By Stefan Djordjevic/ info@eurohoops.net
They were watching the Basketball Champions League game between PAOK and Capo D’Orlando. The main reason for the NBA scouts’ visit was the Lithuanian small forward Arnoldas Kulboka.
The Italians were beaten easily 79-61 with the 20 years old Kulboka scoring 11 points and grabbing 6 rebounds. The Lithuanian came to Italy this summer as he joined capo D’Orlando of the Italian Serie A on loan from Brose Bamberg.
Kulboka is playing at small forward and with a height of 205 centimeters, he is more than tall for his position. He also posses a great wingspan and with a combination of good footwork and agility, he is a great athlete.
His calling card is his shot, nailing three-pointers with ease. In June 2017, Kulboka participated in the Adidas Eurocamp. He demonstrated his shooting touch by scoring 10 three-pointers in a row.
All this makes Arnoldas Kulboka a very intriguing prospect in terms of the NBA. And while playing in the Basketball Champions League he is getting much-needed experience.
Despite his age, he stepped up in several games for his team in the Basketball Champions League. Against Gaziantep, he recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. He repeated that in the second game against the same opponent nailing 12 points and grabbing 13 boards.
Kulboka started his career in Zalgiris Kaunas. He played for their young teams before signing a five-year deal with German champions Brose Bamberg in August 2015.
In his first year, he played with Brose’s affiliated teams in the German under-19 Bundesliga NBBL (TSV Breitengüßbach) and in the second German division 2 Bundesliga ProA (Baunach Young Pikes). He helped Breitengssbach win the 2016 NBBL title.
Before moving to Italy on loan, Kulboka made his debut for Bamberg in May in a win over Science City Jena for the first German division, in which he recorded 13 points and 5 rebounds.
The NBA is more than interested in him for a long time. He showed his ability as a young player especially playing for the junior Lithuanian national teams. He averaged a team-high 15.7 points a game in the 2016 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship en route to a silver medal.
However, playing in the Basketball Champions League is a higher level of competition and it looks like Kulboka was ready to make that jump. He is averaging 8.9 points per game and 4.8 rebounds in the BCL.
Of course, the young Lithuanian still has a lot of things to improve especially in his body. He is lacking weight and muscle.
Still, Kulboka is one of the most promising talents in the BCL. A lot of things about his future depend on him, but playing in the BCL is the right place for him in order to improve and get ready for the upcoming challenges in his career.