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Top 10 Remarkable Facts about Alex Len

Oleksiy Yuriyovych Len is also known as Alex Len. The Ukrainian professional basketballer, Len plays for the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Sacramento Kings. Previously, Len played in the Atlantic Coast Conference. He played two seasons for the Maryland Terrapins. He also played with Dnipro for a season. This is the top professional basketball league in Ukraine. In her early life, Len’s mother Yulia ran track.

Born on June 16, 1993, in Antratsyt, Luhansk in Ukraine, Len took part in gymnastics and enjoyed watching Jackie Chan films. As a gymnast, Len trained with Oleksiy Stepanenko. Stepanenko also trained Olympic gold medalist Ihor Korobchynskyi.

Below are ten interesting facts about Alex Len.

1. Len started playing basketball when he was a teenager

People playing basketball on a court. Photo by Steven Abraham on

Len began playing basketball at the age of 13 years. During the 2009 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship, Len played for Ukraine. He also played for the 2010 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship.

Len was the second-best rebounder and the fourth-best overall scorer during the 2010 tournament. He played in 2010 – 2011 of the BC Dnipro of the Ukrainian Basketball Super League.

2. He received an athletic scholarship to play basketball at the University of Maryland

logo of the University of Maryland. Photo by trademarks.umd.edu/

Len receives a scholarship to play basketball at the University of Maryland. He was recruited by assistant coach Scott Spinelli. Coach Gary Wiliams resigned after the 2010 – 2011 season and his place was taken by Mark Turgeon.

Although it was Williams who began recruiting Len, it was Spinelli and Turgeon who eventually brought Len to Maryland. Len did not have an exceptional performance in his freshman year. His average record was 2.2 blocks per game, 5.5 rebounds, and an average of 6 points per game. After a 10-point suspension, Len showed incredible luck in the game.

3. He played for the Ukrainian under-16 National Team

During the 2009 FIBA Europe Championship, Len played for the Under 16 team. He had an exceptional performance against Israel. This included a 20-point outing, 1.6 assists, 4.8 rebounds, and an average of 8.0 points for the game.

Len was the second-best shot blocker in the tournament but the team was still relegated. He played with the under-18 team in 2010 and they stayed in division A for at least one year. He was an outstanding player during the tournament.

His performance enabled him to gain interest from universities such as Virginia Tech and the University of Maryland. In the 2019 FIBA World Cup qualifiers in September, Len played for the Ukrainian national basketball team for the first time.

4. He was suspended during the February 2017 game against the Memphis Grizzlies

Logo of the Memphis Grizzlies. Photo by nba.com/

During the February 2017 game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Len entered the court during a clash. This earned him a one-game suspension, without pay. The Memphis Grizzlies beat the Phoenix Suns in that game.

5. He played for the national team during the 2019 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers

During the 2019 FIBA World Championship qualifying round, Len played for Ukraine. This was his initial invitation to be part of the senior national basketball team. He played in the qualifying round which took place in August 2018.

6. He established a foundation known as Len-d A Hand Foundation

Len and his mother Yulia established a foundation. Known as Len-d A Hand Foundation, it aims to improve the standards of living for children, youth, and, families. Established in December 2015, the foundation has helped the youth in the Phoenix, Arizona region.

7. He was selected by the Phoenix Suns in the 2013 NBA draft

Alex Len preparing to shoot a free throw in January 2017. Photo by Gobierno CDMX/

During the 2013 NBA draft, Len was the Phoenix Suns’ fifth draft overall. At a height of 7 ft 1″ (2.16 m), and a weight of 250 pounds (113 kg), Len’s stature has proved useful on the court.

Len is the highest-selected Ukrainian player selected in the NBA. He was the second international player to be selected after Anthony Bennett, the Canadian-born basketball player. Since Armen Gilliam’s selection in 1987, Len was the first Suns player to be selected in the NBA draft’s top five.

Len needed ankle surgery and did not join the Suns in the 2013 summer league. After the surgery on his right ankle on July 12, 2013, Len joined the Suns. He signed with them on August 29, 2013, and was cleared to practice in September of the same year.

8. He re-injured his ankle and missed more than six weeks of game time

Len’s NBA debut was in a game against Utah Jazz. He played the home game which ended in victory on November 1, 2013. Len did not play the following seven games but returned to the court on November 19. This was the game against the Sacramento Kings.

The following day, Len re-injured his left knee. This forced him to miss the following six weeks. Len returned to the court on January 7 in a game against the Chicago Bulls. On January 29, 2014, in a game against Milwaukee Bucks, Len had his first 10-rebound game. The game ended in a 126–117 win for the Suns.

9. Over the years, he has played for several NBA teams

Logo of Sacramento Kings NBA team. Photo by stats.nba.com/

In his basketball career, Len has played for several NBA teams. He was traded to the Sacramento Kings on February 6, 2020. Len signed with the Toronto Raptors on November 29, 2020.

After 13 regular games in the season, he was waived by the Raptors. Len signed with the Washington Wizards on 23 January 2021. This was followed by a move to the Sacramento Kings on August 13, 2021.

10. His two-year salary with the Atlanta Hawks saw him earn USD 8.5 million

2020 image of Alex Len of Atlanta Hawks. Photo by Flickr/

For the two years with Atlanta Hawks, Len’s salary would amount to USD 8.5 million. He was to earn USD 4,350,000 for the 2018-2019 season. In the 2019-2020 season, Len was to earn USD 4,160,000.