Ukrainian NBA pros Alex Len and Svi Mykhailiuk have issued a joint statement condemning Russia’s invasion of their homeland. The first NBA teams also made a political statement.
“A great tragedy has happened in our beloved homeland, Ukraine,” the statement said, which the two published on their social media channels. Len of the Sacramento Kings and Mykhailiuk of the Toronto Raptors stressed that Ukraine is “a peaceful sovereign state inhabited by people who want to determine their own destiny.”
“We pray for our families, friends, relatives and all people who are on the territory of Ukraine,” it said. They also emphasized: “We categorically condemn war.”
In the letter, the two also expressed their sympathy for the local people. “We hope that this terrible war will end soon. Dear fellow Ukrainians, hold on! Our strength lies in unity! We are with you,” wrote Len and Mykhailiuk, the only two Ukrainian players in the North American professional basketball league.
Before the game between the Sacramento Kings and the Denver Nuggets, players from both teams gathered in the center circle and paused arm in arm for a moment, with Len symbolically standing in the middle. Both teams expressed their solidarity towards Ukraine in this way.
Other Ukrainian athletes had already commented on Russia’s attack on Ukraine, including soccer player Oleksandr Zinchenko from English champions Manchester City and tennis player Elina Switolina.
