By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
Few expected that Alexey Shved at 27 would return to the Euroleague after three good seasons in the NBA and some excellent games this year with the Knicks. And yet, it happened and it happened with Khimki with a three-year, “royal” contract that makes him the highest paid player in Europe in the next season, and at the same time, gives him the right to return to the NBA if he gets an offer that is good enough for him in any of the following summers.
His career
Even from the time he was in the youth Russian national teams he had shown that he could score in every way. He had some amazing tournaments as a member of the U18 and U20 national teams and in 2006 he signed his first professional contract with CSKA. But he really didn’t get along with Ettore Messina and after two loans to Khimki and Dynamo Moscow and a season without a role or participation minutes with the “bear,” he essentially became an active member of CSKA in the 2011-12 season, in the era of Jonas Kazlauskas. He had a “full” first season as a player in the main rotation with 10.6 points, 3 assists, 2.6 rebounds and an average that almost reached 50% in three-point field goals.
In the summer he signed with Minnesota. He played there 2 years and made his presence especially felt and last August he was involved in a big trade that sent him to the Sixers. From there he found his way to Houston and a bit later to New York, where he finished the season, was released from the contract he had signed with the Wolves in 2012 and became a free agent. This year in the NBA he tallied 10.3 points, 2.5 assists and 2 rebounds in 18 minutes of playing time.
His characteristics
Shved (1m.98, 27 years old) is the definition of the shooting guard. A pure ‘2’ whose trademark is his contact with the basket and his gift for scoring. He can threaten in every way (mid- and long-range shooting, drives, good facilitating for his teammates after a pick-and-roll or after isolation games) except for posting. He’s also a good rebounder and a guard who steals a lot of balls. Individual defense, though, is not his forte, just as he doesn’t have the strength to match-up against even smaller players in the low post.
The prediction: He will be very productive
It’s a given that in Khimki he will get a lot of time and space, but also the freedom of movement to play the way he likes to: with his instinct, without being limited in any particular molds. After three competitive seasons in the NBA, he now has the experience but also the consistency in his game to be productive. There will be nights when he will score controllably and others when he will do irreparable damage to opposing defenses. The question? Whether his game and the style he represents can guarantee Khimki that Shved can lead them to surpass themselves competitively and to achieve their goals. If we speak exclusively about talent, the backcourt triangle of Tyrese Rice, Petteri Koponen and Alexey Shved is offensively one of the best we’ve ever seen in the Euroleague!