NBA 'Utah Jazz' player Svyatoslav Mykhailiuk explained why he will not be able to play in the upcoming matches of the Ukrainian national basketball team due to a foot injury. This was reported by Base of Ukrainian sports and 'Glavkom'.
This week, the Ukrainian national basketball team will begin participating in the pre-qualifications for the 2027 World Cup, playing against the national teams of Slovakia and Switzerland.
«At the moment, I have a foot injury. I'm undergoing treatment. Due to my health condition, I cannot help the team, no matter how much I want to. Therefore, I have no opportunity to assist the team in these games», – stated Svyatoslav Mykhailiuk.
Head coach of the Ukrainian national basketball team Ainars Bagatskis announced that Ukrainian players who play in the NBA have refused to participate in the pre-qualifying games for the 2027 World Cup, including Mykhailiuk, Alexey Len, Maxim Shulga, and Dmitry Skapintsev.
Expanded roster of the Ukrainian national basketball team
Guards
- Alexander Kovlyar, Buducnost, Montenegro
- Vitaliy Zotov, Jonava, Lithuania
- Isufy Sanon, VEF, Latvia
- Ilya Tyrtyshnyk, Orasi Ravenna, Italy
- Maxim Shulga, Boston Celtics, USA
- Svyatoslav Mykhailiuk, Utah Jazz, USA
- Mikhail Bublyk, Kyiv-Basket, Ukraine
Forwards
- Bogdan Bliznyuk, Jonava, Lithuania
- Vladimir Konev, Dnipro, Ukraine
- Ivan Tkachенко, Mitteldoycher, Germany
- Artem Kovalov, Tangieran Hawks, Indonesia
- Alexander Lipovoy, Colossus, Greece
- Andrey Voynalovich, Sabah, Azerbaijan
- Vyacheslav Bobrov, VEF, Latvia
- Vladislav Semerich, Indian Hills, USA
- The Ukrainian national team will nominally play home pre-qualification matches for the 2027 World Cup in Riga
Centers
- Maxim Klichko, Monaco, France
- Daniil Syppalo, Dnipro, Ukraine
- Rostislav Novitskiy, Valmiera, Latvia
- Vyacheslav Kravtsov, Borneo Hornbills, Indonesia
- Artem Pustovoy, Sartoria Muda, Indonesia
- Alexey Len, Los Angeles Lakers, USA
- Dmitry Skapintsev, Rip City Remix, USA
Head coach - Ainars Bagatskis
Assistants - Sergey Gladyr, Valery Plekhanov, Raimonds Feldmanis
The explanation of Svyatoslav Mykhailiuk regarding his inability to participate in the matches of the Ukrainian national team due to a foot injury becomes the reason for his absence in the pre-qualifications for the 2027 World Cup. Additionally, other players participating in the NBA declined to play, which may affect the team's composition and performance.