DENVER, July 16, 2013 – The Denver Nuggets have named Arturas Karnisovas as assistant general manager, general manager/executive vice president of basketball operations Tim Connelly announced today.
Karnisovas (pronounced Car-NISH-O-Vas) joins the Nuggets after five years with the Houston Rockets, where he most recently was the director of scouting. He started with the Rockets as an international scout in 2008 after spending more than four years working in basketball operations at the NBA’s league office.
Karnisovas, 42, will assist Connelly and team president Josh Kroenke with day-to-day operations related to scouting and player personnel matters.
“Arturas has a diverse and impressive background as a player, a scout and an executive,” Connelly said. “His global connections are just part of what he adds to our franchise. His basketball knowledge is off the charts, and his experience with Houston and the league office will be invaluable as we work to improve our team.”
Prior to working in the NBA, Karnisovas enjoyed an impressive international playing career.
He attended Seton Hall from 1990-94 and helped his native Lithuania win Olympic bronze medals in 1992 and 1996. Karnisovas also played professionally for Barcelona, Bologna, Olympiakos and Athens, reaching the Euroleague Final Four three times. He was named FIBA’s European Player of the Year in 1996.