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Dāvis Bertāns has officially announced his retirement from the Latvian men’s national basketball team, concluding a 15-year international career that featured 80 appearances and a defining run to the 2023 FIBA World Cup, according to reports from Latvian media outlets including LSM, Sportacentrs.com, and BB.LV.
Physical Toll Triggers Early Exit
The 33-year-old forward stated that the decision was driven by physical considerations.
“It’s time to listen to your body. It’s time to put an end to my national team career,” Bertāns said in a public statement cited by BB.LV.
A Decade and a Half in Red and White
Bertāns made his senior debut for the Latvian national team at 18 years old on August 12, 2011. Just three weeks later, he competed as the youngest member of the squad at the 2011 FIBA EuroBasket tournament in Šiauliai, Lithuania. Over 80 games in a Latvia jersey, he averaged 9.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks in roughly 19 minutes per contest, according to records published by the Latvian Basketball Association.
Historic World Cup Run in Jakarta and Manila
Beyond his debut tournament, Bertāns represented Latvia at the 2017 and 2025 EuroBasket championships, alongside the historic 2023 FIBA World Cup campaign. During the 2023 tournament in Jakarta and Manila, his perimeter shooting proved vital in breaking down defenses against France, Spain, and Brazil, helping propel the team to a fifth-place finish.
Following Family Footsteps
His departure follows that of his older brother, Dairis Bertāns, who concluded his national team career a year prior and currently serves as the sports director for Latvia’s men’s national teams, as noted by Sportacentrs.com and mbot.lv.
Continuing Club Career Overseas and in the NBA
At the club level, Bertāns remains active. He is signed to play for Dubai, an Adriatic League side competing in the EuroLeague, having helped the club capture the Adriatic League title this year. Prior to joining Dubai, Bertāns split the 2023–24 season between the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder and Charlotte Hornets. Over 475 regular-season NBA appearances across stints with San Antonio, Washington, Dallas, Oklahoma City, and Charlotte, he averaged 7.7 points and 2.4 rebounds while shooting 39.6% from three-point range.
The Indiana Pacers originally selected Bertāns with the 42nd overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft before immediately trading him to the San Antonio Spurs, making him only the second Latvian player ever drafted into the NBA at the time. His professional career also includes stints with Slovenia’s Union Olimpija, Serbia’s Partizan Belgrade, and Spain’s Baskonia.
