiga). This happened in autumn 1985 when he was only 14 years and 4 months old. After some seasons, he signed with Tallinna Kalev team and he has played in USSR Championships; Korać Cup in 1990–91 and FIBA European Champions Cup in 1991–92.During this period Kullamäe won USSR Championship in 1991 and Estonian Championships in 1992 and 1993. Then he moved to Lithuanian BC Zalgiris and won the Lithuanian Championship in 1994. In Lithuania he was coached by Jaak Salumets,ex- coach of Tallinn "Kalev" and the Estonia national basketball team. After a successful season with the Lithuanian club Kullamäe came back to Estonia and played for "BC Kalev" and "Kamee" teams in Meistriliiga. He won the Estonian Championships again in 1995 and 1998. Eurobasket.com voted him a Meistriliiga MVP in 1998; 1999; 2000. Kullamäe signed a contract with Telindus Oostende in 2000–01 season and won the Belgian League with the team. After a serious knee injury and one season in an Estonian team "BC Hotronic" he moved back to Europe. Kullamäe signed to a Bundesliga team Brose Baskets. With this team he won two German Championships silver medals and then moved to EiffelTowers. Kullamäe was voted Dutch Eredivisie All-Bosman Player of the Year in 2005 and 2006, he also won the Dutch Championship in 2006. In summer of 2006 Kullamäe came back to Estonia and joined Tartu Ülikool/Rock. In 2007 and 2008 he won his 5th and 6th Estonian Championship title with Tartu team. He has also finished Baltic Basketball League on third place in 2008–09 season with Rock. In July 2009 he announced his retirement from active career and became an assistant coach in Tartu Rock. Kullamäe became head coach of Tartu in January 2012 after Indrek Visnapuu resigned.

In the late 80's young Gert Kullamäe was a member of the U-17 USSR Basketball team (coached by Modestas Paulauskas) and the U-19 USSR Basketball team (coached by Stanislav Eremin). He won bronze medal with the USSR team at the FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship in 1987. Kullamäe was a member of Estonia national basketball team in 1993–95; 1998–2001; 2004 and 2007(captain). His National team career-high score was 32 points against Lithuania in autumn 1994,during the EuroBasket 1995 qualifaying round. Kullamäe was also a member of the Estonian EuroBasket 1993 squad.

Orders

Order of the White Star, 5th Class: 2010