Celtics
The five-year NBA veteran has already had a prolific, record-setting profession in basketball.
The Boston Celtics have bolstered their wing depth and rounded out their roster on Thursday by signing free agent Svi Mykhailiuk to a one-year deal.
Mykhailiuk began final season with the New York Knicks earlier than he was dealt to the Charlotte Hornets on the 2023 NBA Commerce Deadline. In whole, he has performed for six groups in 5 seasons within the NBA.
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Celtics signal sharpshooting veteran Svi Mykhailiuk to 1-year contract
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Rajon Rondo explains why he thought-about a commerce request as a Celtics rookie
Previous to this signing, rumors had surfaced that Mykhailiuk was leaning in the direction of signing with Panathinaikos Athens in Greece, however had been mulling over a minimal deal the Celtics provided him. Mykhailiuk’s determination to take Boston’s provide surprised some, since a contract with Panathinaikos would have been extra profitable. However he shifted course to remain within the NBA, and Boston received their man.
The Celtics had two accessible roster spots earlier than signing Mykhailiuk, however latest historical past means that president of basketball operations Brad Stevens will go away one roster spot open for flexibility functions, though it’s not identified if he’ll. If that is so, the Celtics have lately labored out quite a lot of wings for what is actually their ultimate roster spot, together with Glenn Robinson III, Louis King, T.J. Warren and Lamar Stevens. However they gave that spot to Mykhailiuk, who suits their want to have extra established gamers of their locker room as coaching camp attracts nearer.
However who’s Svi Mykhailiuk? What does he carry to the Boston Celtics, and why did they select to signal him over the plethora of forwards they labored out?
He’s an elite shooter.
Mykhailiuk’s calling card has all the time been his lethal capturing vary. All through his NBA profession, he has shot 36 % from behind the three-point line. Final season was the most effective capturing season of his profession, capturing a mixed 42.4 % on 3.7 makes an attempt per sport from past the arc with the Knicks (60 % on 0.8 makes an attempt per sport) and 40.4 % with the Hornets (40.4 % on 4.7 makes an attempt per sport).
The Celtics know all about Mykhailiuk’s capturing prowess. Sean Grande posted on X, the platform previously generally known as Twitter, that Mykhailiuk has shot a profession 44 % from three towards Boston in his profession. He’s made 24 three pointers towards the Celtics this season, which is the very best variety of threes he’s made towards anyone group. The Celtics are very conscious how deadly Mykhailiuk is from past the arc, and it appears probably that Mykhailiuk will primarily function a sharpshooter off the bench alongside Sam Hauser, torching opponents from far-off.
He began enjoying professionally over a decade in the past.
Regardless of not making his NBA debut till the 2018-19 season, Mykhailiuk is not any stranger to skilled basketball. When he was simply a youngster in 2012, the Cherkasy, Ukraine native started his profession by enjoying for his hometown membership, Cherkaski Mavpy of the Ukrainian Basketball SuperLeague, the most effective league in his nation.
Mykhailiuk performed for Cherkaski Mavpy from 2012-14 towards a lot older and extra skilled competitors. The group had completed in the course of the standings throughout his time there, however the younger Mykhailiuk had begun to garner nationwide reward. In his ultimate season with the membership, he represented Workforce Ukraine within the 2014 FIBA World Cup, the place he averaged 1.8 factors in simply 8.3 minutes per 4 video games.
He set data whereas on the College of Kansas.
Recent off of enjoying for Cherkaski Mavpy, Mykhailiuk moved to the USA in 2014 and turned down presents from faculties similar to Virginia and Oregon to play for Kansas, one of the vital storied groups in faculty basketball. However Kansas wasn’t storied sufficient for Mykhailiuk to make his mark on the group, and even its convention, as at that 12 months he turned the youngest participant to ever play within the Large 12, at simply 17 years outdated.
Mykhailiuk’s younger age didn’t appear to faze him, as he was used to enjoying towards older gamers. That wouldn’t even be the one file he would set whereas in faculty. Mykhailiuk made 115 threes throughout his senior season at Kansas, which is probably the most any Jayhawk has ever made whereas on the college.
He was drafted by the Celtics’ greatest rival.
Mykhailiuk put his title within the 2018 NBA Draft when his time at Kansas ended, and the Los Angeles Lakers used their forty seventh total decide to pick him. He signed a three-year take care of the Lakers and performed in 39 whole video games with them, averaging 3.3 factors on 10.5 minutes per sport.
“I really feel prefer it’s only a blessing to be a part of the Lakers and be a part of the NBA,” Mykhailiuk stated after he was drafted. “With the entire Lakers’ historical past, it’s only a blessing to be a part of the group.”
However Mykhailiuk’s finest days would come after leaving Los Angeles. Simply earlier than that 12 months’s NBA commerce deadline, the Lakers traded the rookie to the Detroit Pistons, the place his minutes doubled and scoring numbers tripled by the tip of the next season. He was a Piston till he was dealt to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder in 2021, the 12 months his rookie contract he signed as a Laker ended.
He has publicly advocated towards Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians had been displaced after Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, which initiated a model new battle between the 2 international locations. On that day, Mykhailiuk and middle Alex Len, the one two energetic Ukrainian gamers within the NBA, launched a joint assertion condemning the invasion and prolonged prayers for individuals who resided in Ukraine.
“A terrific tragedy befell our pricey homeland Ukraine,” they stated. “We categorically condemn the conflict.”
Of their assertion, Mykhailiuk and Len described the nation they love as a “peaceable, sovereign state inhabited by individuals who wish to resolve their very own future.” The 2 ended their assertion by encouraging these folks to remain sturdy amid this horrible battle, one that’s nonetheless occurring at the moment.
“Pricey fellow Ukrainians,” they stated, “Maintain on! Our energy is unity! We’re with you!”
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