Karnisovas Joins Denver Front Office
7/17/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – Former Seton Hall men’s basketball standout Arturas Karnisovas was recently named assistant general manager of the Denver Nuggets. The two-time BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete of the Year (1993 & 1994) joins new Nuggets’ general manager Tim Connelly and team president Josh Kroenke to assist with day-to-day operations and oversee player personnel.
He heads to Denver after working in the Houston Rockets front office since 2008, most recently holding the title director of scouting. Karnisovas also serves as director of the Adidas Eurocamp, the only officially sanctioned NBA pre-draft camp outside of the United States. The annual three-day event showcases Europe’s top prospects ages 18-21. Six players who attended the 2013 Eurocamp were selected in the NBA Draft, including three first round picks.
"This opportunity means the world to me. I am humbled to be in this situation," said Karnisovas on his new position in Denver. "Houston is a top organization that I had the privilege to work for. I spent five great years of my life with the Rockets where I was able to contribute, learn from the best and grow as an individual."
A 2008 inductee into the Seton Hall Athletics Hall of Fame, Karnisovas scored over 1,500 points playing 123 career games under legendary Pirates’ head coach P.J. Carlesimo. He was a two-time All-BIG EAST selection and garnered CoSIDA Academic All-America honors in 1994.
Karnisovas was a member of four straight NCAA Tournament teams (1990-94), one of only two Pirates in program history to achieve this. In 1993, Karnishovas earned BIG EAST All-Tournament Team honors helping Seton Hall to its second BIG EAST Championship. He led Seton Hall with 20 points and 10 rebounds in the championship game victory over Syracuse.
On the international stage, Karnisovas won two Olympic bronze medals for Lithuania in 1992 in Barcelona and 1996 in Atlanta. He enjoyed an eight year professional playing career with stops in Spain, Italy, Greece and France. Karnisovas was the FIBA European Player of the Year in 1996, the FIBA EuroStars MVP in 1997 and he reached the Final Four of the Euroleague three times.
