GEORGI GLUSHKOV – THE FIRST EASTERN EUROPEAN IN THE ALIEN LEAGUE

GEORGI GLUSHKOV – THE FIRST EASTERN EUROPEAN IN THE ALIEN LEAGUE

In November 2021, Georgi Glushkov was re-elected president of the Bulgarian Basketball Federation. In fact, the 203-centimeter former basketball player has been leading the organization since 2011, and at the end of his previous management, our national team reached the participation in the European Championship after a long break, and without having such a large number of stars in its composition. But the trust in Georgi Glushkov and the decisions he is capable of making came years earlier. During his career, he literally paved the way for Eastern Europe to the National Basketball Association. The reason? In 1985, he was the first representative of this part of the world to be selected in the NBA draft and played with the strongest.

The professional career of the legendary basketball player born in Tryavna began in Yambol. Within a few years, the wing passes successively through CSKA, Balkan and Akademik Varna. It was with Varna that Glushkov raised his game to a level that made him dream, and in 1985 he participated in the National Basketball Association draft.

Class 85 turns out to be quite strong. Five of them made it to the Hall of Fame after the end of their careers, and Georgi Glushkov was selected in the 7th round at number 148 out of a total of 162 selected. Phoenix Suns vote of confidence in the Bulgarian, but life in Arizona turns out to be difficult for him. In his only season in the league, Glushkov played 49 games, 16 of which were as a starter. He averaged 4.9 points and 3.3 rebounds and has been an important part of the Suns' rotation for a long time.

But the heavy winger's body weight has skyrocketed, and rumors suggest that the reason for this is an addiction to fast food in the States. Ahead of the 1986/87 season, he shed a lot of weight, but showed a below-typical summer league performance. Phoenix doubts Glushkov is taking steroids to maintain his weight and the Suns are sending the Bulgarian back to Europe after just one year. There he finished his long career in 2003 for teams from Italy, Bulgaria and Spain. But despite the controversy in the USA, Glushkov forever remains the first Bulgarian and the first Eastern European in the NBA. Showed his talent, but unfortunately not to the full extent.

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