My my My my
 
 
 
 
 
 

How to join a basketball team


Find Basketball Leagues, Camps & Tournaments Near You

Basketball is one of the world’s most popular team sports, combining strategy and teamwork with athleticism and skill. The game is fast-paced, intense, and full of spectacular plays. Add in the superior athleticism of its stars, and you've got an exciting spectator event ahead.

Find basketball leagues, tournaments, camps, and clinics. Improve your skills with tips, tricks, drills, and more.

Governing Bodies

FIBAUSA Basketball


Learn more about basketball

Read more

Basketball Articles

  • Isiah Thomas' NBA Debut

    June 07, 2021

    Isiah Thomas made his debut for the Detroit Pistons, who he played his entire career for, at home against the Milwaukee Bucks…


  • How to Improve Your Game This Off-Season

    April 08, 2021

    A complete strength, conditioning, and skills practice plan for the off-season.


  • Dr J Sold to Philadelphia 76ers

    June 06, 2021

    Nets offered Julius Erving's contract to the New York Knicks, but the Knicks turned it down, the Sixers then decided to offer…


  • Stephen Curry Explodes for 53 Points

    June 08, 2021

    Stephen Curry scored 53 points, he had a 28-point third quarter, and the unbeaten Golden State Warriors defeated the winless…


  • How Do You Develop Mental Toughness?

    February 09, 2021


View more 

SportsEngine Gear Marketplace

Up to 70% off new and pre-owned equipment

Previous Games
  • USA vs Lithuania, August 6th 1992

    February 09, 2021

    Despite falling to the U. S. in this game, Lithuania would not leave the Olympics empty-handed, as they ultimately ended up…


  • USA vs Puerto Rico, August 4th 1992

    February 09, 2021

    After sweeping the group stage, NBA superstars Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird rode their…


  • USA vs Spain, August 2nd 1992

    February 09, 2021

    The Dream Team team faced Spain in the final game of the first round. Expectations were so high that The New York Times…


  • USA vs Brazil, July 31st 1992

    February 09, 2021

    Brazil’s Oscar Schmidt, playing in his fourth Olympics, boosted his team by scoring 24 points. Over his five Olympic games,…


  • USA vs Germany, July 29th 1992

    February 09, 2021

    Team USA will play without Magic after he strained a leg during the Croatia game


Ever Wonder, by NBC Sports

If you've ever wondered why team cut down the nets after winning NCAA tournament games, here's your answer. 

Have you ever wondered what is the most expensive trophy in sports? Well, the answer may surprise you. 

Ever wonder explores why the NCAA once took away one of the most exciting plays in basketball. 

College basketball jerseys don't have 6, 7, 8 or 9's on them. Why? 

Ever Wonder explores which players have won an NCAA Title, NBA Championship and Olympic Gold Medal.   

Ever Wonder explores which original major Division I teams have failed to make the NCAA Tournament. 

With Stephen Curry and the Warriors changing the way basketball is played, take a look back at the history of the three-point shot. 

Healthy at Home Articles

Children need at least an hour of exercise a day and making sure they are getting that can be difficult right now, especially if they can’t get outside to play 

If you don't know how to help your child get better at flag football or are looking for good flag football drills, then you've come to the right place. 

With virtual training you’re extending that ability to learn and you’re allowing great coaches and trainers all over the world to reach kids they never would have reached 

The coronavirus pandemic is impacting student-athletes beyond their ability to remain active; it is also affecting their mental health as uncertain continues around when they will be able to practice and compete again.  

Sports Tech has been utilizing distance learning tools that have become the new normal. Read how and why it'll be here to stay. 

TrueSport Expert Kevin Chapman, PhD, is here to help parents navigate their young athletes return to youth sports after COVID-19. 

Right now, it’s more challenging than ever to keep your recruiting process on track. Without in-person recruiting, student-athletes and college coaches are adjusting to a recruiting process that is now 100% digital. 

Extra reps will improve your ballhandling, shooting, scoring, and playmaking. 

When sports finally return, you’ll want to be ready. What does “being ready” mean? 

Easy, kid-friendly activities that will keep their minds occupied at home 

More Healthy at Home Articles 

How to Join a Recreational Basketball League

Recreational basketball leagues are commonly available through both your city recreation department and private companies, including men’s leagues, women’s leagues and leagues designed for coed teams. The leagues are typically structured into seasons, with a few seasons being offered every year.

Finding a League

Find leagues that are run through your city’s recreational department by checking the department’s website, which often provides information on parks, events and leagues. If you know of a city recreation center, stop in and ask if that particular location hosts a league. Either way, the staff member there will likely be able to give you information on which city facility does host basketball leagues. It’s also a good idea to do a web search for “basketball league [your city]” to find nearby private companies that run leagues. While they’re typically more expensive, they also can be better organized and offer more experienced referees.

Decide which type of league you want to join. In addition to being organized by male, female or coed, some cities and organizations will offer five-on-five and four-on-four leagues that play full court or three-on-three leagues that play half court. In addition, some leagues will separate players of different ages and more experienced players from beginners, so select the one that’s right for you.

Joining or Building a Team

Leagues vary on whether they require you to sign up with your own team or if they allow you to sign up as an individual and then be assigned a team. Most leagues are organized into set team play, which means that you are on the same team every game. If you’re looking to join a basketball league alone, you may need to also track down representatives from teams to see if you can join their team. The league’s website may offer information on teams who are looking for players. Many teams prefer to have a limit of players so that they each are guaranteed a decent amount of playing time.

If you’re looking to find others to join your team, ask your friends, family members, neighbors and co-workers if they’d be interested in participating. If you used to play basketball in high school or college, inquire with former teammates to see if they’d like to play.

Completing Registration

Register your team or sign up as an individual through the league’s website. With city-run leagues, you may also be able to register in person at the facility where the league is hosted. You’ll be asked to fill out a form with your information and will be required to sign a waiver. If you’re signing up for your team, you’ll need to provide each team member’s name and contact information. You’ll also pay the registration fee, which can vary significantly by league.

Once the registration deadline has passed, the league organization will put together a playing schedule and share it will the designated captain of each team. If that’s you, make sure each of your team members gets a copy. Most leagues will require teams to provide their own reversible jerseys, so if you’re the team captain, you’ll need to gather each player’s money and get their size so that you can handle the order. Check to see if your registration fee covers payment for the referees. Some leagues will require your team to come to each game with an assigned amount of cash for the referees.

How to get into the BC "NN"

Many of you regularly ask questions about how to get into the BC "Nizhny Novgorod", or rather in the youth team and junior youth team. After talking with the head coach of BC "NN-2" and BC "NN-3" Roman Gorelovsky, we decided to answer all at once and give you a detailed plan on how to conquer Nizhny. Let's get started!

So, I am a basketball player. I think I'm pretty good. How old do I have to be to get into the structure of the club?

Answer: BC "NN" is considering candidates born in 2000 this year. and younger.

Comment: This year we will bet on 2003 and 2004. But do not think that everything will be limited only to these ages. If a guy a little older wants to get into the youth team or junior junior league, then we will definitely look at him so as not to miss anyone. But this is selective. By and large, a boy who comes to play with us must be a practically ready-made basketball player. Of course, we allow a certain level of shortcomings, permissible marriage, but still an understanding of the game should already be formed, because this is the maximum age for the main team. That is, a player who comes to us at the age of 20 cannot be at the same level of development as a guy born in 2004. As for the younger age limit, it is about 8-9Class.

Excellent. I fit the age criteria. What to do next?

Answer: send an application. We will talk about how to do this a little later.

Comment: Initially, we look at where a potential player is from. If this is Nizhny Novgorod and nearby cities, then they just need to contact the club management or us, leave a request for viewing and arrive at the appointed time. If these are guys from other regions, then everything is a little more complicated here, but still the principle is the same. The necessary phone numbers and email addresses are publicly available on the site, so there should be no problems with this.

Understood. I sent an application. When can we expect a viewing?

Answer: We usually hold screenings during the May holidays or at the end of April, so as not to coincide with school exam days.

Comment: When applications have accumulated, we hold a meeting with the coaching staff, at which we determine the date and place of viewings (usually these are May holidays), and even then we invite all the guys who left applications. We have been following some of the local guys for more than a year, we will see someone for the first time, but we still try to look through everyone in order to find out who deserves special attention in the future.

Let's say I came to this preview and the coaching staff liked me. What then?

Answer: do not rush to relax! Another viewing session ahead.

Comment: We have a second viewing for the guys we singled out on the first one. It passes at the beginning of summer. In fact, these are some kind of fees. Last year we went to the Gorodetsky district, this year, perhaps, there will be the Meshchersky sports complex or the base on the Bor. In a word, at these training camps we make a final conclusion on each player and understand whether he made it to the team or not.

Got it. And what happens on the screenings? What to be ready for?

Answer: is essentially a regular workout, but with a special purpose.

Comment: We just give the guys elementary basic exercises, on which we look at the technical preparedness of the player. That is, how he handles the ball, his dribbling, how much he controls his body, coordination, balance, how the guy learns information in exercises in pairs and triples, his physical condition and endurance, ability to play 1 x 1, well, game thinking. Although all this is difficult to see in one viewing fee, since constant communication and observation is necessary to fully understand the level of the player. And yet, some moments are noticeable already at the first interactions.

Will all players have a chance or do you select candidates for certain positions?

Answer: We are interested in absolutely all players, regardless of their role on the court.

Comment: Absolutely any player can come and declare himself. Most importantly, send applications and indicate your data. We will definitely look at each guy, whether he was born in 2000 or 2004.

I am going to visit you from another region. Is it possible? Or are you looking for guys only from the Nizhny Novgorod region?

Answer: First of all, we are interested in local students who have been trained in sports schools in the Nizhny Novgorod region. But this does not mean that the doors of the club are closed to players from other regions.

Comment: A person can come even from the other side of Russia. As, for example, the player "НН-2" this season Yegor Chepik. We saw this guy at the IES-BASKET SBL Superfinal, brought him from Blagoveshchensk, and he has been playing for the youth team for a year now. I can say that he has made great progress this season.

I looked at your current line-up and saw that there are a lot of young guys on the rosters. Does this mean that the set will not be as large?

Answer: not at all. The fact that there are practically no children of the maximum allowable age in the teams does not mean that the squads are completed for the next season. Viewings will take place as usual.

Comment: We have no plan to take as many people as possible or, on the contrary, to limit the limit. Our goal is to focus on the quality of the players. We want to find guys who can potentially progress better than the rest.

If everything goes according to the best scenario, will I be able to get into the main team?

Answer: of course! You don't have to look far for an example. Ex-youth player Georgy Zhbanov is currently playing for the main team, and in a recent home match with CSKA he updated his performance record (18 points). In a word, everything is in your hands!

Everything is cool, but I sent a request for a long time, and you still have not answered. Why?

Response: We are not currently responding to these applications because the exact viewing dates have not yet been determined. As soon as everything is known, we will definitely let you know.

Can I get some advice from the coach before watching? What qualities will help me in the first place?

Answer: in short, you just have to be strong in spirit.

Comment: Unreal desire, perseverance and diligence. After all, to become a good player and prove yourself, often enough just a strong character. You may be weaker physically, but mentally you are already ready to endure all the difficulties of the training process and progress every day, and this is the most important thing. All the same, many, becoming players of the youth team and junior youth league, face great difficulties, because here you are far from your home, and being a schoolboy, it is very difficult to take such a step and completely change your life. At such moments, the character comes to the fore, so that in spite of everything, you continue to train and do not turn off the path you have chosen.

I got it. Please provide a link so I can submit the application.

Answer: applications are accepted in Google form http://bit.ly/2UOo7X0. If you have any questions, please ask: ikhairetdinov@nn-basket. ru. Important: Be sure to include "BKNN View" in the subject line of your email.

Other news from the Generation-NN category

"Volna" takes revenge on the "Seven" and becomes the U10 champion

Generation-NN

"Volna" takes revenge on the "Seven" and becomes the U10 champion

April 25, 2019

April 7-10 tour overview

Generation HH

April 7-10 tour overview

April 13, 2019

Many of you regularly ask questions about how to get into the Nizhny Novgorod BC, or rather, into the junior team and the junior youth team. After talking with the head coach of BC "NN-2" and BC "NN-3" Roman Gorelovsky, we decided to answer all at once and give you a detailed plan on how to conquer Nizhny. Let's get started!

So, I'm a basketball player. I think I'm pretty good. How old do I have to be to get into the structure of the club?

Answer: BC "NN" is considering candidates born in 2000 this year. and younger.

Comment: This year we will bet on 2003 and 2004. But do not think that everything will be limited only to these ages. If a guy a little older wants to get into the youth team or junior junior league, then we will definitely look at him so as not to miss anyone. But this is selective. By and large, a boy who comes to play with us must be a practically ready-made basketball player. Of course, we allow a certain level of shortcomings, permissible marriage, but still an understanding of the game should already be formed, because this is the maximum age for the main team. That is, a player who comes to us at the age of 20 cannot be at the same level of development as a guy born in 2004. As for the younger age limit, it is about 8-9Class.

Excellent. I fit the age criteria. What to do next?

Answer: send an application. We will talk about how to do this a little later.

Commentary: Initially, we look at where a potential player is from. If this is Nizhny Novgorod and nearby cities, then they just need to contact the club management or us, leave a request for viewing and arrive at the appointed time. If these are guys from other regions, then everything is a little more complicated here, but still the principle is the same. The necessary phone numbers and email addresses are publicly available on the site, so there should be no problems with this.

Understood. I sent an application. When can we expect a viewing?

Answer: We usually hold screenings during the May holidays or at the end of April, so as not to coincide with the days of school exams.

Comment: When applications have accumulated, we hold a meeting with the coaching staff, where we determine the date and place of viewings (usually these are May holidays), and even then we invite all the guys who left applications. We have been following some of the local guys for more than a year, we will see someone for the first time, but we still try to look through everyone in order to find out who deserves special attention in the future.

Let's say I came to this preview and the coaching staff liked me. What then?

Answer: do not rush to relax! Another viewing session ahead.

Commentary: We have a second preview for the guys we singled out on the first one. It passes at the beginning of summer. In fact, these are some kind of fees. Last year we went to the Gorodetsky district, this year, perhaps, there will be the Meshchersky sports complex or the base on the Bor. In a word, at these training camps we make a final conclusion on each player and understand whether he made it to the team or not.

I figured it out. And what happens on the screenings? What to be ready for?

Answer: in fact, this is a regular training, but only with a special purpose.

Commentary: We simply give the guys elementary basic exercises, on which we look at the technical preparedness of the player. That is, how he handles the ball, his dribbling, how much he controls his body, coordination, balance, how the guy learns information in exercises in pairs and triples, his physical condition and endurance, ability to play 1x1, well, game thinking . Although all this is difficult to see in one viewing fee, since constant communication and observation is necessary to fully understand the level of the player. And yet, some moments are noticeable already at the first interactions.

Will all players have a chance or do you select candidates for certain positions?

Answer: We are interested in absolutely all players, regardless of their role on the court.

Commentary: Absolutely any player can come and declare himself. Most importantly, send applications and indicate your data. We will definitely look at each guy, whether he was born in 2000 or 2004.

I am going to visit you from another region. Is it possible? Or are you looking for guys only from the Nizhny Novgorod region?

Answer: First of all, we are interested in local students who have been trained in sports schools in the Nizhny Novgorod region. But this does not mean that the doors of the club are closed to players from other regions.

Commentary: A person can come even from the other end of Russia. As, for example, the player "НН-2" this season Yegor Chepik. We saw this guy at the IES-BASKET SBL Superfinal, brought him from Blagoveshchensk, and he has been playing for the youth team for a year now. I can say that he has made great progress this season.

I looked at your current line-up and saw that there are a lot of young guys in the rosters. Does this mean that the set will not be as large?

Answer: not at all. The fact that there are practically no children of the maximum allowable age in the teams does not mean that the squads are completed for the next season. Viewings will take place as usual.

Commentary: We do not have a plan to take as many people as possible or, conversely, to limit the limit. Our goal is to focus on the quality of the players. We want to find guys who can potentially progress better than the rest.

If everything goes according to the best scenario, will I be able to get into the main team?

Answer: of course! You don't have to look far for an example. Ex-youth player Georgy Zhbanov is currently playing for the main team, and in a recent home match with CSKA he updated his performance record (18 points). In a word, everything is in your hands!

Everything is cool, but I sent a request for a long time, and you still have not answered. Why?

Response: We are not currently responding to these applications because the exact viewing dates have not yet been determined. As soon as everything is known, we will definitely let you know.

Can I get some advice from the coach before the screenings? What qualities will help me in the first place?

Answer: in short, you just have to be strong in spirit.

Comment: Unrealistic desire, perseverance and diligence. After all, to become a good player and prove yourself, often enough just a strong character. You may be weaker physically, but mentally you are already ready to endure all the difficulties of the training process and progress every day, and this is the most important thing. All the same, many, becoming players of the youth team and junior youth league, face great difficulties, because here you are far from your home, and being a schoolboy, it is very difficult to take such a step and completely change your life. At such moments, the character comes to the fore, so that in spite of everything, you continue to train and do not turn off the path you have chosen.

I understood everything. Please provide a link so I can submit the application.

More news from the Generation-НН category Volna takes revenge on the Seven and becomes the U10 championGeneration-NN Volna takes revenge on the Seven and becomes the U10 champion

Today we're going to take a look at the main aspects of the NBA draft. It is likely that you have already heard about it, but perhaps you do not know how the procedure itself is arranged. .

The

NBA Draft takes place annually and serves to attract new players to the league. Most of its participants, these are students playing in the NCAA, also cannot do without European players who have proven themselves well in the Euroleague and in international competitions. Often, high school students take part in the draft, although the league is struggling with this, it wants to see educated basketball players in it. By the way, it was from the school bench that Kevin Garnett and LeBron James came to the league. But Kobe Bryant got into the league after high school, straight off the street.

Let's talk about the draft procedure. Now it consists of 2 rounds. Each NBA club selects fielded players in order of their turn. Priority is given to weaker teams that did not qualify for the playoffs. Recently, a lottery procedure has been introduced. This was done so that the teams did not deliberately fail the end of the championship in order to get the first number in the draft.

A player selected for the draft NBA is obligated to sign a contract with the club that chose him, this is the law. The first contract for young players, as a rule, does not promise much profit, so they are happy to accept an invitation from any team. For them, the main thing is to get and gain a foothold in the NBA.

Quite often our players get drafted, so it was with Andrey Kirilenko, Alexey Shved, Viktor Khryapa and Sergey Monya, the list goes on, but here are those who were able to achieve at least something in the major league. By the way, in his first season, Andrei Kirilenko was one of the league's best rookies, which allowed him to take part in the All-Star game.

But you need to know how to get on the basketball team and what it takes? After all, the skills of the game can only be learned in a team.

Basketball team: what does it take to get into it?

Of course, everyone wants to be on a professional team. But this is not easy to do, for this you need to have 1 category in basketball. Any men's basketball team, just like women's, needs only professionals. But keep in mind that this sport is divided into two categories: professional league and amateurs.

If you have been playing basketball since your school days, and then participated in university city and district competitions, this is not a guarantee that you will be interested in a basketball club. For them, the main thing is how often your team won. And if the indicators turn out to be weak, then the road to professional basketball will be closed to you. But still, what ways can you take to get there?

  1. All professional basketball clubs are represented on the Internet. You need to go to the site and submit your application. If they are interested in a high-level player, they can invite you to watch. But if you get a refusal, do not despair, there are other options to get into a professional club.
  2. In every city there is a weaker both men's and women's basketball team, where it is much easier to get into. If you think that you deserve the best, then you need to show yourself as a leader in this team. When your team starts to win, then there is a chance to move to a higher level. After all, in professional clubs they are watching which players from the minor leagues they can strengthen their team.

In order to get into a lower-level basketball club, you also need to go online and apply. They will definitely ask where you performed. And then they will check what kind of team it is and how it showed itself in the competition.

Creation of an amateur basketball team

In fact, you can play basketball not only in a professional team, but also in an amateur one. Of course, the conditions here are not so good, but you will be doing your favorite thing. After all, in addition to the professional league, there is also an amateur one. To do this, you need to create your own basketball team with your friends. If there are not 10-12 avid basketball players among your friends, then you can go the other way.

To create a basketball team, a recruitment must be announced. And for this, there are special sports forums on the Internet. You should immediately contact the representative of the amateur league at the regional level and find out what conditions exist so that the team can participate in tournaments. We should try to discuss in advance on what conditions your team will be able to take part in the competition.

If you have leadership qualities, then you can definitely create a basketball team and become its captain. The main thing here is desire. And if you become a great player, you can find a sports agent who will look for a club for you at a higher level.

In the history of Ukrainian basketball there are not many players who have made successful careers abroad. And if it still succeeded, then, as a rule, already experienced basketball players with an established reputation. Standing apart in this row is the pupil of the Nikolaev sport swingman Sergey Gladyr, who left to play abroad at the age of 19. And no matter how critically someone evaluates Gladyr's successes, he has been spending his fifth season in the strongest leagues in Europe and has become one of the leaders of the Ukrainian national team, which has achieved the greatest success over the years of its existence. Due to an injury, Sergei was unable to enter the court in the Euroleague Kiev match with Budivelnyk, but this did not stop PB from talking to him about basketball and more.

- Sergey, at the age of 25 you managed to achieve a lot in sports with your work. And to whom do you owe your arrival in basketball?

- First of all, I owe it to my parents, since I have a basketball family. My father has been working in a basketball club all my adult life, my mother is a physical education teacher at the university, my sister also played basketball, my godfather is Valentin Berestnev. I often came to my dad to work in the gym and over time I fell in love with basketball. And now, since the age of five, I have not parted with the ball.

- Let's go in order. From Nikolaev, you were drafted to the NBA, and then signed a contract with the Spanish Manresa. Was it your goal to leave Ukraine?

-First of all, it was my desire. As a young ambitious player, I wanted to play at a higher level, I wanted to grow as a basketball player. At that time, I received an offer from Spain, and I immediately agreed. In my opinion, this was the perfect career path.

- You stayed in Spain for four years. How can you characterize the DIA League and how is it most different from the Ukrainian one?

- The difference in championships is big. If you compare me in the last season in Ukraine and the last season in Spain, then everything can be seen without words. More specifically, the leagues differ in the overall level of basketball, the skill of the league players, the organization of matches.

- You were selected in the NBA draft, but it didn't work out with America yet. Will there be more attempts to get overseas?

— To be honest, playing in the NBA is my dream. But I want to not just get there, but to play. Sitting on the bench and not knowing whether you will go out on the court today or not is not for me. But I would really like to play there and feel all this rhythm and the whole level of the strongest league in the world. So yes, I will try.

- The coach of the Ukrainian national team, Mike Fratello has considerable experience in America. Do you feel its influence on your gaming development? In particular, it seems that you have added in physical terms after the national team?

- Regarding my physical development, I'm just growing up. And of course, years of hard work come into play. Mike Fratello helps me grow both technically and mentally. But what swings physical training, it depends only on the player himself.

- Throwing is considered your strongest point. How would you characterize your weaknesses on the court?

- My weakness is the passage, I'm not too strong in this component yet. Of course, I know how to walk into the aisle, but still not as good as I would like in the first place myself. Another game aspect in which I have something to strive for is defense. Although I am considered a good defender, I myself am sure that I still need to work a lot on defensive actions.

- The Ukrainian team showed a phenomenal result in Slovenia - you are going to the World Cup. What are the team's ambitions there?

— We are going to the World Championship for the first time. And therefore, by and large, we have nothing to lose there. You just need to go out, play, give your best and that's it! In fact, do everything the same as we did in Slovenia, and then the result may be similar.

- Who is the main motivator of the national team in the locker room. Not counting, of course, the coach?

- Dima Zabirchenko, as a captain, tries to cheer everyone up and create a positive atmosphere. But he can scold, if necessary. In turn, I try to support him in all matters.

— After EuroBasket, where you were one of the leaders of the Ukrainian national team, you sign a contract with Nanterre. Were there any offers from the Superleague?

- "Nanterre" is my personal choice. There were proposals from Budivlnik, but we did not agree. Among a number of reasons, I was not happy that I would be the fifth or sixth small player in the squad. I would have to share playing time with players like Summers, Ahearn, Minard and Drozdov. Which means I wouldn't get a lot of playing time. At Nanterre, there were not so many quality players in my position. The high level of the French championship also played a role.

- Unlike Spain, many Americans play in the French league. How do you feel in such conditions?

- I'm getting used to it slowly, with each game it's getting easier and easier. I train with athletic and fast guys, and it spurs me on. It is clear that it is not easy physically, you need to maintain a high pace of games and training. Partly because of this, the knee could not stand it again. But we will work further.

- Continuing the theme of the Americans. At EuroBasket 2013, a new “legionnaire” appeared in the Ukrainian national team - Pooh Jetter. Do you think the Ukrainian national team is strong enough not to attract naturalized players?

- I think that at the moment we still lack the first number. As talented and productive as Mishula is, he lacks international experience. He is young and still needs to learn. For this, he has all the makings. If you take Lipovoy, he can take the ball out, play it, but still he is not the first number. Therefore, the main personnel problem of the national team was precisely in the position of a playmaker. We found a player who, in my opinion, is very suitable for our team. He fit into the team both as a person and as a player. Jeter was often the initiator of evening walks after the game, offering to walk and warm up. As a result, we went out to McDonald's for a bite to eat and talk. Pooh is very sociable as a person. And as a player, he helped us in every match.

- When you throw a three-pointer and hit, you make a characteristic gesture with your hand, putting it to your eye. What does this mean for you?

- In Spain, the games are broadcast on TV, and two years ago one of my friends told me: "Come on, when you score, show me like this!". So in this way, I kind of said hello to him. Since then, it has become a habit, and I already do it for good luck (laughs).

- Apart from basketball, your wife is an Olympic champion (Elena Khomrovaya, fencer - author's note). And you are considered the most successful sports couple in Ukraine. How do two athletes get along at home?

- Get along very well. Actually it helps a lot. We are both athletes, and both understand what it means to be far from home, without loved ones. What is it like to be tired after a workout, when there is no desire to see anyone, but you just want to watch a movie. In addition, Lena goes to all my games.

— And where did you meet?

Sergey: We studied together at the Nikolaev Higher School of Physical Culture

Elena: We studied in different classes. But we got to know each other closely in 2008 after the Olympics (Elena became the Olympic champion just in Beijing - author's note).

Sergey: I was also famous then (laughs). It was my first year in the national team.

— What basketball shoes do you prefer?

- I love Nike LeBron James. 10th model.

- Who was your childhood idol?

- I grew up on the games of MBK "Nikolaev". Didn't miss a single match. Then the leader of the team was Sasha Raevsky. For us, then, his level seemed something unrealistic. The most vivid memory is of 1998, when we beat Shakhtar in 3rd place. And the idol was Michael Jordan. Watching the NBA live at that time was not possible, but if I came across some kind of video, I immediately watched it to the holes (laughs).

— What is taboo in basketball for you?

- I never get into any conflicts and fights. Even if they attack a player of my team, I will only separate them. We play basketball, not boxing.

Source:

How does the draft work?
The NBA draft system is constantly changing. Once upon a time there was an infinite number of rounds, "territorial choice", to stand as a candidate right after school.
All players who meet special conditions can be drafted, which will be discussed in more detail a little later.
Teams also participate in a lottery to determine who and under what number will choose. As a rule, the best players are taken under the first draft numbers, but this does not always happen. For example, Darko Milicic, who was selected at number 2 in 2003 right after LeBron, but never received any big awards in the NBA. On the other hand, there are players who were selected in the second round of the draft but became stars: Nikola Jokic (41st pick), Marc Gasol (48th pick), Isaiah Thomas (60th pick) and the list goes on.
The draft lottery is held one month before the draft. Based on its results, the order of selection of players by teams that did not make it to the playoffs is determined. Playoff teams are assigned a draft pick number based on their final spot in the regular season.


Learn more