By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The president of the Russian Basketball Federation, Andrei Kirilenko, updated the basketball status of his country in an interview with Marc Mundet for Spanish outlet Gigantes.
The national teams of Russia have been suspended from international competitions as well as clubs of the country since 2022, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“For the past five years, we’ve been out of basketball. After the coronavirus pandemic for a year and a half, we returned for six months, and have been in isolation since. For five years, we haven’t had high-level basketball. We want to return. We want to be part of the basketball,” detailed the 44-year-old former player, “I think it’s unfair for Russian basketball not to be there.”
Russia is suspended until further notice, but Kirilenko shares his plans for the future and a possible return to major tournaments of FIBA.
“We won’t be far from the level we were,” he made projections for the senior and junior national teams, “It will take some time to adapt, but we will be capable of competing. We are a competitive country and have always been in all tournaments. We lack rhythm, and we need to catch up by playing official games.”
“It has been a very strange period for us, but I must thank FIBA for their patience and cooperation,” added Kirilenko, “We have been constantly informed about developments, possible return dates, and requirements for a return.”
The former NBA player was elected president of RBF in 2015, after he wrapped his his playing days with CSKA.
“This is not a basketball issue, but a political issue,” he shared his view on the current situation regarding basketball in his country, “As a federation, we understand that 95% of other federations in the world support our return.”
“There are organizations that want to use basketball as a political weapon against Russia. I understand that, but we can’t do anything about it. When the political side of the conflict is, I don’t want to say resolved, but certainly channeled, then we’ll return as a basketball nation. It’s only a matter of time,” he said.
“Over the last 100 years, there have been conflicts of all kinds. If you must consider all of them, there wouldn’t be basketball. It’s happening in Israel and Palestine, in South Sudan. There are constant conflicts around the world, and I don’t know what basketball has to do with all of this. It’s unfair. But what can we do? Nothing. That’s why we’ve focused on projects within the country,” he added.
“There are cases like CSKA, which aren’t allowed to play in the EuroLeague but vote and participate in decisions as owners. There’s a double standard. It’s funny, sad, and unfair all at the same time. But it doesn’t depend on us,” he referred to his former team being suspended the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague but retaining a role as Euroleague Basketball shareholder, “CSKA’s return to the EuroLeague would help the Russian Basketball Federation’s return. For an organization as large as the IOC, it’s always much easier to make decisions when they look at specific cases, whether in cases like the EuroLeague or others. It’s very difficult to act first, especially with such large organizations.”
“At the FIBA Congress in May, we’ll be allowed to intervene, but I don’t think there will be many changes. The real decision will be at the end of June, with the inauguration of the new IOC president. The world of sports is pyramid-shaped, and the recommendations issued by the International Olympic Committee to the International Federations depend solely on them,” he explained.
Kirilenko also talked about the announced plans for a new continental competition in Europe behind the collaboration between FIBA and the NBA.
“It’s great news,” he said, “FIBA has been trying to find a partner to take it to the next level, and the NBA can help in this regard. It’s a bit early to know what kind of competition it will be and what format it will have, but it’s clear the NBA has all the tools to succeed. It’s delicate, because Europe has its idiosyncrasies, but FIBA will help with that.”
“It’s not the right time,” he focused on a possible impact on Russian basketball teams, “Sooner or later, teams will be part of a league, similar to the Euroleague and FIBA basketball. Russia will return. This is inevitable. When? I don’t know. It’s not up to me, but Russian basketball is an important part of European and world basketball. That’s clear and there’s no room for doubt.”