Oleksandr Volkov: there is great hope that FIBA and Euroleague officials will be able to find a compromise against the background of the coronavirus
The 1988 Olympic champion, legendary Ukrainian basketball player and ex-chairman of the Basketball Federation of Ukraine Oleksandr Volkov, shared his vision on several topical issues during a speech at the FBU's online courses. Alexander Volkov's full speech is on video.
About the interaction between FIBA and the Euroleague
"I do not want to sow panic, but FIBA has faced the problem that Euroleague players continue to boycott the windows of qualification, and NBA and NCAA players have no options to come to the national team - this is the first problem. Well, and, of course, the problem of coronavirus. The conflict between the Euroleague and FIBA against this background looks ridiculous. Now there is great hope that officials will be able to find a compromise. Well, if these windows remain, it would be good for the best players who play in the European Championships to be able to play in their national teams. National teams are the main detail of basketball popularization. Agreeing with the NBA and the US Student League on the participation of players in official national team matches is the number one task. It seems that everyone wants to, but the ambitions and their own interests, in this case, the Euroleague, do not allow to solve all this. But perhaps, in the face of a more formidable enemy of coronavirus basketball, the leadership of European basketball will be able to establish normal interaction.
About naturalization
“In general, I am against naturalization. But I conducted it myself when I was the president of the Federation, so I think if this option exists and other national teams use it, why shouldn't the national team of Ukraine strengthen before serious competitions.
If there was an opportunity to vote for the ban on naturalization, I would vote. But, if this option exists, I do not understand why we should abandon the legal option to strengthen the team with a good player. In this case, this player is likely to be a playmaker.
Now, in order to be able to naturalize a player, he needs to play in Ukraine for some time. Therefore, we especially have no options. I think we had some good Americans this year who could strengthen the team. But this is Bagatskis' question and if he asks me, I will share my opinion with him. This is an internal professional discussion. ”
About the most talented Ukrainian bigmen of the Superleague
“We have few classic centers left. But I see a good talent in Petrov. He naturally feels the game on the low. But my opinion is that he needs to tidy up his body a bit, as well as improve his game a bit. It sometimes works quite effectively in low-cost, but can be even more effective.
I also liked Voynalovych, an interesting guy. If used correctly, it can play in the loop, and can go out into the field. This is his advantage, due to which he can unbalance the opponent's defense by changing his position. "
About Svyatoslav Mikhailyuk
“Back in 2013, I saw him at the World Championships and the U-16 Championships in Kyiv, and even then I realized that the guy has a great future. It was difficult for him in Kansas for the first two years and it was clear that he could not be himself. The coach and players did not allow him to reveal himself, but in the third year he adapted, and in the fourth year he looked like himself.
At first it seemed that he was unlucky to be exchanged from the Lakers to Detroit, but the situation developed so that he became a major player. I think the club will bet on him next year. He has every opportunity to play in the NBA for a long time and successfully. I know that he is a serious guy, trains well, has no bad habits. He has the desire and motivation to go further and further.
I hope that we will be able to get to the next European Championship and gather all the strongest players, including Mykhailyuk, and fight for more serious positions in European and later world basketball. "
About Alexey Len
“When Len went to the United States, he was already the best player in Ukraine at that time. He and his agent were a little offended by me, but I was not deceitful and said as is. When he played for the Dnipro double and the youth national team of Ukraine, it seemed to me that soon everyone would forget about Sabonis. He had all the opportunities to become super-centered: coordination, mobility, height, pass, throw, drive, sense of the game, defense. In the United States, he became a classic college center: he ran, put curtains, picked up. In fact, his initiative was killed and it is not his fault. He rarely threw from a distance, rarely passed and took over the game.
He became an assistant player after playing for two years in college, which continued in Phoenix. And it was only in Atlanta that he began to periodically demonstrate the play of Len, whom I remember and whose prospects I saw. He went through this school, but the highlight of his game there was broken. He was polished in the wrong direction and not allowed to develop freely to show what he is capable of. If he had played in Ukrainian basketball or a good European team for a couple of years, he might have been a G1 talent at the center of the NBA. It is my opinion.
There is no such thing as a high school or college giving a ticket to NBA and Euroleague stars. Unfortunately, this is it
About the interaction between FIBA and the Euroleague
"I do not want to sow panic, but FIBA has faced the problem that Euroleague players continue to boycott the windows of qualification, and NBA and NCAA players have no options to come to the national team - this is the first problem. Well, and, of course, the problem of coronavirus. The conflict between the Euroleague and FIBA against this background looks ridiculous. Now there is great hope that officials will be able to find a compromise. Well, if these windows remain, it would be good for the best players who play in the European Championships to be able to play in their national teams. National teams are the main detail of basketball popularization. Agreeing with the NBA and the US Student League on the participation of players in official national team matches is the number one task. It seems that everyone wants to, but the ambitions and their own interests, in this case, the Euroleague, do not allow to solve all this. But perhaps, in the face of a more formidable enemy of coronavirus basketball, the leadership of European basketball will be able to establish normal interaction.
About naturalization
“In general, I am against naturalization. But I conducted it myself when I was the president of the Federation, so I think if this option exists and other national teams use it, why shouldn't the national team of Ukraine strengthen before serious competitions.
If there was an opportunity to vote for the ban on naturalization, I would vote. But, if this option exists, I do not understand why we should abandon the legal option to strengthen the team with a good player. In this case, this player is likely to be a playmaker.
Now, in order to be able to naturalize a player, he needs to play in Ukraine for some time. Therefore, we especially have no options. I think we had some good Americans this year who could strengthen the team. But this is Bagatskis' question and if he asks me, I will share my opinion with him. This is an internal professional discussion. ”
About the most talented Ukrainian bigmen of the Superleague
“We have few classic centers left. But I see a good talent in Petrov. He naturally feels the game on the low. But my opinion is that he needs to tidy up his body a bit, as well as improve his game a bit. It sometimes works quite effectively in low-cost, but can be even more effective.
I also liked Voynalovych, an interesting guy. If used correctly, it can play in the loop, and can go out into the field. This is his advantage, due to which he can unbalance the opponent's defense by changing his position. "
About Svyatoslav Mikhailyuk
“Back in 2013, I saw him at the World Championships and the U-16 Championships in Kyiv, and even then I realized that the guy has a great future. It was difficult for him in Kansas for the first two years and it was clear that he could not be himself. The coach and players did not allow him to reveal himself, but in the third year he adapted, and in the fourth year he looked like himself.
At first it seemed that he was unlucky to be exchanged from the Lakers to Detroit, but the situation developed so that he became a major player. I think the club will bet on him next year. He has every opportunity to play in the NBA for a long time and successfully. I know that he is a serious guy, trains well, has no bad habits. He has the desire and motivation to go further and further.
I hope that we will be able to get to the next European Championship and gather all the strongest players, including Mykhailyuk, and fight for more serious positions in European and later world basketball. "
About Alexey Len
“When Len went to the United States, he was already the best player in Ukraine at that time. He and his agent were a little offended by me, but I was not deceitful and said as is. When he played for the Dnipro double and the youth national team of Ukraine, it seemed to me that soon everyone would forget about Sabonis. He had all the opportunities to become super-centered: coordination, mobility, height, pass, throw, drive, sense of the game, defense. In the United States, he became a classic college center: he ran, put curtains, picked up. In fact, his initiative was killed and it is not his fault. He rarely threw from a distance, rarely passed and took over the game.
He became an assistant player after playing for two years in college, which continued in Phoenix. And it was only in Atlanta that he began to periodically demonstrate the play of Len, whom I remember and whose prospects I saw. He went through this school, but the highlight of his game there was broken. He was polished in the wrong direction and not allowed to develop freely to show what he is capable of. If he had played in Ukrainian basketball or a good European team for a couple of years, he might have been a G1 talent at the center of the NBA. It is my opinion.
There is no such thing as a high school or college giving a ticket to NBA and Euroleague stars. Unfortunately, this is it
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