Vitaliy FRIDZON
#7 | Guard

Fridzon’s career path is unusual for Russia: in a country where player movement is extremely slow between the top league and second-tier competitions, he has made exactly that transition, and did it in one swift action.

Rewind to spring of 2005, when he was a star of Khimki-2, a farm club playing in second division.

He did occasionally practice with the main team and played some games in the Russian Cup, as coaches were hoping to get him ready for the future.

What nobody knew is that he was already able to produce at the top level.

Fridzon got a chance when a string of injuries to guards had forced Khimki’s management to call him up to the main team – just in time for the playoffs – and he never looked back.

Three games into the play-offs, Fridzon already had the starting job, playing like a season vet – he once hit 11 of 12 free throws to fuel a comeback victory and then sealed another win with a crucial rebound.

Five seasons later, confidence, hustle and versatility still help Fridzon remain a key player for Khimki amid the coaching changes and expensive roster overhauls.

That summer of 2005 also brought Fridzon his first international Gold medal – at the U20 Eurobasket, where he led Team Russia in scoring, and later his first invitation to the senior team, where he was destined to stay as an important player.

The Olympic tournament and Khimki’s first-ever season in Euroleague just add to the fast building experience.

What sets Fridzon apart is that he lets the game come to him.

He will use his speed and drive to the hoop if there’s a good angle, and he never hesitates to take an open three.

But if the opportunity is not there, he will just move the ball and stick to playing defence, often guarding the opponent’s best perimeter scorer.

He can be a bit foul-prone but that’s the price you pay for the all-out !