Ukrainian Players in the NBA
This report covers the recent performances of Ukrainian basketball players in the NBA, as well as the Ukrainian national team's results in the 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifiers. Svi Mykhailiuk and Maksym Shulga continue to represent Ukraine at the highest level of professional basketball.
For the Utah Jazz in their 125-128 loss to the Denver Nuggets, Svi Mykhailiuk played 26 minutes. He contributed 15 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, and 1 foul. During the 2023-2024 season, Mykhailiuk has appeared in 48 games, averaging 23.4 minutes, 9.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game.
Maksym Shulga saw 2 minutes of action for the Boston Celtics in their 108-81 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, recording 1 foul during his time on the court.
2027 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers
On the international stage, Ukraine's national team continues its campaign to qualify for the 2027 FIBA World Cup. In the fourth qualifying round, the team suffered a 78-64 defeat against Spain. Spain had also defeated Ukraine in the third round, with a score of 86-66. However, Ukraine secured a convincing 88-71 victory over Denmark in the second round, following an initial 92-79 win against Georgia in the first qualifying match.
Ukraine's starting lineup against Spain featured:
- Lukashov (6 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists)
- Kovliar (11 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists)
- Tkachenko (4 points, 2 rebounds)
- Voinarovych (12 points, 2 assists)
- Skapintsev (4 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists)
Contributions also came from Lipovyi, Bobrov, Zotov, Pustovyi, Tyrtyshnyk, Shelest, and Sushkin.
These results highlight the active participation of Ukrainian basketball talent in both elite club competitions and international fixtures. The presence of players like Mykhailiuk and Shulga in the NBA provides valuable exposure and experience that can benefit the development of the sport within Ukraine, even as the national team faces tough competition in its qualifying group.