1. Overview
Gintaras Einikis (born September 30, 1969) is a Lithuanian retired professional basketball player and current coach. Standing at 82 in (208 cm), he primarily played as a center and occasionally as a power forward. Einikis holds a unique record in Lithuanian basketball history, being the only player from the Lithuanian national team to have won three consecutive bronze medals at the Summer Olympics in Barcelona (1992), Atlanta (1996), and Sydney (2000). Throughout his career, he played for numerous clubs in Lithuania and internationally, achieving significant success including multiple Lithuanian championships and a ULEB Cup title. However, his public image has also been shaped by several notable controversies and legal issues.
2. Early Life and Professional Debut
2.1. Birth and Background
Gintaras Einikis was born on September 30, 1969.
2.2. Early Professional Career
Einikis began his professional basketball career in 1987, joining BC Žalgiris at the age of 18. He was brought in to replace his injured teammate, the legendary Arvydas Sabonis. During his early tenure with Žalgiris, Einikis quickly established himself as a strong and aggressive defender, an excellent center, and a surprisingly accurate three-point shooter. Following Sabonis' departure from Žalgiris, Einikis continued his career as a regular starter for the team.
3. Club Career
Gintaras Einikis's club career spanned over two decades, marked by transitions between Lithuanian and international leagues, and culminating in significant team achievements.
3.1. Žalgiris and Early Success (1987-1995)
Einikis started his professional journey with BC Žalgiris in 1987. During this period, he solidified his position as a key player, contributing to Žalgiris's dominance in Lithuanian basketball. His early successes with the club included multiple Lithuanian League titles.
3.2. International Club Transitions (1995-2000)
In 1995, Einikis transitioned to international basketball, joining Avtodor Saratov. After a period of strong performance with Avtodor, he moved to CSKA Moscow. Following two relatively moderate seasons with CSKA, he played for Idea-Slask (now Śląsk Wrocław). During his time at Śląsk, he averaged 9 points per game and 4.4 rebounds per game in 22 minutes per game of EuroLeague action. After a tumultuous first half of the season with Śląsk, he departed the team and signed with the Greek club Near East to conclude the season.
3.3. Return to Lithuania and Later Career (2000-2006)
Following his stints in international leagues, Einikis returned to Lithuania, rejoining BC Žalgiris. During this second period with Žalgiris, he made more substantial contributions to the team. In the later stages of his career, while his statistical averages saw a drastic decline, he played a vital role in helping Lietuvos Rytas win the ULEB Cup (now EuroCup) championship in 2005. He announced his retirement from professional basketball after the 2005-06 season.
3.4. Second Comeback and Retirement (2009-2010)
After a brief hiatus from the sport, Gintaras Einikis made a comeback to professional basketball in 2009, playing for Naglis-Adakris. His second tenure in the sport was short-lived, as he retired for a second and final time after the 2009-10 season.
4. Career Statistics
4.1. EuroLeague
Key statistical figures for Gintaras Einikis's performances in the EuroLeague are presented below.
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG | PIR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-02 | Wrocław | 9 | 7 | 22.1 | .437 | .182 | .765 | 4.4 | .8 | .6 | .6 | 9.0 | 6.9 |
| 2002-03 | Žalgiris | 14 | 12 | 26.0 | .530 | .444 | .750 | 4.9 | .6 | .7 | .4 | 13.0 | 10.9 |
| 2004-05 | Unicaja | 8 | 1 | 10.0 | .563 | .222 | .500 | 1.4 | .0 | .3 | .1 | 3.1 | 2.3 |
5. National Team Career
Gintaras Einikis holds a unique distinction in the history of the Lithuanian national team. He is the only player to have earned all three consecutive bronze medals at the Summer Olympics that Lithuania secured. This remarkable feat was achieved at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, and the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. Beyond his Olympic achievements, Einikis also represented Lithuania at EuroBasket 1995, where the team earned a silver medal.
6. Coaching Career
After his retirement as a player, Gintaras Einikis transitioned into coaching. On February 10, 2016, it was officially announced that he had joined Avtodor Saratov as an assistant coach.
7. Awards and Achievements
Gintaras Einikis accumulated a significant number of individual awards and team championships throughout his distinguished playing career.
7.1. Pro Clubs
- 6× Lithuanian Champion:
- Lithuanian SSR Champion: 1991
- Lithuanian Champion: 1992, 1993
- Lithuanian League (LKL) Champion: 1994, 1995, 2003
- 2× Lithuanian League MVP: 1994, 1995
- 2× Lithuanian League Finals MVP: 1994, 1995
- FIBA EuroStar: 1997
- Russian League Champion: 2000
- Polish League Champion: 2004
- ULEB Cup (EuroCup) Champion: 2005
- FIBA EuroCup All-Star (FIBA EuroChallenge All-Star): 2006
- Czech League Champion: 2006
7.2. Lithuanian Senior National Team
- 1992 Summer Olympics: Bronze medal
- EuroBasket 1995: Silver medal
- 1996 Summer Olympics: Bronze medal
- 2000 Summer Olympics: Bronze medal
8. Controversies and Legal Issues
Gintaras Einikis's career has been marked by several significant controversies and legal issues that have impacted his public image.
8.1. Incidents Prior to 2011
In 2008, Einikis was involved in an altercation with staff at a nightclub. He was reported to have yelled insults, made threats of physical harm, and refused to leave the establishment. For his conduct, he and a friend were fined 3.00 K LTL. Following this incident, Einikis was observed driving away from the club in his Volkswagen Touareg. It was subsequently discovered that his driving license had been revoked a year prior due to his involvement in a hit-and-run accident. For driving without a valid license, he faced an additional fine of 2.50 K LTL. During the investigation into the hit-and-run, there was speculation that he was under the influence of cocaine, and police reportedly discovered cocaine powder in his vehicle.
8.2. Incidents from 2011 Onwards
In 2011, Einikis was arrested and charged after an incident where he threatened to kill a friend by setting her house on fire. At the time of the incident, he was heavily intoxicated, with his blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) recorded at 5.11 per mil. In July 2012, shortly after marrying his long-time friend Jurgita, Einikis was involved in another legal incident when he physically assaulted his wife while under the influence of alcohol.
9. Personal Life
Gintaras Einikis married his long-time friend Jurgita in July 2012. However, shortly after their marriage, public reports indicated an incident of domestic violence involving Einikis and his wife while he was intoxicated.
10. Legacy and Evaluation
Gintaras Einikis is remembered for his distinct playing style, characterized by his strength and aggressiveness as a defender, his effectiveness as a center, and, notably, his surprisingly accurate three-point shooting during his early career. His most significant and enduring legacy lies in his unique achievement with the Lithuanian national team, where he remains the only player to have won three consecutive bronze medals at the Summer Olympics in 1992, 1996, and 2000. This accomplishment firmly establishes his place in Lithuanian basketball history. Despite his considerable on-court successes and contributions to the national team, Einikis's career and public image have been significantly affected by a series of well-documented controversies and legal issues, including altercations, driving offenses, suspected substance abuse, and domestic violence. These incidents remain a prominent and often discussed aspect of his overall evaluation and public perception.