We are recalling all foreign players that have ever played in the League, telling about foreign championships and National teams of different countries in World basketball map project. Today we’re going to talk about basketball in Georgia.
Population: 3,7 mln
Players in the history of League: 14.
Full list of players: Micheil Berishvili, Joseph Bibiluri, Goga Bitadze, Merab Bokolishvili, Luka Giorgadze, David Maisuradze, Manuchar Markoishvili, Levan Patsatsia, Maizer Revazashvili, Viktor Sanikidze, Beka Tsivtsivadze, George Tsyntsadze, Irakli Chlaidze, Levan Shengelia.
10 Georgian players out of 14 that have played in VTB United League, played in Vita Tbilisi in 2015/16 season. Goga Bitadze is one of them, the only Georgian player in NBA nowadays. Bitadze debuted in the League at the age of 16 years and 78 days (championship record) averaging in 2015/16 2,8 points and 1,7 rebounds in 6 games.
In 2014/15 season Georgian players have been representing CSKA, UNICS and Nizhny Novgorod. The guard Manuchar Markoishvili wore CSKA jersey and became VTB United League champion. Viktor Sanikidze played in Kazan and forward Levan Patsatsia played for Nizhny Novgorod.
The first ever Georgian player in the history of championship is George Tsyntsadze. In 2013/14 season the guard spent 13 games for Donetsk averaging 5,8 points and 3,4 assists.
Moreover, there were 3 American players with Georgian citizenship in the history of League: Matt Janning (Lokomotiv-Kuban, 2015-2017), Michael Dixon (Nymburk, 2015-2016) and Jacob Pullen (Khimki, 2016-2017).
Basketball in Georgia
League: Georgian Superliga
Founded: in1990
Number of teams: 11
League’s web-site: http://www.superleague.ge
There are 11 teams competing in Georgian League, 8 of them qualify to play-offs after the regular season (all series are played till 3 wins). Tenth team plays 3-win series with second team from 2nd division for the place in higher division, and the last team is eliminated from higher league, its place is given to the best team from second division. In 2019/20 season 8 of 11 clubs are based in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia and play at Olympic Palace arena.
10 different teams became Georgia champions in 29-year history of the league. Tbilisi Vita and Dinamo has the most titles. Batumi has 5 championships.
The last time Georgian team participated in European tournaments was in 2018/19 season. Back then, Dinamo from Tbilisi couldn’t qualify first round of Champions League, losing to Aris after two games 118:182 (64:90, 54:92).
There are two individual awards in Georgian championship – season MVP and Rookie of the year. In 2011/12 season the rookie of the year was given to Vita ex-player Duda Sanadze, and in 2016/17 season former Donetsk player George Tsyntsadze became league’s MVP.
Interesting fact
With the 5th pick of 2002 NBA Draft the Denver Nuggets selected Georgian center Nikoloz Tskitishvili. Born in Tbilisi, he became the 3rd European player (after Shawn Bradley and Pau Gasol) that was selected with NBA Draft top-5 picks.
Tskitishvili spent 4 seasons in NBA, playing for Denver, Golden State, Minnesota and Phoenix.
Georgia National team
FIBA rank: 36
FIBA members: since 1992
Achievements: 4 Eurobasket participations (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017)
Georgia National team became FIBA member in 1992, first official game took place in 1995 (Poland vs Georgia – 91:68), and first Europe tournament participation happened in 2011. Since then, Crusaders (Geor. – ჯვაროსნები) constantly play in Eurobasket final part.
Georgia National team spent 237 games (119 wins – 118 losses) against 46 countries. Among significant victories – win over Croatia on 2015 Eurobasket 71:58, win over Lithuania on 2017 Eurobasket 79:77 and victory against Serbia on Eurobasket 2021 qualification – 94:90. It’s interesting that throughout the history Georgia won 3 of 5 games against Serbia.
Since 2001 Georgia National team has been headed by foreign specialists. Since 2001 till 2005 team played under Drazen Brajkovic coaching, 2005-2007 team was headed by new Avtodor coach Gordon Herbert, 2007-2008 – Canadian coach Ken Shields, 2008-2015 acting Fenerbahce head coach Igor Kokoshkov, and since 2016 National team is headed by Greek specialist Ilias Zouros.
The most famous Georgian players in history
Zaza Pachulia. Best Georgian player has 16 seasons in NBA. He is 2-time NBA champion (2017,2018) as a Golden State Warrior. After Pachulia retired in 2019 he became Warriors basketball operations assistant.
Tornike Shengelia. Eurocup champion (2010) and Spain champion (2020). In 2018 Georgian forward was included in Euroleague first season All-Team. Moreover, Shengelia has 2 NBA seasons for Brooklyn and Chicago.
Goga Bitadze. 18th pick of 2019 NBA Draft, Indiana center, the only Georgian in NBA in 2019/20 season. In 2019 Bitadze became Euroleague rising star, Adriatic League MVP, Serbia championship MVP and best young player of Adriatic League.
Giorgi Shermadini. 2-time Euroleague champion, Greece champion and FIBA International Cup winner. In 2017 and 2020 Georgian center was included in Spain championship first All-Team.
Manuchar Markoishvili. 2-time Georgia champion, 2-time Slovenia champion, Italy champion, Turkey, VTB United League and Eurocup. Since 2019 Manuchar Markoishvili has been Georgia National team head coach assistant, and since 2020 he has been heading Titebi from Tbilisi.
Worth mentioning: Nikoloz Tskitishvili, Viktor Sanikidze, George Tsyntsadze, Vladimir Boisa.
Dmitriy Kolinov
