Basketball player Pavel Podkolzin - center from the skies

Even in Soviet times, at the peak of Alexander Gomelsky's coaching career , there was talk in the world of basketball about limiting the growth of players. It was difficult to resist such giants as Sabonis, Kruminsh. The great coach was among those who obstructed such a position, speaking about the inhumane attitude to the Gullivers, who have the opportunity to realize themselves in sport. It is hard to imagine what Pavel Podkolzin could become in life, whose growth is 226 cm, if such a decision were made.

The first steps in sports

In January 1985, in a normal Novosibirsk family, a boy was born who stood out among his peers in that he was ahead of everyone in physical development from the kindergarten age. Parents far from sports, the growth was quite normal: mother - 175 cm, and the father - 178 cm. The family has a daughter Olga, who did not inherit the genes of her great-grandfather. He was more than two meters, which was transmitted through the male line to her brother. Paul Podkolzin met with basketball in the fifth grade, but he preferred volleyball. For two years of success in this sport was not followed, because to the growth was added an impressive complexion (today the weight of the athlete is 125 kg).

Then the teenager again thought about basketball and he himself found a well-known coach in Novosibirsk - Vitaly Utkin. To keep up with the training, Paul got up about six in the morning, because the family lived in the village of Pashino, and had to travel to the regional capital by rail. At the age of 15 he signed a contract with Novosibirsk "Lokomotiv", the first professional club in his life. But busy with the tournament position, he did not provide opportunities for young players to show themselves, so in 2002 the guy leaves for Italy.

Draft in the NBA

Playing for the Italian club "Varese", Pavel Podkolzin dreamed of a transatlantic league. Thanks to the agents, he first applied for a draft in the NBA in 2003. In the summer camp he was given the nickname of the Siberian Shakil, but no club was interested in the newcomer. In 2004, a nineteen-year-old sportsman again storms the basketball association and, at number 21, is selected by the Utah Jazz team in the first round. The purpose of the acquisition is to sell to the Dallas Mavericks. It is with this team that the athlete will conclude a three-year contract worth $ 1 million 800 thousand dollars.

The game debut, meanwhile, took place only eight months later. This was due to the receipt of a visa and an operation to remove the pituitary gland. A survey in Chicago showed that the guy with a height of 226 cm continued to excrete growth hormone, which required surgical intervention.

Career beyond the ocean

Pavel Podkolzin - basketball player, who at the very beginning of the journey pulled a lucky ticket. His dreams of a transatlantic league, a superclass team fighting in 2006 for winning the NBA tournament, were realized. But only he himself in the final match sat on the bench, experiencing serious emotions, but not being able to somehow affect the outcome of the match. In the shadow of the players performing at the position of the fifth number - Bradley, Mbeng and Dampier, the main center - he rarely went to the site. Despite this, in no interview did he complain about fate, considering the time spent in the NBA as happy. And the lost match, which cost the "Dallas" loss of victory - the biggest personal failure.

Over the ocean, he happened to get acquainted with the legend of basketball Michael Jordan, to gain experience of communicating with outstanding coaches, to master dozens of the most interesting combinations played on the field. But the lack of game practice forced the athlete in two years to return to his homeland.

Ungovernable Russia

The first game season Pavel Podkolzin started in "Khimki" in the place of Denis Ershov, but could not gain a foothold in the first team and moved to his native "Locomotive". Fans rebuked the athlete in his unwillingness to work, but the Siberian giant was tired of explaining about the numerous injuries that any basketball player, especially such a tall one, is exposed to. Problems with the ankle - this is the constant history of the center players. In 2010, the club did not extend the contract with Podkolzin, and he was forced to look for a team where he would be in demand. Changed the city: Nizhny Novgorod, Magnitogorsk, Barnaul. He rolled down to the second division, having been seen by the most mysterious player, whose career rolled down.

In fact, the athlete just loved basketball, this best game with the ball, and in search of game time was ready to help any team.

Star hour

Returning in his native city of Novosibirsk in 2014, Pavel Podkolzin began to compete for the BC of the same name, created in 2011. The first season was so successful that the athlete was invited to the national team instead of the sick player. He recovered and returned to the system, but this did not bring disappointment. The main thing is that the native team took the first place in the Super League championship and became the owner of the Cup of Russia.

At the age of thirty deservedly received his main award and Pavel Podkolzin, whose photo as part of the team (in the middle) - eloquently testifies to the division of the general jubilation: "We did it!" To win the Cup of Russia is a high honor. This is the second most important tournament in the country, and its feature is the lack of foreign legionaries in the team. It is in such games and shows the talent of Russian athletes.

Personal life

The basketball player is still in the ranks, he plays for the team of his native city. In an interview he answers questions of curious journalists about the difficult life of giants: shoes of 52nd size and clothes have to be purchased in the US, an apartment and a car "driven" to their height, go into the elevator, crouched in three deaths, and constantly respond to requests to make A joint photo. The athlete does not like to spread about his personal life, protecting the family from publicity. It is known that he is married, two children are raised in the family who do not have problems with growth hormone.

Podkolzin Pavel Nikolayevich - one of the most colorful athletes of our time, the center of the skies, engaged in his entire life a truly beloved affair.