Rolands Šmits

Rolands Šmits (born June 25, 1995) is a Latvian professional basketball player for the Ningbo Rockets of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). At a height of , and a weight of 107 kg (235 lbs), he primarily plays at the power forward position, but can also play as small ball center.

Early career Šmits came up through the junior youth ranks of the Latvian club BK Valmiera. He left his native Latvia, for Spain in 2011. He joined the Spanish club Baloncesto Fuenlabrada, and played for their feeder team in the amateur Spanish fourth-tier level Liga EBA, in the 2011–12 season.

Professional career Šmits made his debut in the Spanish top-tier level Liga ACB, with Fuenlabrada, during the 2012–13 season, while also seeing action for Grupo Eulen Carrefour El Bulevar de Ávila, in the country’s third-tier division LEB Plata, that same season. From 2013 to 2015, he primarily played for Fuenlabrada's reserve team in LEB Plata sides Fundación Baloncesto Fuenlabrada and the affiliated team Viten Getafe respectively. But, he also earned increasing playing minutes in the top-tier level ACB.

In the 2016–17 season, Šmits won the European-wide 2nd-tier level EuroCup's Rising Star Award, after shooting 55.1% from the field overall, 60.4% from 2 point field goal range, and 48.8% from 3 point field goal range, while averaging 9.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 0.9 assists, and 0.6 steals per game, with Fuenlabrada during the EuroCup season.

On 18 September 2017, Šmits signed a five-year contract with FC Barcelona, but stayed on loan at Fuenlabrada until the summer of 2018. On 30 June 2022, Šmits parted ways with Barcelona after his contract with the club expired. Over four seasons with Barça from 2018 to 2022, Šmits averaged 4.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in the EuroLeague, along with 5.2 points and 2.6 rebounds in the Liga ACB, mostly serving as a backup for Nikola Mirotić.

On 3 July 2022, Šmits signed a two-year contract with Žalgiris Kaunas of the LKL and the EuroLeague. On 25 May 2023, Šmits agreed on a three-year contract extension until 2026, with opt-out clauses after each season.

On June 15, 2024, he signed with Anadolu Efes of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi.

On 15 June 2026, Šmits parted ways with Anadolu Efes after the club announced his departure.

International career Šmits competed with Latvia's junior national teams at the 2011 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship, and at the 2012 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship and 2013 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship. He also played with Latvia's junior national team at the 2014 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship and at the 2015 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship.

Šmits received his first cap with the senior men's Latvian national basketball team in 2014. In 2017, Šmits competed with the Latvian national team at the EuroBasket 2017 tournament, averaging 5.6 points and 2.0 rebounds as the team finished 5th overall.

Awards and accomplishments Club FC Barcelona Liga ACB: (2021) 3× Copa del Rey: (2019, 2021, 2022) Žalgiris Kaunas Lithuanian League: (2023) King Mindaugas Cup: (2023)

Individual EuroCup Rising Star: (2017) Spanish League All-Young Players Team: (2017)

Career statistics

EuroLeague Led the league