After spending 15 years in the national men’s basketball team, team captain Dairis Bertāns ended his career in the national team in 2025. He himself says that it is a celebratory event. And he specifically expresses that this time we should not expect a return to the national team similar to the step of hockey player Kaspars Daugavinas. The movie “Stream”, the death of Kārļis Bardeļs and the widespread protests in Dom square against withdrawing from the convention on the prevention of violence – these are the events that Dairis highlights in the “Question of the Year” or “Review of the Year’s Events” interview produced by the Latvian Television News Service.
Anete Bērtule: He played the last game in the national team, but he will always remain the captain – Dairis Bertāns, greetings!
Dair Bertans: Hello!
Over time, the years usually merge, and so we put some reference points. Will this always be the year you stopped playing for the national team?
Yes, that’s right! When it comes to such important events of the year, I think, in my own context, as you mentioned, it’s something I’ll never forget. 2025, its an arena game. The emotions, the love of the audience that I received, it will always, always be remembered.
Despite the fact that it is the end of something big, will these be positive memories of this year?
Of course, I look at it only positively, because even before that, when I had already announced that it would be my last match for the national team, people didn’t know what to wish me – whether it’s sad or something… But I say – no, no, it’s not a sad event, it’s a celebratory event. We really celebrated, celebrating the 15 years I have played for the national team. And yes, always in life one door closes and another opens.
I am really excited about the next door that will open or that I will open.
Usually, when talking about the last game, you should ask about the first. I will not ask if you remember, because I have no doubt that you do. How quickly has time passed since then?
I’ll be honest, very quickly. Very fast. Maybe it doesn’t feel like that in the process, let’s say, playing in the national team year after year. But now, looking back on those 15 years, it really has gone by in the blink of an eye.
Although it is not a little…
… it’s not little, it’s a lot. It’s almost, in a way, if we count youth national teams, more than half of my life now.
You have already said several times that if you could, you would like to play for a long time, another 10-15 years. And it must be said that in sports there have been cases, for example in hockey, when we see someone play what seems to be the last game, and then…
… and I even know what you’re talking about.
This will not be the case?
No, this one won’t. Yes, also, when congratulating me, Kaspars Daugavins directly mentioned – if I decide to return, he will definitely help me with advice, but, no, this is not the case.
Not everyone with a lot of experience becomes the captain of the team, the one who inspires the rest of the team. In fact, not only not all, but very few become such. Do you understand what it is in you that has allowed you to be the captain these years?
It’s hard for me to say. In any case, it’s not something I would do or think about on purpose. It’s just an attitude. First of all, humanity towards others, also definitely work. I have always believed that a lot can be achieved by example – that you don’t talk and tell someone what should be done, but actually go and do it yourself.
Let’s just say that kind of leadership by example is what I think has been the main reason why the coach and the coaches have chosen me to captain the team.
And with all the fact that you also see these qualities, you still do not consider being a coach?
No, I’m not considering, because being a coach has one very big problem – there are even fewer coaches at home than players. Let’s say, after this stage, when it will be completely over, then I really want to be more at home with my family, with my children. So that [būt par] I don’t consider coaches. Let’s see what happens next.
With the distance of time, it will certainly not be so important anymore, but at the moment I believe that I would have liked that both the last game was more successful and even more – European Championship at the end of summer right here in Riga. Of course, the expectations of the audience were high after the World Championship. It’s human, it always happens, but it doesn’t help on the field, does it?
I wouldn’t say it doesn’t help. Apply extra pressure. On the one hand, it’s cool, and I think it’s a privilege to have that expectation, to be expected to win. Because that means there’s some basis for it, that it’s not just some utopian fantasy. In that sense, of course, it’s a pity. Not only for the audience, but for ourselves, we had very big, let’s say, big goals. But, well, yeah… it’s a sport, it’s basketball. You can never, never and not always predict or expect and know what will happen. Because in the same World Cup, let’s say, that game with France – it was one shot and a very close shot, so we might not get anywhere further. And then there wouldn’t be everything else that comes from it. That’s what sports are – sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.
Better for fans to wait than not. Have there been such times?
Of course, of course, as I said, it’s really a privilege to be counted among the favorites and to be expected to win them. Not when, yes, there have been times when we go into the game with the idea that everyone already knows roughly that they will lose. And then come to see what will be here. It really is such a nice thing.
If we look outside of basketball. Both you and your brother (basketball player Dāvis Bertāns – ed.) you have also participated in the Latvian Public Media charity marathon “Give Five!” – one hundred euros for every three-point shot made at the Bertāns Valmiera basketball school during this charity period. And both that and, in fact, a lot of other things suggest that you personally don’t care what happens in the country even outside the sports field. In this past year, what are the events that have offended the most – either irritated or angered?
Yes, actually before this conversation I thought a little, I went through the year, what has happened, let’s say, outside of sports. We must definitely mention our success in the cultural field and the “Oscar” for the film “Straume”. I think it is unique not only this year, but I would say that in the last hundred years or in the history of Latvia in general, it is a fantastic success. It’s definitely a big event.
What can be an irritation… Also in a sense, of course, a big event that gathered quite a lot of people in Old Riga for protests. What made me happy is that we, Latvians, really, when there is something big and something important that we want to say or show, we can do it. At a time when, perhaps, when we in the Saeima, in the government, should decide on much more important matters, such as adopting the budget, on defense, education and many other matters, in my opinion, time is being wasted on negotiations about withdrawing from the Istanbul Convention. It is simply absurd, to say the least.
But I’m glad that the society, the people, showed their opinion, their position and in some way slowed down the event.
And what else would I like to mention? Perhaps a somewhat sad event, but very recently the world traveler Kārlis Bardelis, whom I also had the honor of knowing and meeting and talking to him a couple of times, has passed away. And he has been a great source of inspiration for me, and I think for a lot of people, with his humanity, with his simplicity, the way he inspires people. I think even now that he’s not here, he continues to do that. This time, too, I would like to express my condolences to all his relatives and friends. May it be easy for Karl!
Accountants draw their balances at the end of the year, what kind of balance do you have, positive?
Balance… Of course, I am always a positive person by nature. I always focus on the good, positive things. So always, of course, despite the things that any of us can improve or do better, everything is cool. Life is beautiful and should be enjoyed.
This year, sports fans had much more to sympathize with and rejoice in their success than basketball. Javelin throwing, beach volleyball. Do you yourself like to watch games and competitions as a simple Latvian spectator, fan?
Yes, of course, we have already talked about it, that, let’s say, outside of basketball, I am also an ordinary fan of Latvia who really sympathizes both with the ice hockey team when the world championship is held in the spring, and, of course, with all the big events where Latvians participate – our beach girls, our simple fantasy.
Yes, for any sport, of course, where Latvians participate, Latvia, I am one of the fans.
But it seems to me that for all fans, when there are those big victories, especially important ones, not always big ones, that emotion and co-experience is as if you had walked on the field yourself. I think you have a more authentic feeling when you’ve been on that court – you can feel the same beach volleyball players…
Yes, of course, that feeling, that joy for girls is double because you know what is invested and what it requires. And, secondly, the feeling that really – I would like to say that I see myself as an athlete maybe not always in those victories, but often also in those losses. And I really know what it’s like to be in a game where you really don’t get anything at all. You try, you do, you’ve done everything, but you just can’t. And in that sense, maybe there are some fans or people who tend to express themselves negatively after such games or such starts in any tournament. But I really know it’s out of control at times! There are things and times when you can’t do anything. So I also understand those athletes from that side.
What does Dairis Bertāns expect from next year?
In every case, some little thing, but go forward. Are they completely elementary things for us as a society, so that we grow – to be kinder to each other in any everyday life situation. Maybe you pay for your products at the cash register in the store, you say thank you to the cashier! Wish you a successful day! Maybe that little bit will make him feel better. It’s just that in every situation in life, you go a little bit further, to be a little bit better. It will help us all get better together.
By the way, you will have to watch the same hockey game at least twice next year…
Yes.
Any predictions?
Predictions? As a professional athlete, I don’t say because I know it’s impossible. But good luck guys, all the best. I also know many hockey players, we know each other, and I really know how much work they put in to be able to please us with those beautiful games and victories, to give us those emotions. I wish them the same.
Usually, big sporting events greatly increase the feeling of patriotism in society. How are we doing with patriotism the rest of the time, between games?
I’d like to say it’s going well because it’s not like a lot of people say that it’s only November that we have that patriotic month where we’re all suddenly patriotic. But I want to think… There are many things and events that really show that we, Latvians, are patriots. And if some extra push is needed, like, let’s say, the moment with the Istanbul Convention, then we can really all come together.
And regardless of whether it is November or another month, we can be, and we are Latvian patriots.
Thanks for the conversation!
