Vladimir Tkachenko

Vladimir Tkachenko

Tkachenko (on the left), in a game against Žalgiris Kaunas.
Personal information
Born	(1957-09-20) September 20, 1957 Sochi, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Nationality	Ukrainian / Russian
Listed height	7 ft 3 in (2.21 m)
Listed weight	310 lb (141 kg)
Career information
Playing career	1974–1990
Position	Center
Career history
1974–1982	Stroitel
1983–1989	CSKA Moscow
1989–1990	Guadalajara
Career highlights and awards
Euroscar (1979) Mr. Europa (1979) 2× FIBA European Selection (1979, 1982) 4× USSR League champion (1983, 1984, 1988, 1990) Master of Sports of the USSR (1979) Order of the Badge of Honour (USSR) (1985)
FIBA Hall of Fame as player
Medals Men's basketball Representing Soviet Union Olympic Games 1976 Montreal 1980 Moscow World Championships 1978 Philippines 1982 Colombia 1986 Spain European Championships 1977 Belgium 1979 Italy 1981 Czechoslovakia 1985 West Germany 1987 Greece European U-18 Championship 1976 Spain Under-18 European Championship for Cadets 1973 Italy Under-16

Vladimir Pyotrovich Tkachenko (alternate spelling: Vladimir Tkatchenko) (Russian: Владимир Петрович Ткаченко; born September 20, 1957 in Sochi, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, Soviet Union) is a Ukrainian-Russian retired professional basketball player. Tkachenko won two Summer Olympic Games medals and three FIBA World Cup medals with the senior men's Soviet Union national basketball team. He was also named both the Euroscar and the Mr. Europa in 1979. His club career lasted 16 years. He became a FIBA Hall of Fame player in 2015.

Professional career

Tkachenko began playing with Stroitel of the USSR Premiere League, during the 1973–74 season, when he was 16 years old. He continued to play for them through the 1981–82 season. In 1983, he began playing for the USSR League club CSKA Moscow, and he stayed there through the 1988–89 season. He finished his club career in the former Spanish 2nd division, with Guadalajara, in the 1989–90 season.

National team career

From 1976 to 1987, Tkachenko played on the senior men's Soviet Union national basketball team, participating in many FIBA EuroBasket and FIBA World Cup competitions. With the Soviet national team, he won numerous medals, including: two bronze medals at the 1976 Summer Olympic Games and at the 1980 Summer Olympic Games, the gold medal at the 1982 FIBA World Championship (also silver medals at the 1978 FIBA World Championship and the 1986 FIBA World Championship); as well as three gold medals at the FIBA EuroBasket: at the FIBA EuroBasket 1979, the FIBA EuroBasket 1981, and the FIBA EuroBasket 1985 (also silvers at the FIBA EuroBasket 1977 and the FIBA EuroBasket 1987).

Player profile

Tkachenko, a 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m), 310 lb (140 kg) center, was a great defensive player. He could block out 2-3 opponents to give teammates a chance to grab a rebound. His offensive ability was important too, as his post up moves were basic, but effective, and his shooting was good for a player of his size, with a range of approximately 17 feet.