Alexey Zhukanenko

Alexey Yurevich Zhukanenko (Russian: Алексей Юрьевич Жуканенко, born May 18, 1986) is a Kazakhstani-born naturalised-Russian professional basketball player for Pieno žvaigždės of the Lietuvos krepšinio lyga. A center, he has played for a number of Russian clubs in the past, whilst also being an occasional member of the Russian national team.

Alexey Zhukanenko
Pieno žvaigždės Pasvalys
PositionCenter
LeagueLithuanian League
Baltic League
Personal information
Born (1986-05-18) May 18, 1986
Alma-Ata, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union
NationalityRussian / Kazakhstani
Listed height206 cm (6 ft 9 in)
Listed weight107 kg (236 lb)
Career information
NBA draft2008 / Undrafted
Playing career2002–present
Career history
2002–2005UNICS Kazan-2
2004–2009UNICS Kazan
2009–2011Dynamo Moscow
2011–2013BC Khimki
2013–2015Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar
2015–2016BC Astana
2016–2017BC Samara
2017–presentBC Pieno žvaigždės
Career highlights and awards

Professional career

Zhukanenko moved from Almaty (where he played for the youth side of Otrar) to Kazan aged 16 in order to join UNICS Kazan.[1] He played for UNICS Kazan-2, the reserve team, from 2002 to 2005. After one game for the senior side in the 2004–05 FIBA Europe League,[2] he was permanently transferred the next season to play in the Russian Basketball Super League. With UNICS he would reach the 2006–07 ULEB Cup semifinals and win the 2009 Russian Cup.[3]

He moved to Dynamo Moscow in the summer of 2009. During the 2010-11 season he averaged 12.7 points and 7.4 rebounds in the domestic league and 15.4 points and 6.7 rebounds in the EuroChallenge, the third-tier European competition. The same year he participated in the Professional Basketball League's (the Super League's successor) All-Star Game.[3][4]

In June 2011 he signed a two-year contract with BC Khimki.[3][4] Zhukanenko averaged 6.1 points and 3.1 rebounds in 12 minutes as Khimki won the 2012 Eurocup.

In June 2013, he transferred to rival (in both the PBL and the newly formed VTB United League) Lokomotiv Kuban, signing a two-year contract.[5]

At the expiry of his contract in July 2015, Zhukanenko returned to his birth country, signing a one-year deal with Kazakhstani VTB United League side BC Astana.[6]

International career

Zhukanenko played for the Russian Under-20 team at the 2006 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship, posting 4 points and 2.4 rebounds in 7.8 minutes per game as Russia finished 10th.[7]

He participated in the 2009 Universiade, earning a silver medal with Russia.

Zhukanenko was called up the senior Russia squad for the 2010 FIBA World Championship. The center had averages of 6 points and 1.5 rebounds in 11 minutes per game, including personal highs of 12 points and 4 rebounds in the seventh place game win over Slovenia.[8]

He was in the preliminary squads for both EuroBasket 2013 and EuroBasket 2015 but was cut before the main tournaments.[9][10]

Personal

Alexey is the son of former player Yuri Zhukanenko, who played for the Soviet Union and Kazakhstani powerhouse SKA Alma-Ata. As his father's career (later as a coach) took him to Russia, he followed him there.[11] He has dual Kazakhstani and Russian nationalities, acquiring the second after moving to Kazan.[1][6]

References
  1. Gataulin, Ruslan (3 March 2009). "Алексей Жуканенко: "Динамо" – наш главный конкурент"" Русский [Alexey Zhukanenko: "Dinamo" - our main opponent]. Sport.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  2. "Alexey Zhukaneno (UNICS Kazan)". FIBA Europe. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  3. "Khimki tabs big man Zhukanenko for two years". Euroleague. 24 June 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  4. "BC Khimki signs Alexey Zhukanenko". BC Khimki. 24 June 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  5. "Alexei Zhukanenko is moving to "Loko"". PBC Lokomotiv-Kuban. 22 June 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  6. "BC Astana has signed a contract with Alexei Zhukanenko". BC Astana. 16 July 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  7. "Alexey Zhukanenko (Russia)". FIBA Europe. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  8. "Russia #9 - Alexey Zhukanenko". FIBA. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  9. "Younger, still strong squad for Russia". FIBA Europe. 4 June 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  10. "Extended preliminary list for Russia". FIBA Europe. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  11. Ralyan, Sergei (18 January 2008). "Тот самый Жук" Русский [The same bug]. Caravan.kz (in Russian). Retrieved 19 July 2015.
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