Alexander Kovliar has made Ukrainian basketball history by scoring 33 points in a single game, setting a new national team record during Ukraine's pre-qualification match for the 2027 World Cup against Slovakia. The 23-year-old guard's performance marks the first time in 34 years that a Ukrainian national team player has broken the 30-point barrier in an official game.
"This achievement means a lot, but the team victory was more important for us," the "Budućnost" player might have said after his stellar performance that helped Ukraine secure a 98-86 win in Bratislava.
Kovliar's record-breaking night included not just scoring but an all-around performance with six rebounds and six assists, resulting in an impressive 32 efficiency rating. His clutch play in the fourth quarter effectively stopped Slovakia's comeback attempt, showing why the Montenegrin club "Budućnost" signed him this summer for their EuroCup campaign.
Before Kovliar's breakthrough, the Ukrainian national team had a 30-year scoring record that proved surprisingly difficult to break. Neither NBA players nor naturalized Americans who represented Ukraine had managed to cross the 30-point threshold in official competitions.
Artem Pustovyi previously shared the record with 29 points, scored against Lithuania at EuroBasket 2017. Interestingly, the center achieved this impressive tally while facing NBA-caliber opponents like Jonas Valanciunas and Donatas Motiejunas, though Ukraine ultimately lost that game 94-62.
Alexei Pecherov also tallied 29 points in a crucial overtime victory against Estonia during the 2009 EuroBasket qualification relegation round. The former NBA player dominated that August 2009 period with another outstanding 28-point, 17-rebound performance against Hungary just three days earlier.
Artur Drozdov, perhaps the best small forward in Ukrainian basketball history, rounds out the top scorers with 28 points against the Netherlands during EuroBasket 2003 qualification. Playing for French club "Pau-Orthez" at the time, Drozdov averaged 18 points during that qualification campaign.
The timing of Kovliar's breakthrough couldn't be better. After a disappointing EuroBasket 2025 qualification campaign, the young guard has potentially cemented his position as Ukraine's primary playmaker for years to come. By the way, his performance in Bratislava included an elite fourth quarter that showcased his full potential.
Will this record stand for another three decades? Ukrainian basketball fans certainly hope not. Instead, they're looking forward to more record-breaking performances that help bring victories to the national team. For now, though, Kovliar's name stands atop the list of Ukrainian basketball's greatest individual scoring achievements.
