Vyacheslav Kravtsov, the 37-year-old veteran of the Ukrainian national basketball team, has expressed his readiness to help the team in the upcoming World Cup pre-qualification matches. The experienced center shared his thoughts about the squad's preparation and the challenges they face in their group with Switzerland and Slovakia.
"I'm ready to help the national team – this is the main motivation for me," Kravtsov stated, adding that his continued selection for the national team indicates he's still playing at a high level.
Kravtsov didn't shy away from addressing the team's recent struggles in the EuroBasket 2025 qualification. He pointed to significant roster changes as a key factor affecting performance.
"When a team undergoes major roster changes, it always experiences stress. During the national team's good performances, the roster barely changed – just two or three players, no more. In recent years, the national team has changed significantly. Veterans are gradually leaving, while young players may feel insecure, lack experience, or get nervous."
Interestingly, Kravtsov seems impressed with the newcomers in the team's frontcourt. He specifically praised Novitskyi, predicting a bright future for him. As for Sipalo and Klichko, he considers them talented but still developing.
"Sipalo reminds me of myself at his age," Kravtsov noted, highlighting the player's versatility and understanding of timing in the game.
Regarding the return of head coach Ainars Bagatskis, Kravtsov took a professional stance: "That's life. Coaches change. I have good relationships with everyone, so I can't say much on this topic. A new coach has arrived, we need to work with him. Moreover, we've already worked with him before. We know many things, so it will be easier to adapt."
Ukraine faces a challenging group in the World Cup pre-qualification tournament, with matches against Switzerland and Slovakia. The competition begins on August 6 with an away game in Switzerland, followed by home matches against Slovakia (August 9) and Switzerland (August 16), before concluding with an away game in Slovakia on August 20.
Kravtsov expects tough competition: "I expect it to be very difficult. The toughest groups are those where teams are nearly at the same level. Success will be determined not by skill but by experience and focus in each game."
The veteran also addressed the issue of player commitment to the national team, supporting the position of Ukrainian Basketball Federation President Mikhail Brodsky.
"I remember years when 20-30 national team players would come, everyone wanted to make the roster. I also have complaints about some players. Why can they so easily refuse a camp invitation or a call-up to the national team? I hope this won't happen in the summer and everyone who's called will come, then the coach will decide who stays."
Will Ukraine secure one of the two qualifying spots from Group A? With veterans like Kravtsov bringing experience and young talents developing, the team's chances look promising despite the challenges ahead.
