Modestas Paulauskas

Modestas Palauskas

Palauskas in 1970
Personal information
Born	(1945-03-19) 19 March 1945 (age 71) Kretinga, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union
Nationality	Lithuanian
Listed height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight	200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
Playing career	1962–1976
Position	Small forward
Number	5
Career history
As player:
1962–1976	Žalgiris Kaunas
As coach:
1997–1998	Lietuvos rytas-Statyba Vilnius
Career highlights and awards
No. 5 retired by Žalgiris Kaunas
Medals Representing the  Soviet Union Olympic Games Mexico City 1968 Team Munich 1972 Team World Championship Montevideo 1967 Team Puerto Rico 1974 Team Yugoslavia 1970 Team European Championship USSR 1965 Team Finland 1967 Team Italy 1969 Team West Germany 1971 Team Spain 1973 Team

Modestas Paulauskas (19 March 1945) is a Lithuanian basketball coach and retired basketball player. He was part of Soviet teams that won the bronze medal at the 1968 and the gold medal at the 1972 Olympics. He is known as one of the best Lithuanian players of all-time having a superior dribbling ability. He was selected as Lithuanian Sportsman of the Year a record seven times, in 1965–1967 and 1969–1972. Paulauskas also was the Soviet Union national basketball team captain since 1969. In 1991 he was named one of FIBA's 50 Greatest Players.

After retiring from competitions, from 1977 to 1989 Paulauskas trained the junior team of the Soviet Union, and in the early 1990s was headed his native club Žalgiris. After that he coached basketball in schools, both in Lithuania and in Russia.