Vytautas Budriūnas (Americanized his first name as Walter "Whitey", last name as Budrunas or Budrun; born December 19, 1908; died June 28, 2003) was a Lithuanian basketball player. He won gold medal at EuroBasket 1939 with Lithuania national basketball team. He was notable for his one-handed jumpshot (he used it because of a left arm that never straightened after being broken) and is one of the hookshot founders.

Biography

In 1934 he graduated from Marquette University. He played for the college stars team (Marquette University team). In 1938 he arrived in Lithuania and competed for the Lithuania national basketball team during EuroBasket 1939. During EuroBasket 1939 he scored 73 points combined.

Vytautas Budriūnas

Later he returned to the United States and worked as a coach and school sports director (1940–1959).

Vytautas Budriūnas

In 2007, he ranked fourth in a listing of the best-known Lithuanian basketball players.

Vytautas Budriūnas

References

Sources

Stanislovas Stonkus, Vytautas Budriūnas - Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija, T. III (Beketeriai-Chakasai). – Vilnius: Science and encyclopedia publishing institute, 2003, page 563 Vidas Mačiulis, Vytautas Gudelis. Halė, kurioje žaidė Lubinas ir Sabonis. 1939–1989 – Respublikinis sporto kombinatas, Kaunas, 1989

1908 births

2003 deaths

FIBA EuroBasket-winning players

Lithuanian men's basketball players

Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball players

Lithuanian emigrants to the United States