RIGA (Latvia) - Ainars Bagatskis and Uvis Helmanis teamed up for nearly a decade in helping improve the level of basketball in Latvia on the international stage. The FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2021 will see another Bagatskis-Helmanis combo try to take the next step.

Fred Bagatskis and Kriss Helmanis have already followed in their fathers' footsteps by playing for Latvia's national team ranks. But the sons of two of the country's greats will do something their fathers didn't - play on the global stage, and that thanks to Latvia hosting the U19 World Cup.

"I'm really grateful for this opportunity to the Latvian Basketball Association, for believing in us and hosting this event. It's a once-in-a-lifetime event for most of the players there, and to be a part of it is really great," said Helmanis, who played at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2018.

Latvia have never played at the FIBA Basketball World Cup and their only appearance in the Men's Olympic Basketball Tournament came in 1936. But Latvia will be playing at the U19 World Cup for a fourth time, following 1999, 2011 and 2019 - hosting the event in 2011 as well.

The elder Bagatskis and Helmanis played together for Latvia at three FIBA EuroBaskets: 1997, 2001 and 2003. Ainars Bagatskis, who was a legendary sniper for Latvia and was the second-leading scorer at the 1997 EuroBasket, was born in 1967 while Uvis Helmanis is five years younger. There is a one-year difference between the sons with Fred from the 2003 generation and Kriss born in 2002.

 
"He's a year older than me so we didn't really get any matchups before playing against each other in a tournament around two years ago. Ever since then we've become closer and now we just motivate each other to be the greatest we can so the team wins," said Bagatskis, who played at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2019.

"We weren't that close while growing up, but we met in a matchup in Spain.  Ever since then, we've become closer and started to follow each other's career," added Helmanis.

Both of the talented youngsters spoke highly of the other with Bagatskis saying: "Kriss is a skilled player that can score with ease and send shots home flying. So I think that having him on the court with me on any day will be a huge advantage."

And Helmanis countered: "I really enjoy watching him play. He's obviously a great shooter, and I'd like to think that I am capable to find open shooters on the court. We will see when the 'real games' start. I think our play styles fit each other, and I’m excited to see what the future holds for both of us."

 
In addition to famous surnames, another thing that connects the two is playing in Spain.

"I would say that moving to Spain was something that I wanted to do for a long time, even before I went to try out for the teams over there. The ACB is one of the best leagues in Europe, and it is proven that they produce great players there, starting from the youth teams," said Helmanis, who joined Joventut Badalona in 2018.

"At the end of the day, every one of us is looking to continue our careers at the highest level possible. Personally, if that highest level is in Spain, that's where I'll be, no doubt about that,” said Bagatskis, who made his move to Valencia Basket in 2018.

 
The duo is just the latest examples of a long list of Latvians who left their homeland as youngsters for Spain. And Helmanis thinks it will help this Latvian team at the U19 World Cup.

"The experience from playing in Spain helps us a lot as we can guide the other players who maybe haven't gotten that many minutes in professional basketball yet - help them with the little details. These little details are going to be important for us to succeed in the tournament," he said.

Another motivation for Helmanis and his teammates at the U19 World Cup will be to remind people of the level of basketball in the country.

"We want to show that Latvia is not a small basketball country. We deserve to be in this tournament, and we are going to play with passion, not only for the game but also for our country," he said.

Both youngsters have learned countless lessons from their basketball playing - and now both coaching - fathers. And those basketball talks have changed over the years since both Fred and Kriss have neared the pro ranks.

When asked what his father is now helping him most with, Bagastskis said: "Mostly mental preparation. You can be as good a shooter as (Steph) Curry, as athletic as (Michael) Jordan, but if you don't prepare right or just don't focus on the process that comes before then none of that matters."

Helmanis also said his father is assisting him on more than just on-the-court skills.

"These past years, he has helped me a lot regarding the mental side of the game, and how to carry myself off the court, too. His professionalism has been a major factor for the success in my career so far and I owe everything I've achieved to my family."

Helmanis also said the fact that he and Fred are part of the next generation of Latvian basketball is important for the long-term health of the sport in the country.

"It is great to see families and names from the previous generations stay in the basketball world because that shows how strong basketball traditions are getting established in Latvia," Helmanis said.

If he and Bagatskis can play at least close to the levels of their fathers, Latvian basketball has two more high-level players for now and into the future.

FIBA