MIES (Switzerland) - Alexander Volkov, a leading player in Soviet Union teams that won FIBA EuroBasket 1985 and captured 1988 Olympic gold, is to be enshrined in the 2020 Class of the FIBA Hall of Fame.

Volkov and eight other players - Isabelle Fijalkowski (France), Mieczyslaw Lopatka (Poland), Steve Nash (Canada), Agnes Nemeth (Hungary), Park Shin-ja (Korea), Modestas Paulauskas (Lithuania), Kenichi Sako (Japan) and Jure Zdovc (Slovenia) - are going into the Hall of Fame, as well as legendary coaches Ruben Magnano (Argentina), Svetislav Pesic (Serbia) and Tara Van Derveer (USA).

To appreciate the significance of Alexander Volkov in international basketball, one must remember he played in several of the biggest, most memorable events in the sport's history, including the 1988 Seoul Olympics and the 1992 Barcelona Games.

As a teenager, Volkov took his first steps in professional basketball with club side Stroitel in Kyiv.

Volkov showed great promise very early at Stroitel in Kiev

Starting in 1983, Volkov, along with teammates Arvydas Sabonis and Sarunas Marciulionis, began to make an impact for the Soviet Union, helping the country reach the Final of the FIBA World Championship for Junior Men in Spain.

The USA won the title game, 82-78, yet Volkov and his teammates put everyone on notice that the Soviet Union had young stars that were ready to bust loose.

Volkov then made the senior team for FIBA EuroBasket 1985 in Germany and reached the top of the podium. He put an exclamation mark on the Soviets' performance in the title game, pouring in 18 points in a 120-89 triumph over Czechoslovakia.

Volkov (back row, far right) was a European Champion in 1985

The 2.08m Volkov could be a defender's worst nightmare. He'd bury a jump shot or beat his man off the dribble, or pass to a teammate cutting into the lane or running off a screen. He had a solid and at times spectacular career with his clubs and his national team.

At the FIBA Basketball World Cup 1986, Volkov scored 11.2 points per game and the Soviets again reached the title game but fell to their nemesis, the USA, 87-85.

At FIBA EuroBasket 1987, the Soviets played their part in one of the biggest dramas the sport has known. In Athens and against the tournament hosts, the Soviets battled in a classic Final but Greece prevailed, 103-101.

His team's finest hour followed one year later, in Seoul, at the Olympics. The Soviet Union, who fell to Yugoslavia in their opener, 92-79, rebounded with seven consecutive victories to claim the gold medal.

Volkov helped the USSR capture Olympic gold in Korea

Volkov had 20 points in a 110-105 Quarter-Final triumph over Brazil, then 12 points and five rebounds in an 82-76 Semi-Final win over the USA.

The Soviets then avenged their opening game setback to Yugoslavia, winning 76-63 to reach the top of the podium. 

Volkov averaged 15.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists at the Barcelona Olympics

Volkov was also with the Commonwealth of Independent States team that finished fourth at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992.

He had tremendous performances for his various clubs over the years, too. He made headlines as the second player from the Soviet Union to be drafted by an NBA club in 1986 and played for the Atlanta Hawks.

In Europe, he was the MVP of the Soviet League in 1989. He won Soviet League championships in 1988 and 1989, and the Greek League in 1995.

FIBA