Shulga's Move to the NBA
The Boston Celtics have agreed to a standard two-year contract with Ukrainian basketball player Maksym Shulga. The 23-year-old guard was originally selected by Boston with the 57th overall pick in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft. This past season, he developed his game with the franchise's G League affiliate, the Maine Celtics, appearing in 23 games.
Shulga posted solid averages in the G League, scoring 16.2 points, grabbing 4.5 rebounds, and dishing out 7.1 assists per game while shooting 39.9% from three-point range. He averaged approximately 34 minutes of playing time. He also earned three appearances for the main Celtics roster during the NBA regular season, gaining valuable experience at the highest level.
Performances for the Ukrainian National Team
Beyond his club career, Shulga's progress coincides with the Ukrainian national team's campaign in the 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifiers. In the fourth qualifying round, Ukraine fell to Spain with a score of 78:64. The top performers for Ukraine in that game were Kovliar with 11 points and Voinalovych with 12 points.
Spain also defeated Ukraine in the third qualifying round, this time by a score of 86:66. However, Ukraine secured convincing victories in earlier matches. They defeated Denmark 88:71 in the second round and opened the qualifiers with a 92:79 win over Georgia. In the win against Georgia, Kovliar was the standout player, recording 31 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. Shulga, as one of Ukraine's promising talents, continues to showcase his potential both for his national team and his professional club.
Shulga's contract with the Celtics represents a significant milestone not just for the player, but for Ukrainian basketball as a whole. It highlights the growing recognition and competitiveness of Ukrainian talent on the global stage.
Amid the national team's active schedule in international competitions, the success of players like Shulga can help foster the growth of basketball in Ukraine and draw more attention to its domestic leagues. This underscores the importance of nurturing young talent within the country who possess the potential to succeed at the sport's highest levels.