Quick Facts
Biography
Valdis Valters (born August 4, 1957) is a retired Latvian basketball player. A point guard for the USSR, he is regarded as one of the greatest to have played the game in Europe in the 1980s.
Basketball career
Valdis Valters first made his name in European basketball when he was named as the MVP of EuroBasket 1981 when he scored 16.7 ppg led his squad to championship. He was also on the All-Tournament team of EuroBasket 1985.
Valters played key role USSR team that won gold at 1982 FIBA World Championship in Colombia, when he was a starting guard and averaged 14.0ppg.
In 1986 FIBA World Championship, Valters helped Soviet Union to rally from a nine-point deficit in the final minute by scoring three-pointer at the end of regulation to send its semifinal against Yugoslavia to overtime and eventually earn a 91-90 win.
In 1992, when he already had ended playing at the pro level, Valters returned to the court and represented Latvian National Team at Qualifying tournament of 1992 Olympics.
He spent most of his club career playing for VEF Rīga. In 1982, he set USSR Premier Basketball League all-time record in points when he scored 69 against BC Dynamo Moscow.
Valters also worked as basketball coach and general manager. He founded his own basketball school, the Valtera Basketbola Skola (VBS), now known as Keizarmezs, whose alumni include NBA player Andris Biedriņš as well as other top Latvian players. He also helped to basketball league for Latvian youth players, the LJBL. Considering his lengthy work and deep connection, Valters has been one of the most influential persons in Latvian basketball.
Personal
Both of his sons, Kristaps and Sandis, are also basketball players.