The birthday of basketball can be considered December 21, 1891. On this day, college teacher James Naismith, to diversify the lesson, tied baskets from peaches to the railing of the gym, and dividing the students into two teams, invited them to throw a ball into these baskets. At the beginning of the twentieth century, professional teams began to appear, and by 1971 FIBA had already united 127 countries of the world. This game is also popular in Russia, but let's go overseas in a place with thebiggest.ru and see how Russian basketball players have played and are playing in the NBA.
The best Russian basketball players in the history of the NBA:
1
Sergey Bazarevich
The Soviet and Russian basketball player began his career in CSKA BC, and became the first Russian to start playing for the NBA club.
In 1993, Sergey signed a contract with the Turkish Tofash, and at the World Championships he attracted the attention of NBA scouts. The Russian point guard entered the symbolic team, in which he played against the American Dream Team II.
The bosses of the Atlanta Hawks did not spare money, and bought the contract of the Russian basketball player from Tofash. Sergey played all of 1994 for the NBA club. In the first match I scored 9 points, made 2 rebounds and 2 assists, 1 block shot. Having played 10 matches, Bazarevich returned to play in Europe. After a playing career, he switched to coaching, and achieved great success with his native CSKA.
2
Andrey Kirilenko
Today, Andrei is the best Russian who played in the NBA. In 2004 he took part in the all-star match, and in 2005 he became the best defender, making the largest number of block shots.
At the age of 15, a talented basketball player had already played his first match for the Spartak professional club. He played 5 seasons in the Russian championship, and in 2001 moved to play Utah Jazz. The letters of the name and surname of the Russian were nicknamed AK-47, in tune with the machine gun. All 10 seasons for “Utah” Andrew played with 47 numbers.
In 2011-2012 he returned to CSKA, and then played overseas for two seasons. First played in the Minnesota Timberwolves, and then moved to Brooklyn Nets. He played two seasons in Brooklyn. But he completed the "best Russian American" his career in CSKA.
3
Victor Khryapa
The heavy forward sports career began in the Saratov Avtodor. Victor was born in Kiev, but unlike his older brother, he took Russian citizenship to play for the national team.
In a draft for the young Victor, the New Jersey scouts drew attention, but the Russians began their debut season at the Portland Trail Blazers. After playing 2 seasons for Portland, Khryapa moved to Chicago Bulls, in which he also played 2 seasons.
He played his best match in the NBA against Phoenix, gaining 22 points, making 12 rebounds and 3 assists. In 2008, negotiations between the leadership of CSKA and Chicago ended with Khryapa signing a long-term contract with the army team.
4
Pavel Podkolzin
A career overseas for the Russian center was not given. For two seasons as part of the Dallas Mavericks, Pavel spent a total of 28.04 minutes on the court without scoring a single goal. But he became the first, and so far the only Russian, who played in the NBA finals.
Pavel started at the Novosibirsk club, and then signed a contract with the Italian Varez. Scouts NBA was impressed by the growth of Podkolzin 226 cm. For the center, this is just wonderful. At the draft, Utah Jazz management drew attention to it, but after the acquisition, the Dallas immediately resold it.
Upon his return, he began to play for Russian clubs, in which he won the championship and took the Russian Cup.
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5
Yaroslav Korolev
The youngest Russian basketball player to make his debut as part of the NBA club. In the 2005 draft, the light forward was acquired by the Los Angeles Clippers.
Fans will later say that it was a mistake of the club’s management, but Yaroslav managed to leave his mark in the overseas league. Fans demanded that he be sent to the development league, but the coaches continued to trust the place in the Russian team. After two years of playing for the Clippers, he signed a contract with Dynamo Moscow.
In 2009, he began to play overseas again as part of the Albuquerque Thunderbirds. After the American voyage he played in the Spanish League, for the teams of Greece and Russia. completed his career in the Spanish “Navarre”.
6
Sergey Monya
Russian light forward pupil of the Saratov basketball school "Avtodora". In 2000, he entered the site as part of his native club, and two years later he signed a contract with Moscow CSKA.
In 2004, the Portland Trail Blazers scout was selected as a draft. The Americans immediately noted the endurance of an athletic striker, as well as medium and long-range shots. The coach immediately entrusted the place in the first team. Having played almost the entire season for Portland, Sergey was exchanged for Sacramento Kings.
In the new club, Sergei went to the site only 3 times, playing a total of just over 6 minutes. Russian terminated the contract with the American club and returned to play in Dynamo Moscow. Now stands for Khimki near Moscow.
7
Timofey Mozgov
Cheerful and purposeful Timothy, together with Kavun, played in the final of the National Basketball League and as part of the Cleveland Cavaliers became the NBA champion.
Timothy began to take his first steps in basketball in his native St. Petersburg. In 2006, he began to play for Khimki, and after 4 seasons he was already a part of the New York Knicks. Over 8 years, he changed 5 NBA clubs, and even in 2011 he played in Khimki, formally listed in the Denver Nuggets. But at that time, the NBA had a lockout.
Season 2018/2019 played for Orlando Magic, but terminated the contract in the summer. Successfully playing for the Russian national team, with whom he became the bronze medalist of the Olympics in London.
8
Alexey Shved
A native of Belgorod began to play basketball in his hometown, and at the age of 16 he played for the Petrel as an attacking defender. In 2005, he signed a contract with CSKA, and then moved to Khimki.
In the season 2009/2010 on loan he played for the Moscow Dynamo. The Swede has a special style of play and a great long-range shot. All this has been noticed by European and American experts. He could play for the NBA club already in 2010. From 2012 to 2014 he played for the Minnesota Timberwolves team, then the season at Houston Rockets and several matches for the New York Knicks.
In 2013, a talented basketball player took part in the NBA starter match. The New York team offered the Swede a contract for $ 2.8 million, but the Russian refused and returned to Khimki near Moscow.
9
Sergey Karasev
During the year of the performance of the little-known Triumph club from the Moscow region, Sergey became the team leader and a real star. The first case when a Russian at the age of 20, without playing for eminent clubs in Russia, ended up in the NBA.
The young player impressed the Scouts with his ability to see the site, his plowing skills and a three-point throw. The season of 2013 Karasev began as part of the Cleveland Cavaliers. But the coaches had little trust in the young Russian and a year later he was transferred to Brooklyn Nets. But the injury did not allow the full disclosure in the NBA.
In 2018, Sergey signed a contract with Zenit, and at the end of the season he moved to Khimki, where he plays now.
10
Sasha Kaun
A talented basketball player began to play in the sports school number 6 in the city of Tomsk, and then went on an exchange to study in the USA. He successfully played in student basketball teams.
He even became an NCAA champion in 2008 with the Kansas Jayhawks. The student league is an NBA star forge, but Sasha got into the League through Russia. Upon returning to his homeland, he signed a contract with CSKA. After seven seasons at CSKA, the Russian center joined the NBA Cleveland Cavaliers. Alexander was already 30 years old, and the coaches did not let him go to the site.
I was remembered by the fans for their extraordinary actions on the site. After one year at Cleveland in 2016, he decided to end his sports career. At that time he was already 31 years old. There was another Russian legionnaire Nikita Morgunov, but, being part of the Portland Trail Blazers, he never entered the playground.
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Conclusion
Basketball is an outdoor game in which you have to run and jump a lot. In this regard, at the end of the review, we give an excerpt from a quote from the famous basketball player and coach of the 1960s, Bill Russell. He said that: “Players are constantly complaining. "The size of the court and the ball, the rules and the judges, the temperature in the hall, but he never heard the players complain that they had to constantly jump."
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Article author: Valery Skiba