“If you don’t fight, you won’t achieve”

Interview with Ivan Saveliev

Savelyev Ivan Vladimirovich is a Russian professional basketball player who plays as an attacking defender. Plays for the basketball club "Novosibirsk". Ivan Saveliev was born on July 14, 1987 in the city of Chisinau, Moldova. There, his parents, originally from Buryatia, lived for work. At the age of four, he moved with his family to Ulan-Ude. There he began to play basketball with Sergei Vladimirovich Okanin. Speaking at youth tournaments, Saveliev attracted the attention of coaches from Novosibirsk. In 2007, Saveliev was invited to the Russian youth team. In 2011, he played for the Russian national team at the Summer Universiade in China, but shortly before the start of the tournament he injured his leg and missed part of the opening games.

GP: Ivan, tell us what basketball is for you? 

IVAN: Basketball for me is a way of life and a favorite game that I have been playing since early childhood and later turned into a profession!

GP: How did basketball begin for you, what preceded its appearance in your life?

IVAN: At the age of six, I was already hitting a basketball in my yard, in the city of Ulan-Ude (Republic of Buryatia), where we had a basketball court. But I fell in love with basketball when I watched my elder brother Alexei and his friends play basketball on the same court! And when they didn’t have enough guys to play five on five, they took me, and I was extremely happy! And in the elementary grades of the school, I got into the basketball section of the children's professional coach Okanin Sergey Vladimirovich, already having some basketball skills!

GP: How did your parents react to your hobby, supported it?

IVAN: Parents, of course, supported any of my undertakings, especially when they were at work all day and knowing that after school their child does not hang around on the street, but goes to sports training.

HP: What does it take to be at least good and at most great as a basketball player?

IVAN: To become a good athlete you need to work hard on yourself! And to become great, you need to work a thousand times harder! And maybe then you will become an idol for many!

HP: Do you have any favorite basketball players, idols? 

IVAN: My childhood idol was Michael Jordan, and even now he is! But there are a few other great ones that I also watch all the time and follow them in the same way as the whole world - these are Kobe Bryant (rip), Alain Iverson, LeBron James!  

GP: Have there been moments when you wanted to quit basketball?

IVAN: There were no such moments to quit basketball! But there are always moments when something does not work out and hands down! But nothing, rethink everything and work on! After all, if you don’t fight, you won’t achieve it! Fall down, get up and move on! Any hard work always pays off!  

GP: Russian basketball players are practically not seen in scandals, unlike football players. Why do you think?  

IVAN: Honestly, I don't know! I think that everything here is connected with education and discipline! Looks like some people have less!  

GP: Russian basketball players are practically not seen in scandals, unlike football players. Why do you think?  

IVAN: Honestly, I don't know! I think that everything here is connected with education and discipline! Looks like some people have less!

GP: Do you plan to open your own basketball school?

IVAN: There are plans to pass on my experience to children! Until I know when!

GP: How did you manage the spring lockdown and how did it affect the profession?

IVAN: When the spring lockdown began due to the pandemic, we did not finish the basketball season and ended it ahead of schedule! My family and I immediately left the city for self-isolation! I devoted time to my family, household chores and a little to myself and my hobbies!  

GP: Have you already thought about what you will do after your career ends? Will it be related to basketball or are there any unfulfilled dreams that are not related to sports?

IVAN: I thought, of course, but there are many ideas that you need to devote yourself to completely! Therefore, while you are a professional athlete, then you are completely focused on this! I think that my plans after my career will be connected not only with sports, and that's for sure!  

GP: You have a rather unusual hobby for an athlete, tell our readers about it!

IVAN: I think many people play computer games and even sportsmen! There is no surprise here. Someone likes action games, someone likes shooters, and someone likes strategy or sports simulators! During self-isolation in the spring, it was time to go about my business and managed to participate in the CS:GO sports stars tournament held by the Moscow eSports Federation! It was really exciting and exciting! Because for me, computer games are just home entertainment, a hobby! And then I was lucky enough to participate in official Counter-Strike competitions! And, as it turned out, these are completely different emotions, I really liked it! I was delighted like a child after the first official competitive victory, which was watched by the audience, my friends and acquaintances!  

GP: Why do you think there is such a difference in the entertainment of Russian and American basketball? 

IVAN: I think that there is such a difference in terms of entertainment, because the National Basketball Association is the best league in the world with the best players on the planet! That's why it's the most popular!

GP: How do you feel about defeats and cope with them on an emotional background, because not always victorious matches?

IVAN: To be honest, I don't like to lose at all and I'm very worried about it! I am very self-critical about myself! But the older you get, the wiser! You try to think how you could play better, you work on your mistakes. Sometimes you need a distraction after a defeat - spend time with loved ones, go to the cinema, to a cafe, or as I sometimes do - it's playing Counter-Strike with friends online!  

HP: How strict are you professionally and how do you deal with criticism?

IVAN: I am fine with criticism, if everything is fair!

GP: Don't you think that little attention is paid to Russian basketball? It is not as popular with us as, for example, football and hockey!

IVAN: Of course, little attention is paid to basketball! We need a development system for this sport! Indeed, in order for basketball to be as popular, for example, as football or hockey, children's top schools are needed, large arenas for matches are needed. For example, the average football stadium in the top league in Russia has a capacity of 30,000 spectators, and a basketball arena around 4,000 spectators. We need a system to develop the popularity of basketball in Russia!

GP: What would you change and bring to Russian basketball to develop it? 

IVAN: It's hard to say exactly what it is. We need to work on this issue in more detail. I would pay attention to the education of my pupils and their professional development. To do this, they need improvements to their training process, they need good children's trainers and good conditions for their payment. There are big problems with the halls for children, lack of inventory. Well, again, I repeat for each region you need to choose a development strategy.

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