Career: BC Samara (Russia-Superleague, 1996-98), Unics Kazan (Russia-Superleague, 1998-2007)

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Veteran point guard Petr Samoylenko, the captain of UNICS and the Russian National Team, is not necessarily a friend of the press. A man who is obligated to be talkative due to his on-and-off the court status, Samoylenko’s been keeping his mouth shut and refusing to give interviews for years. Though quiet off the court, his defensive intensity speaks volumes. As an average shooter and passer, Samoylenko has forced himself to become a relentless defender. What’s more, Samoylenko’s quickness makes him able to anticipate and steal balls. He finished first in the SuperLeague in 2006-2007 with 2.2 per game. The native of Uzbekistan tends to be a bit lost in the half-court but can excel in transition. This is good news considering David Blatt’s interest in the transition game.