Avtodor coach Bogichevich: “Fridzon is one of the best basketball players I’ve worked with. He helped me a lot”

Head coach of Saratov Avtodor Milenko Bogichevich called 38-year-old basketball player Vitaly Fridzon one of the best players he has ever worked with.

Fridzon spent the second half of the VTB United League season as part of the Saratov team.

— No matter how many leagues and players have passed through me, he is definitely one of the best. And I am very glad that he was on my team.

Vitaly helped me a lot. I remember the first time he walked into the hall. Americans don’t really follow the Euroleague and sometimes don’t know some of the players. But when he entered, everyone said: “Fridz, we know you, you don’t have to introduce yourself.”

He gave me a lot – first of all, as a person with his advice. We had a lot of one-on-one conversations about what we should improve, what was good, what was bad. He’s like a computer. Thinks one step ahead, plays well for his age.

He spent many years in the national team, was one of the main players, and has experience playing in the Euroleague. So he helped me a lot. In the locker room, of course, he had a certain authority. Overall, we had a great time,” Championship quoted Bogicevic as saying.

This season, the Saratov club took third place in Group B of the United League regular championship. In the play-in match, Avtodor lost to the Moscow club MBA (79:85) and did not qualify for the playoffs of the tournament. Bogicevic took charge of the team last summer, and at the end of April extended his contract until 2026 under the “1+1” scheme.

Watch the VTB United League playoff matches on the TV channels of the Match TV holding, as well as on the websites matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru.