Gilvydas Biruta

Gilvydas Biruta (born 10 October 1991) is a Lithuanian former professional basketball player currently working as an assistant coach for the Grand Rapids Gold of the NBA G League. He used to play at the power forward position.^[1]

Gilvydas Biruta

Biruta Gilvydas in 2017
Grand Rapids Gold
Position	Assistant coach
League	NBA G League
Personal information
Born	(1991-10-10) 10 October 1991 (age 33) Jonava, Lithuania
Nationality	Lithuanian
Listed height	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight	236 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school	Saint Benedict's (Newark, New Jersey)
College	Rutgers (2010–2012) Rhode Island (2013–2015)
NBA draft	2015: undrafted
Playing career	2015–2023
Position	Power forward
Coaching career	2024–present
Career history
As a player:
2015–2016	Neptūnas Klaipėda
2016	Lavrio
2016–2017	Aries Trikala
2017	Assigeco Piacenza
2017–2018	JL Bourg
2019	Cherkaski Mavpy
2020	Lietkabelis Panevėžys
2020	Heroes Den Bosch
2020–2021	CBet Prienai
2021–	CEP Lorient
2021–2022	Dax Gamarde basket 40
2022–2023	Vendée Challans Basket
As a coach:
2024–present	Grand Rapids Gold (assistant)
Career highlights
AAC All-Rookie Team (2011)
Medals Men's Basketball Representing  Lithuania FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship 2008 Greece U-18 Team FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship 2007 Greece U-16 Team

Professional career

After graduating University of Rhode Island, Biruta was a part of Denver Nuggets during the 2015 NBA Summer League.^[2]

On 5 August 2015, Biruta signed with Neptūnas Klaipėda.^[3]

On 24 February 2016, Biruta signed with Lavrio of the Greek Basket League.^[4] In five games Biruta averaged 3.4 points and 2.2 rebounds. On August 30, 2016, he signed with Aries Trikala.^[5] In March 2017, he moved to Assigeco Piacenza of the Serie A2.^[6]

On 4 July 2017, Biruta signed with JL Bourg-en-Bresse of the Pro A.^[7]

Biruta played one game for Cherkaski Mavpy but left the team in January 2019 with an injury. On 5 January 2020, Biruta joined Lietkabelis Panevėžys.^[8] He averaged 4.3 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. On 18 September 2020, Biruta signed with Heroes Den Bosch of the Dutch Basketball League.^[9] He was released on 20 October after the DBL had been suspended due to a national spike in coronavirus infections.^[10]

National team career

Biruta led the Lithuanian U-16 National Team to the bronze medals in the 2007 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship by averaging 14.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocks.^[11] He also been a part of Lithuanian U-18 team twice. First time he won silver medal with the Donatas Motiejūnas' led U-18 National Team. During his second appearance, Lithuanians finished fourth. Though, the successful youth national team years ended painfully when the U-20 team he represented suffered an fiasco, finishing only 14th in the 2011 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship.

Coaching career

On October 1, 2024, Biruta became an assistant coach for the Grand Rapids Gold of the NBA G League.^[12]