Turkey started the EuroBasket 2022 preparation cycle on a high note by easing past Ukraine 96-70 (25-12, 24-17, 26-19, 21-22) in Istanbul.
Ukraine Rumors
Cedi Osman was the top scorer for the winning squad, finishing the game with 17 points (1/2 2PT, 3/6 3PT, 6/8 FT), 3 rebounds, and 2 assists. Alperen Sengun and Furkan Korkmaz followed the Cleveland Cavaliers forward with 15 and 14 points accordingly.
Former Hawks player Cat Barber signed for 2022-23 with Ukrainian team BC Budivelnyk.
Arash Markazi: Former Los Angeles Lakers forward Slava Medvedenko’s two championship rings just sold for a combined $253,534 for charity. Medvedenko’s 2001 ring sold for $126,767 and his 2002 ring sold for $126,767 with 100% of the proceeds benefiting Ukraine relief efforts. pic.twitter.com/l6HrIEVne1
For Alex Len, Avangard is where he had his first in-game dunk. But it was not just Avangard— the gym in Kyiv where the national team trained since 2013 was also bombed. A year ago, Len got a hand tattoo of the official coat of arms of Ukraine, a trident meant to symbolize Ukrainian warriors of the past protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine today. He was on All-Star break last February when the escalation began. He tried to convince his family to evacuate early, selling it as a family vacation to Turkey, but they wanted to remain. “The day of the [February] 24th, I probably had maybe 200 plus messages,” he says.
That night, before tip-off of a home game in Sacramento’s Golden 1 Center against the Denver Nuggets, the two teams stood at center court with arms locked for a moment of silence and solidarity for Ukraine. Above them the screen was black with the words “ні війні No War” in bold white font. Much like his countrymen in Ukraine, Len’s mind was not on basketball. He remained with the Kings. Dressed for games. Used practice and workouts as opportunities to clear his head, but emotional weight and bad news back home kept coming.
As the only two Ukrainians in the NBA, Len and Svi Mykhailiuk of the Toronto Raptors focused on mutual aid with the Hope For Ukraine Fund. The Kings made a donation, and Len said he’s had support from his teammates, coaches and other players around the League. He was surprised to receive calls from Bosnian NBA player Jusuf Nurkic and Italian pro Danilo Gallinari asking to help. The Hope For Ukraine Fund is helping to give support for refugees, medical and humanitarian aid, and in the long term, rebuilding sports infrastructure. “Everybody back home is saying humanitarian help is good, but it’s more needed for the army,” Len says.
