Oleksandr Proshuta writes about devastating war damage to Ukrainian basketball / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

One of the most famous Ukrainian basketball journalists, Oleksandr Proshuta, has published a letter on the "Medium.com" website, describing how the Russian aggression has shattered Ukrainian basketball.

Letter:

"Three weeks ago, on February 8th, Prometey beat Unicaja in BCL Top-16 game. The duel was played in Zaporizhzhya, my native city. Great game, emotional ending, W for Ukrainian club versus one of the historic clubs in the European game. I was even asked to host a post-game press conference and got praise from coach Ronen Ginzburg for the excellent translation.

Imports were already leaving Ukraine. They were scared. Parents/families begged them to come back. The USA advised, than demanded them to leave. Some decided to stay. Some left. Without any declarations. At night, quietly.

Clubs couldn't control it. Clubs were devastated. It was completely safe in Ukraine at that moment. But we couldn't hold against the US Department of state and U.S. media. We didn't believe media reports are true about the plans of Russian Hitler.

I took a day off after tripping to ZP. Sit at one of my favorite places in Kyiv  —  Poshtova Ploscha, right on the Dnipro River. To take a minute and think in silence.

While thinking, I started crying. Distinct memories of 2014 came to mind.

We had an amazing basketball league at that time. Budivelnyk made their first appearance in the EuroLeague. Donetsk and Azovmash were regional top teams. The level of the league was ridiculous.

NT finished 6th at EuroBasket 2013 and qualified for World Cup. To play vs freaking Team USA! Versus coach Mike Krzyzewski, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kyrie Irving, and Anthony Davis. We were selected to host EuroBasket 2015.

I started getting decent payment while writing/talking about my favorite sport. My word became respected in our country and even Europe.

It disappeared in a moment. Because of war. Because of Russia's will "to take back" Crimea and "free" Donbas.

And it took 7 long years to recuperate that level. 7 years of watching pretty sh*tty ball every week. 7 years of trying not to lose the connection between us and good games. 7 years of trying to promote an almost unpromotable product, getting a small salary.

Because we love it. I love it.

Finally, we are back. More than a decent league once again. 90% of notable Ukrainian players came back home. Miro Bilan, D'Angelo Harrison, DJ Kennedy, Archie Goodwin, etc.  I couldn't believe I report the news about these players coming to Ukraine. To play here. Every week! Ronen Ginzburg? Here? Are you serious?! After some seasons we had 10 very average imports for the whole league!

I distinctly remember my amazement when I met Miro Bilan in person 2 years ago in Pesaro, at Italian Final Eight. He was eating at the same restaurant with me, two tables to the left. I've celebrated for a week when Kyiv-Basket got Karsiyaka as an opponent in FIBA Europe Cup. DJ Kennedy came to Kyiv with this packed group (Mbaye, Erden, Tony Crocker, etc). They played like Gods.

These heights seemed unreachable. Now all these players are bound to play in Ukraine every day.

League was really interesting. Every game mattered. Kyiv-Basket had a decent run in FIBA Europe Cup. An amazing game over Reggiana in Kyiv will be in my head forever. This atmosphere… And Prometey… What a team they've made!

Personally, everything got back on track also. We launched a podcast on our basketball that converted to a real YouTube show. The audience got into it quickly and really loved our efforts. Great stuff on the way.

It took 6 years to get back. Not to EuroLeague, but at least here. And this all will disappear once again?!

No!!!

But… The reality was ready to hit much harder. I understood it. And started crying.

Of frustration and impotence to prevent it. Because of flashbacks.

Helplessness…

Meanwhile, I was also distinctly angry. While imports were leaving Ukraine and our league was sinking, I was reading interviews of this a**hole named Andrey Vatutin and his so-called great club from Moscow.

"We don't have stars. Our budget is good, but not amazing," all this sh*t.

Are you f*cking serious?! You have a 30 million budget at least. You have Tornike Shengelia, Iffe Lundberg, Nikola Milutinov, Marius Grigonis, Daniel Hackett, Will Clyburn, and other stars. Your stars earn more in a minute than imports in Ukrainian clubs in a month.

And you don't have stars?! You are signing Kevin Pangos for 6 million. Directly from NBA.

While we are losing Evan Maxwells, Avery Woodsons and it feels like a tragedy. You don't even know who is it and how they look.

And losing them because of your f*cking country. Because your country surrounded Ukraine from 3 sides, making all us nervous.

That's all made me sick.

But till the very late Wednesday evening, on February 23th, we were sure that they won't attack us. That we can save our country. Can even conserve our basketball and not let it roll back for another 7 years.

Especially, while Prometey managed to relocate their teams to Europe. While our NT traveled to Spain for FIBA WCQ game ready to give a fight to world champs.

Even after they've officially acknowledged so-called republics in Donbas during this Muppet show in the Kremlin.

That's all changed at 5 AM on February 24th.

The rest you know.

Our NT players are real heroes when they stepped on court to play vs Spain, but excluding this — there is no place for basketball in our life anymore. At least, temporarily.

I'm sure we will be back. Sooner or later.

We will be back stronger. Because our economy is in much better shape than 8 years ago. It's a matter of time.

Our anthem will be played at the final stages of EuroBaskets and World Cups, our clubs will present the country as best as possible."

You can read the remaining letter here.

Thank you for reading us! Help us even more.