Mikhail Brodsky has publicly condemned Ukrainian NBA players who declined to join the national basketball team for crucial qualification matches. The Ukrainian Basketball Federation President didn't mince words, labeling the absence of Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, Alex Len, and Dmytro Skapintsev from pre-qualification games for the 2027 World Championship as a "disgrace."
"I'm sitting and thinking, what if our Ukrainians abroad start attending games of these refusers with signs calling them traitors? They'll meet them at their homes... I think this will happen worldwide. It would be fair... This cannot be forgiven, at minimum for Skapintsev and Gerun. Shame and shame," Brodsky wrote on Facebook.
Vladimir Gerun also declined the call-up. Head coach Ainars Bagatskis had previously explained that Gerun's situation involved family circumstances, health issues, and contract concerns.
The coach himself couldn't contain his emotions after Ukraine's victory over Slovakia. In a live broadcast, Bagatskis called those who refused to join "real scum" while highlighting the dedication of players who did show up.
Reactions from the basketball community were equally harsh. Interestingly, Andriy Agafonov, captain of "Cherkasy Mavpy," went as far as declaring that "they are not Ukrainians," referring to the mental distance these overseas players have from their homeland.
All this drama unfolds at a critical moment in Ukraine's campaign. After losing to Switzerland (64:66) and defeating Slovakia (80:71), the Ukrainian squad currently leads their qualification group.
The decisive second round begins August 12 with Switzerland facing Slovakia. Can Ukraine advance to the next stage without their NBA talents? The basketball federation certainly believes so, but at what cost to the team's relationship with its international stars?
