Head Coach of Ukraine’s Basketball Team Labels Players Who Ignored Invitations as ‘Degenerates’
Following Ukraine’s decisive victory over Slovakia with a score of 80:71 in the FIBA World Cup 2027 pre-qualification stage, head coach of the men’s national basketball team, Ainars Bagatskis, addressed a particularly painful and emotional topic — the betrayal and refusal of some players to join the national squad.
During his heartfelt speech, he expressed disappointment and frustration towards those athletes who failed to respond to the team’s calls and who, through their actions, cast doubt on the years of development and effort invested into Ukrainian basketball.
Bagatskis sharply criticized the players who recklessly ignored the coaching staff’s requests, calling them outright ‘degenerates.’ According to him, Ukrainian basketball is currently experiencing a difficult period due to such indifference and betrayal.
He appealed to fans and society to support the players who devote themselves fully to representing Ukraine with pride, training diligently, sweating on the court, and fighting for the national honor.
The coach admitted that his harsh words stem from deep emotional pain and anger, as many of his players understand that competing at the international level isn’t accessible to everyone, and in such a situation, they need the trust and support of their homeland.
Earlier, the Basketball Federation of Ukraine reported that three players — Alexey Lenz, Sviatoslav Mikhaylyuk, and Dmytro Skapinets — were ignored or consciously rejected invitations to join the national team.
This situation is especially painful amid Ukraine’s first victory after a defeat to Switzerland, and the team prepares for their upcoming match in Riga against the Swiss squad.
These events highlight ongoing internal conflicts within Ukrainian basketball and raise concerns about the unity and resilience of the national team in their quest for a spot in the World Championship.