Mire Chatman returns to Ventspils

Mire Chatman (36) who was not able to play all of last season re-enters basketball today in a dramatic way with the very first team he played to start his professional career, BK Ventspils. In 2002, Chatman started his career with notice winning the Latvian Championship with Ventspils and returned the next year to win a second Latvian championship. Chatman was named the MVP and Guard of the Year in Latvia both seasons. It was Ventspils in the 2003-04 season that gave Chatman his first chance in the Eurocup. There Chatman averaged 19.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 3.0 steals. Chatman then moved to France where he played at Pau Orthez and lead the French team in the Euroleague, a season in 2005 where he also led the Euroleague in assists. In 2006, Chatman won the prestigious Eurocup Championship and was named the Defensive Player of the Year with the then Dynamo Moscow Club and legendary basketball coach Dusan Ivkovic. In the 2011-12 season; Chatman led the Turkish Basketball League in assists (6.4) while also being second in scoring (18.3) and fourth in steals (1.9). Chatman holds the records for most points scored in a singe game in Eurocup history (43). He ranks 3rd in career scoring, 4th in career assists and 1st in career steals in the history of the Eurocup. Chatman holds a career average of 17.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 3.7 assist in his long career playing in the Eurocup. "It's truly a blessing to come full circle and maybe finish my career in the place where I started a long time ago. I thank BK Ventspils for giving me this opportunity," said Chatman.