Latvia guard Arturs Zagars sets Fiba World Cup record with 17 assists

Guard Arturs Zagars celebrates with fans after Latvia claimed fifth place in the Fiba World Cup. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Latvia guard Arturs Zagars is honored after setting a new Fiba World Cup record with 17 assists in a 98-63 rout of Lithuania for fifth place on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.

His individual feat, however, only comes secondary to what Latvia was able to reach in its maiden World Cup campaign.

“I was just passing the ball and my teammates made the shots early in the first half as well. That’s simple I just passed the ball and they made the shots,” said Zagars, who also had zero turnovers.

“Obviously, I’m grateful and thankful [but] it means more that we finished top five than the record,” he added.

WORLD CUP RECORD HOLDER.

Arturs Zagars made history with 17 assists ✍️#FIBAWC x #WinForLatvia 🇱🇻 pic.twitter.com/aTL3oqXVoS

— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 🏆 (@FIBAWC) September 9, 2023

Zagars already had 10 assists by halftime. He tied the previous record at 15 held by both Croatia’s Toni Kukoc and South Sudan’s Carlik Jones by assisting on a floater by Anzejs Pasencniks with still 4:13 left in the game before dishing out a couple more to seal the mark.

Kukoc had 15 assists in the 1994 World Championships where Croatia finished third while Jones momentarily shared the record last September 2 in a historic win over Angola that earned South Sudan its first Olympic berth.

Zagars downplayed his sensational game as he kept deflecting the credit to his teammates.

“I play a lot of pick and rolls ’cause I’m a point guard. And, I just try to read and trust my instincts. If I see an open man, I try to dish it. If he makes the shot, that’s an assist,” said Zagars, who went undrafted in the NBA Draft last year.

“But, I don’t think it’s something special. Maybe it was just a bit lucky today. ‘Cause every time I passed the ball, like I said before, they made the shot. Nothing much else to add.”

Latvia guard Arturs Zagars. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

The 23-year-old Zagars added it was surreal to have surpassed an elite player like Kukoc, who was a vital piece of the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls team that completed a three-peat from 1996 to 1998.

Latvia coach Lucha Banchi lauded Zagars, not for his record but because of his solid World Cup stint where the 6-foot-3 playmaker averaged 12.4 points and 7.4 assists in eight matches.

“I don’t wanna judge just a specific performance, I’m more into the tournament. I believe Arturs played a solid tournament with a big responsibility. He was in big shoes, as we used to say because it’s his first time in a World Cup, the first time as a starter in a men’s national team, in such a competition,” Banchi said.

“Replacing an iconic player like Janis Strelnieks was not easy. Second game, we lost our captain and our point of reference on the court, but he continued to produce good basketball and to help the team to stay at this level of performance and proving that he can compete with the best and he can help the Team Latvia to compete with the best team in the planet.”

Banchi hopes Zagars’ solid World Cup campaign will open bigger opportunities for him after playing in Europe in the club leagues in Spain, Germany, Estonia, and Lithuania.

“It’s just the first step, the next is to find a job for this guy because I believe he deserves [it]. This guy is young and he needs to play so let’s hope he finds finally a job and but I told you, I believe Arturs played a solid tournament and together with his teammates, he did an excellent job to keep the team performance no matter who the opponent,” Banchi said.

“The team is on a good path to continue, to have improvement and to keep Latvia at a high level and I wish that Arturs will stay healthy and focused and again, show enthusiasm to run the team of this country.”