Andriy Butko Joins Kyiv-Basket
Kyiv-Basket has officially signed 20-year-old forward Andriy Butko, a homegrown talent from the capital. This move comes as the club looks to build on a strong season, where they finished as runners-up in the Super League and claimed the Ukrainian Cup. Butko returns from Spain, where he played for the Spanish Basketball Academy (SBA). In his last season in Spain’s third division, he appeared in 10 games, averaging 0.7 points, 0.2 rebounds, and 0.1 assists over 4.2 minutes per game. SBA placed fourth in the regular season and advanced to the playoff semifinals.
Experience and Track Record
During the summer of 2025, Butko competed in the U-20 EuroBasket under head coach Valeriy Plekhanov. He averaged 3.9 points, 1.6 rebounds, 0.6 assists, and 1.0 steals over 15.2 minutes per game. This international experience is expected to benefit his development with Kyiv-Basket.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian national basketball team continues its campaign in the 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifiers. In the fourth round, Ukraine fell to Spain 78-64. The team’s quarter-by-quarter performance was as follows:
- 16-9
- 12-12
- 24-22
- 26-21
In the third qualifying round, Ukraine also lost to Spain, this time 86-66. However, they showed strength in the second round by defeating Denmark 88-71, and opened the qualifiers with a 92-79 win over Georgia.
In the Georgia-Ukraine match, Oleksandr Kovliar was the top scorer with 31 points in 37 minutes. Other standouts included Oleksandr Lypovyi with 13 points and Viacheslav Bobrov, who recorded a double-double of 11 points and 15 rebounds.
Kyiv-Basket and the national team are both focused on improving their performances, and the signing of Andriy Butko could be a key step in that process.
Bringing Butko on board signals Kyiv-Basket’s intent to strengthen the squad and elevate their game, especially after the club’s recent successes in domestic competitions.
With his time in Spain and participation in international tournaments, Butko is expected to bring fresh ideas and energy to the team. This move also highlights the growing emphasis on developing young players in Ukrainian basketball, which could have a positive impact on the national team’s future.
As Kyiv-Basket seeks to enhance its roster, the recent addition of Andriy Butko is not the only significant change within the organization. The team has also made headlines by appointing a new head coach, aiming to bring fresh strategies and perspectives to their game. For more on this coaching shift and its potential impact on the team's future, read about the new leadership at Kyiv-Basket.