Basketball club Khimki

Khimki basketball club - the owner of the European cup-2012, the champion of VTB United League-2011 and the owner of the Russian Cup-2008, the 7-fold vice-champion of Russia (2006, 2008—2013).

History

The Khimki basketball club was formed on January 5, 1997. One of initiators of his creation honored trainer of Russia Sergey Elevich who worked in structure of club till 2007 became the head coach and the CEO of Khimki. In two years after the education our command broke through in elite of the Russian basketball. In 1999-2002 Khimki was fixed in number of the leading clubs of the country, having received the permit in the European Korac Cup.

In a season 2002-2003 command situated near Moscow, having shown an effective game, made quantum leap forward, took the fourth place in the championship of Russia and for the first time in history overcame a group stage of Eurocup competitions – the Cup of champions of FIBA.

Inhabitants of Khimki made this break on the international scene in a season of 2004-2005. In League FIBA-Europe yellow-blue won first place in a group stage, overcame the Kazan Unix in a quarterfinal of the winner of a tournament acting at that time, reached "The final of four" and won bronze medals! In the same season for the first command the defender Vitaly Fridzon who became the leader and the character of Khimki for many years debuted.

In April, 2006 in Khimki at the high organizational level there took place "The final of four" of the Russian Cup, and in the fall in life of Khimki there was a significant event. The Moscow region collective – to the first of Russian – happened to try forces with representatives NBA, Los Angeles Clippers club. Khimki as the vice-champion of Russia was included by BK in the prestigious project – the NBA Europe Live Tour tournament.

In January, 2007 Khimki the famous Lithuanian specialist Kestutis Kemzura became the head coach of BK. In a season of 2007-2008 inhabitants of Khimki won the first trophy in the history – the Russian Cup. "The final of four" of the Cup took place in Kazan Basket Hall. In a semifinal duel yellow-blue met Moscow Dynamo and in persistent fight got the best. Our command not just won the final, and crushed capital CSKA with overweight in 18 points! The best defender of a tournament recognized Anton Ponkrashov, the best easy forward – Kelly McCarthy, and the most valuable player — Machey Lampe.

In the summer of 2008 of BK Khimki was blown up by the European transfer market. The Olympic champion-2004, the bronze prize-winner of the Olympic Games-2008 Carlos Delfino and the silver prize-winner of the Olympic Games-2008, the world champion-2006 of Jorge Garbajos became new members of a command situated near Moscow. In December, 2008 our club was headed by the most famous Italian specialist Sergio Skariolo. Under its management in 2009 our club reached "The final of eight" of the European cup where conceded only in a decisive duel to the Letuvos Ritas command. In the Russian superiority inhabitants of Khimki also became the second.

The management of the most prestigious European club championship – Euroleague paid attention to good results of Moscow region team and huge interest in a command from fans of basketball. The debut of inhabitants of Khimki in this tournament took place in a season of 2009-2010. Even before start of Euro cup our club received a prestigious bronze award of the project of ULEB "Devotion Marketing Awards" ("The best marketing program") from the management of League. In the first duel yellow-blue beat eminent Madrid Real. Having left in stage TOP-16, inhabitants of Khimki only owing to the worst additional figures were left in the basket of the playoffs. In the championship of Russia the club in the third time in a row became the silver prize-winner.

Of Khimki in the European championship which is taking place in 2009 in Poland specialists christened center Timofey Mozgov the main opening of a tournament. Timofey got on a pencil of scouts of NBA and upon termination of a season of 2009-2010 signed the three-year contract with New York Knicks club (in February, 2011 Nuggets passed into "Denver").

The season of 2010-2011 developed for Moscow region club not easy. Sergio Skariolo at a wheel of a command was replaced at first by his assistant Oleg Meleshchenko, and then and it conceded reins of government to the famous Lithuanian specialist, the Olympic champion-1988 (as the player) and to the owner of the European cup (as the trainer) to Rimas Kurtinaitis. The new mentor managed to adjust play of the team in record time. As a result, again in Kazan, and having again beaten in a decisive match of "The final of four" of capital soldiers, inhabitants of Khimki won the gold trophy second in the history – the Cup of VTB United League! Vitaly Fridzon was recognized by the most valuable player of a final stage of a tournament, and Kreshimir Lonchar – the best heavy forward.

In 2012 inhabitants of Khimki won one of the most prestigious trophies of the Old World — the European cup. The tournament of the final four took place in the Basketball center of the Moscow region as the Euroleague entrusted the right carrying out a final stage to our club. In a semi-final yellow-blue changed St. Petersburg Spartak, and in the final broke resistance of Spanish Valencia. Zoran Planinich became the most valuable player of the Final stage, the best trainer in the history of the European cup – Rimas Kurtinaitis. Khimki acquired the right to act in a group stage of a regular season of Euroleague 2012-2013.

In last season inhabitants of Khimki became silver prize-winners of the championship of Russia to PBL again, however the loudest victories were won in Euroleague. At the first and second group stages of the Khimki tournament at least on time overcame all the rivals, grandees of the European basketball. The only command which yellow-blue could not beat there was future champion Greek Olympiakos. In VTB United League Khimki freely reached a semifinal, however prior to three victories in five matches conceded in an uncompromising series to future owner of a trophy to CSKA Moscow.