UKR – Ukraine youngster Gladyr thrilled to be selected by Atlanta Hawks

KIEV (EuroBasket 2009 Relegation Round/NBA) - Sergiy Gladyr is one of many young Europeans selected in this summer’s NBA Draft.

A 20-year-old shooting guard from Ukraine, Gladyr was chosen in the second round by the Hawks.

He gave this interview to FIBA.com’s Oleksiy Naumov.

Sergiy, congratulations on being picked in the NBA Draft. I heard you’d initially declared just to create a buzz and were planning to withdraw. What made you change your mind?

Gladyr: That’s correct, but plans changed. After I came to the pre-draft camp I saw a real chance to be selected. In addition, one of the teams guaranteed they would pick me.

Was that the Atlanta Hawks?

Gladyr: Yes. They started to closely scout me after they learned I had declared. They also came over to the Treviso camp to watch me there.

Were any other teams interested in you?

Gladyr: Miami, Minnesota, Washington were, but I guess Atlanta had the biggest interest.

You don’t seem to get any emotions talking about these teams? Are you ready to perceive yourself as a higher-profile athlete now?

Gladyr: I believe one can achieve anything in life if sufficient effort is put forth.

Do you remember the draft day? Did you manage to get any sleep at all the night before?

Gladyr: Yes, I did. But I was very worried. I was thinking to myself “what if no one picks me?” After all, you only get one chance to enter the draft. If you don’t get selected, you don’t get a second chance.

What does being selected in round two mean?

Gladyr: Of course I wanted to be taken in round one, but I was being realistic. The good thing about a round two selection is that the team will most likely send you to Europe for one or two seasons to get the experience and to become a stronger player. I already have offers from Olympia, Toulon and a couple of Spanish teams. I would prefer to play in the Spanish league because it is very close to the level of the NBA game and a lot of players manage to go to the NBA after playing in Spain.

Did you talk to someone from the Hawks’ organization after the draft?

Gladyr: Yes, right after they called my name they took me to a room and handed me a phone. The club’s general manager spoke to me. He said they were very happy they got me and that they would be following me from now on.

Anything about a contract?

Gladyr: No. I am at home in Mykolaiv now, waiting to return to the U.S. for a workout. Once it’s complete there might be a contract offer.

Are you ready to start everything from scratch after having a superstar status in Mykolaiv? Is it possible you will be asking for guaranteed minutes in your next contract?

Gladyr: Yes, I’m ready for it. I am ready to prove to the new coach I am worth the trust and ready to play 30 to 35 minutes per game. It would be very disappointing to expect to bring your game to a new level and instead turn into a bench-warmer. Whether to ask for guaranteed time or not will depend on which club I will be signing the contract with.

What are you doing right now?

Gladyr: I am practicing in Mykolaiv two times a day five days a week with the club’s farm team.

Do you feel the young players who you even played with several times last year are treating you differently?

Gladyr: I haven’t noticed that. What I have noticed and what the coaches have told me is that the other players started to work a lot harder and started to take basketball more seriously. They have seen a live example of what any of them can achieve. After all, I am the same kid who played with them in the same gym just a few months ago.

Is there a chance to see you wear the national team outfit this August?

Gladyr: I hope so. I really enjoyed being a part of the team last summer. I hope that no matter which club signs a contract with me, they will understand that it will be highly beneficial for me. I hope to be in a position where I will not be asking for permission to play for Ukraine, but that I will instead be notifying I am playing for my country.

What can you say to your fans in Mykolaiv who you are most likely leaving?

Gladyr: Many thanks for supporting us during our downs and rejoicing with us when we were winning. I am happy I played for this team as it gave me everything. Hopefully I will return here some day.

FIBA