Alexander Belov facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Alexander Belov

Personal information
Born	(1951-11-09)9 November 1951 Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Nationality	Soviet / Russian
Died	3 October 1978(1978-10-03) (aged 26) Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Listed height	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight	210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
NBA Draft	1975 / Round: 10 / Pick: 161st overall
Selected by the New Orleans Jazz
Pro career	1967–1978
Career history
1967–1978	Spartak Leningrad
Career highlights and awards
As player 2× FIBA European Selection (1971, 1972) 2× FIBA Saporta Cup champion (1973, 1975) Soviet League champion (1975) FIBA's 50 Greatest Players (1991)
Medals Men's Basketball Representing the  Soviet Union Summer Olympic Games Gold 1972 Munich Bronze 1976 Montreal FIBA World Cup Gold 1974 Puerto Rico Bronze 1970 Ljubljana FIBA EuroBasket Gold 1969 Italy Gold 1971 West Germany Silver 1975 Yugoslavia European U-18 Championship Gold 1968 Spain Under-18 Gold 1970 Greece Under-18

Alexander Alexandrovich Belov, often called Sasha Belov, was a famous Soviet basketball player. He was born on November 9, 1951, and passed away on October 3, 1978. Sasha played as a center on the court. He is best remembered for scoring the winning basket in the 1972 Olympic gold medal game. This amazing shot helped the Soviet national team win the gold medal at the 1972 Munich Summer Olympic Games.

In 1991, Belov was named one of FIBA's 50 Greatest Players. He was also added to the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007.

Playing for Clubs: Sasha's Basketball Journey

Sasha Belov was born in Leningrad. He became the star player for the club Spartak Leningrad. He helped his team win the Soviet Union League title in 1975.

Belov also led Spartak Leningrad to the finals of the FIBA European Cup Winners' Cup (also known as the Saporta Cup) three times. They reached the finals in 1971, 1973, and 1975. His team won the cup in both 1973 and 1975. During his time playing for clubs, Belov was chosen twice for the FIBA European Selection team, in 1971 and 1972.

In 2016, the club Belov played for was briefly renamed Kondrashin Belov. This was done to honor both Belov and the team's former coach, Vladimir Kondrashin.

NBA Draft: A Dream Not Realized

In 1975, the New Orleans Jazz team in the National Basketball Association (NBA) chose Belov in their draft. He was the 161st player picked overall. However, like most Soviet players at that time, he never got to play for the team that drafted him.

It wasn't until 1989 that the first Soviet player, Šarūnas Marčiulionis, played in the NBA.

Playing for His Country: Soviet National Team Success

Belov won four gold medals while playing for the senior Soviet Union national team. He helped the USSR win gold medals at the 1969 EuroBasket and the 1971 EuroBasket. He also won a bronze medal at the 1970 FIBA World Championship.

The most famous moment of Belov's career happened at the 1972 Summer Olympic Games. He scored the winning basket in the Olympic Basketball Final against Team USA. This incredible shot secured the gold medal for the Soviet Union.

After that, he continued to win more medals. He won a gold medal at the 1974 FIBA World Championship. He also earned a silver medal at the 1975 EuroBasket and a bronze medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics.

About Sasha Belov's Life

Alexander Belov was born in Leningrad, which was part of the Soviet Union at the time. He was born on November 9, 1951. Sadly, Belov passed away in Leningrad on October 3, 1978, when he was just 26 years old. He died from a very rare illness that affected his heart.

Images for kids

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  Alexander Belov

See also

In Spanish: Aleksandr Belov para niños