We are recalling all foreign players that ever have played in the League, telling about foreign championships and National teams of different countries in World basketball map project. Today we will speak about Bulgaria.
Population: 6,9 mln
Players in the history of League: 4.
Full list of players: Nikolay Varbanov, Filip Videnov, Deyan Ivanov, Kaloyan Ivanov.
The first and the most famous Bulgarian player in the history of VTB United League is Filip Videnov. He was born in Ruse, played in school and university (1999-2003) in USA, then he played for Real Madrid (2006), and in the begining of 10-s joined VTB League. Videnov played for Asseko Prokom (2010-11), Nizhny Novgorod (2012-13) and Krasnye Krylia (2013-14), participated in 29 games overall (8,3 PPG).
In 2011/12 season center Nikolay Varbanov wore Kalev’s jersey for 12 times, Deyan Ivanov played in 16 games for Lietuvos Rytas during 2012/13 season, and Kaloyan Ivanov played 4 games as a Donetsk player in the same season.
Moreover, 6 more Bulgarian citizens played in VTB United League: Earl Rowland (VEF, Khimki), Branko Mirkovic (Tsmoki-Minsk), Cedric Simmons (Kalev), Dee Bost (Khimki), Roderick Blakney (Lokomotiv-Kuban) and Willie Deane (Krasnyi Oktyabr).
Basketball in Bulgaria
League: National Basketball League (NBL)
Founded: in 1942
Number of teams: 10
League’s web-site: https://nbl.basketball.bg/
Bulgarian National Basketball League – one of the oldest in the world, this year it’s been 78th anniversary. 9 different teams won the League, the most titled team – Academic has one NBL 26 times.
In past season 3 Bulgarian teams participated in international tournaments: Balkan played in Champions League qualifications, and Levski Lukoil and Beroe – in FIBA Europe Cup.
It’s interesting that all 10 Bulgarian teams are located in different cities.
A few VTB United League players managed to play in Bulgarian championship. Among them: Brandon Brown (Nizhny Novgorod), Lionel Chalmers (Lokomotiv-Kuban), Mike Wilkinson (UNICS), Steve Zack (VEF), Sasa Zagorac (PARMA), Brandis Raley-Ross (Kalev) and Alexandre Gavrilovic (Tsmoki-Minsk). While Gavrilovic was playing in Bulgaria he even made a tatoo on the right arm with the name of the club he was playing for.
Interesting fact
In the first two Euroleague seasons Academic played in finals. Back then there was 2-win final series. In both cases – in 1958 and 1959 Academic lost 0:2 to ASK Riga from USSR.
Bulgarian National team
FIBA rank: 50
FIBA members: since 1935
Achievements: 1957 Eurobasket silver, 1961 Eurobasket bronze
Bulgaria was one of the first countries to join FIBA organization. It happened in 1935. Then, the first Europe championship took place, 10 teams participated in it including Bulgaria.
50-s and 60-s was the most successful period for them, the National team regularly was Top-10 of the Old World and was fighting for medals. In 1957 on a home championship Bulgaria lost to USSR National team in final, and four years later Soviet Union beat Bulgaria again in semi-finals (54:77), thus the Lions could win only bronze medals.
Moreover, Bulgarian National team participated in Olympic Games 4 times (1952, 1956, 1960, 1968) and in World Cup 1959.
The most famous Bulgarian players in history
Atanas Golomeev. Eurobasket 2-time best scorer (1973, 1975), 10-time Bulgaria champion and 4-time Bulgarian Cup winner. In 1991 Golomeev became FIBA top-50 greatest players of All-Time, and in 2019 joined FIBA Hall of Fame.
Georgi Glouchkov. The only Bulgarian to ever play in NBA. In 1985 Glouchkov was selected by Phoenix Suns with the 148th overall pick (7th round). He spent one season there – 49 games (16 as starter), 4,9 points, 3,3 rebounds.
Viktor Radev. One of the best Bulgarian players in 50/60s. Being National team player, Radev won Eurobasket medals in 1957 and 1961, and played in Euroleague finals two times with Academic. In 4 Euroleague finals’ games in 1958 and 1959 Viktor Radev scored 90 points.
Georgi Mladenov. Bulgaria 11-time champion and 7-time Bulgarian Cup winner. Furthermore, Mladenov was FIBA Saporta Cup top scorer for two times, averaging 30,3 points in 1993/94 season and 29,3 points in 1996/97.
Aleksandar Vezenkov. The most recognisable Bulgarian in basketball nowadays. In 2015, aged 19 Vezenkov became Greece championship MVP as Aris player, and in 2017 he was selected with the 57th pick at the NBA Draft. Today, Aleksandar plays for Olympiacos.
