Armenia men's national basketball team

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Armenia women's national basketball team.

The Armenia men's national basketball team (Armenian: Հայաստանի բասկետբոլի ազգային հավաքական, Hayastani basketboli azgayin havak'akan) represents Armenia in international basketball. The team is controlled by the Basketball Federation of Armenia.

Armenia

FIBA ranking	91 7 (15 August 2024)[1]
Joined FIBA	1992
FIBA zone	FIBA Europe
National federation	BFA
Coach	Rex Kalamian
FIBA World Cup
Appearances	None
EuroBasket
Appearances	None
Championship for Small Countries
Appearances	2
Medals	Gold: (2016, 2022)
Home Away
First international
Armenia 83–64 Moldova  (Ciorescu, Moldova; 28 June 2016)
Biggest win
Armenia 92–40 Wales  (Ciorescu, Moldova; 30 June 2016)
Biggest defeat
Denmark 90–64 Armenia  (Copenhagen, Denmark; 28 July 2018)

After gaining independence from the Soviet Union, the national team did not take part in international competition until the 2016 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries, where they won the gold medal. Armenia would win the tournament once again in 2022.

History

Armenia gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. They would become a member of FIBA in 1992. Although the national team would not enter the international scene until the 2016 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries. Armenia went on to win the tournament by defeating Andorra in the final 79–71.^[2]

After Armenia's triumph at their maiden competition, they entered European Pre-Qualifiers for the 2019 FIBA World Cup. Their first two matches during World Cup pre-qualifying were home victories in Yerevan against Slovakia and Sweden.^[3] However, Armenia would only win one out of their next four matches, to finish the pre-qualifiers at a record of (3–3); failing to advance.^[4] Following Armenia's ouster from World Cup qualifying, the team participated in the second round of EuroBasket 2022 Pre-Qualifiers. Armenia would eventually finish the round with a (2–2) record, before having to withdraw from qualifying due to financial constraints.^[5][6]

In 2022, Armenia made its return to international play by entering the 2022 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries. The national team would make it all the way to the final to beat Malta 84–68, and finishing the tournament undefeated.^[7]

Competitive record

FIBA World Cup World Cup Qualification Year Position Pld W L Pld W L 1950 to 1990 Part of Soviet Union Part of Soviet Union 1994 Did not enter Did not enter 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2019 Did not qualify 6 3 3 2023 Did not enter Did not enter 2027 To be determined To be determined Total 0/8 6 3 3 Championship for Small Countries FIBA European Championship for Small Countries Year Position Pld W L 2016 5 4 1 2022 4 4 0 Total 9 8 1

EuroBasket EuroBasket Qualification Year Position Pld W L Pld W L 1947 to 1991 Part of Soviet Union Part of Soviet Union 1993 Did not enter Did not enter 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2022 Withdrew 4 2 2 2025 Did not enter Did not enter Total 0/15 4 2 2

Results and fixtures

  Win   Loss

2024

22 February 2024 2027 FIBA World Cup pre-qualifiers – 1st round	Austria	106–91	Armenia	Vienna, Austria
19:15 (UTC+1)	Scoring by quarter: 23–29, 31–19, 25–20, 27–23
	Pts: Mahalbašić 27 Rebs: Mahalbašić 8 Asts: Diggs 5	Boxscore	Pts: Jones 30 Rebs: Tavitian 7 Asts: Jones 8	Arena: Hallmann Dome Attendance: 1,300 Referees: Zdravko Rutešić (MNE), Christian Theis (GER), Hrvoje Čavar (BIH)

Austria  v  Armenia

25 February 2024 2027 FIBA World Cup pre-qualifiers – 1st round	Armenia	84–79	Albania	Yerevan, Armenia
18:00 (UTC+4)	Scoring by quarter: 24–23, 24–19, 14–17, 22–20
	Pts: Spight 31 Rebs: Tavitian 8 Asts: Jones 11	Boxscore	Pts: Lekndreaj 19 Rebs: Lilaj 10 Asts: Lekndreaj 5	Arena: Karen Demirchyan Complex Attendance: 3,000 Referees: Ciprian Stoica (ROU), Zoran Mitrovski (MKD), Emmouil Tsolakos (GRE)

Armenia  v  Albania

21 June 2024 Friendly	Armenia	89–57	Guatemala	Los Angeles, United States
19:00 (UTC-7)
		Report		Arena: Eagle's Nest Arena

Armenia  v  Guatemala

23 June 2024 Friendly	Armenia	92–91	Ireland	Los Angeles, United States
17:00 (UTC-7)
		Report		Arena: Eagle's Nest Arena

Armenia  v  Ireland

24 November 2024 2027 FIBA World Cup pre-qualifiers – 1st round	Armenia	vs.	Austria	Yerevan, Armenia
		Boxscore		Arena: Karen Demirchyan Complex

Armenia  v  Austria

2025

20 February 2025 2027 FIBA World Cup pre-qualifiers – 1st round	Albania	vs.	Armenia	Albania
		Boxscore

Albania  v  Armenia

Team

Current roster

Roster for two friendly matches on 21 and 23 June 2024 against Guatemala and Ireland.

Armenia men's national basketball team roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. F Gabriel Ajemian 25 – (1998-07-29)29 July 1998 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) Homenetmen G Antranik Balian – 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Pilibos G [[ |]] – G Avand Dorian – 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) Trojans G Conor Essegian 20 – (2003-12-12)12 December 2003 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) Cornhuskers G/F Jonathan Hakim – 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) Glendale F Avedes Karagavourian 23 – (2001-01-06)6 January 2001 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) Free Agent G Jayden Karapetian – 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Golden Bears F/C Ryan Kiachian 22 – (2002-01-01)1 January 2002 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) Big Red SG 11 Andre Spight (C) 29 – (1995-02-17)17 February 1995 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) Obras Sanitarias F Evan Manjikian  ? – (2003-01-01)1 January 2003 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in) Bruins F/C 77 Yura Melikyan 18 – (2005-10-22)22 October 2005 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) BKMA G Derek Najarian – 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) Glendale SF 6 Artem Tavakalyan 28 – (1995-09-24)24 September 1995 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) Erebuni G/F 5 Albert Tatevosyan 30 – (1993-11-23)23 November 1993 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) BKMA F Austen Yarian 25 – (1998-12-18)18 December 1998 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in) Chargers	Head coach Rex Kalamian Assistant coach(es) Peter Dominguez Matthew Madoian Nareg Kopooshian Arman Tchoukadarian (team doctor) Legend (C) Team captain Club – describes last club before the competition Age – describes age on 21 June 2024

Head coach position

• Tigran Gyokchyan – (2015–2016)
• Nikša Bavčević – (2017–2018)
• Rex Kalamian – (2022–present)

Past rosters

2016 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries: finished 1st among 8 teams^[8]

Armenia men's national basketball team roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. PG 4 Sergey Polukhin 20 – (1995-09-17)17 September 1995 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) Cherkessk PF 5 Andrey Konstantinov 20 – (1995-07-12)12 July 1995 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) Arsenal Tula SF 6 Artem Tavakalyan 20 – (1995-09-24)24 September 1995 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) Delaware State G/F 7 Artur Khachaturyan 23 – (1992-08-04)4 August 1992 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) Kryvbas F/C 8 Mikael Pogosyan 21 – (1995-06-08)8 June 1995 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) Thiel College C 9 Zareh Zargaryan 27 – (1989-04-04)4 April 1989 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) CS Dominguez Hills G 10 Mike Danielyan 28 – (1987-11-08)8 November 1987 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Uerdingen SG 11 Andre Spight 21 – (1995-02-17)17 February 1995 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) Arizona State C 12 Bryant Dunston 30 – (1986-05-28)28 May 1986 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Anadolu Efes PG 13 Amiran Amirkhanov 30 – (1986-02-27)27 February 1986 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Almaty F/C 14 Konstantin Mirzoyants 27 – (1989-01-30)30 January 1989 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) Tambov	Head coach Tigran Gyokchyan Assistant coach(es) Andrey Pavlenko Suren Stepanyants Legend (C) Team captain Club – describes last club before the competition Age – describes age on 28 June 2016

---

2022 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries: finished 1st among 6 teams^[9]

Armenia men's national basketball team roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. G 1 Gabriel Ajemyan 23 – (1998-07-29)29 July 1998 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) Compton College PF 2 Andre Zohrabyan 21 – (2000-08-09)9 August 2000 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) Glendale CC PG 3 Chris Jones 29 – (1993-04-10)10 April 1993 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) ASVEL G/F 5 Albert Tatevosyan 28 – (1993-11-23)23 November 1993 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) Vahakni City G/F 6 Matthew Madoyan 25 – (1997-02-05)5 February 1997 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) Urartu C 8 Georgi Podkolzin 23 – (1999-05-27)27 May 1999 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Urartu SG 11 Andre Spight 27 – (1995-02-17)17 February 1995 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) Twarde Pierniki PG 12 Mkhitar Vardanyan 28 – (1994-04-03)3 April 1994 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) Urartu F/C 21 Arkadiy Mkrtychyan 26 – (1995-09-10)10 September 1995 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) Urartu G 24 Davit Karamyan 21 – (2001-03-05)5 March 2001 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) New Bayazet C 34 Davit Khachatryan 22 – (2000-03-23)23 March 2000 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in) Mad Foxes F 35 Zach Tavitian 23 – (1999-02-17)17 February 1999 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Zentro	Head coach Rex Kalamian Assistant coach(es) Peter Dominguez Mikael Pogosyan Vardan Khachatryan Legend (C) Team captain Club – describes last club before the competition Age – describes age on 29 June 2022

See also

• Basketball portal
• Sports portal

• Armenia men's national under-20 basketball team
• Armenia men's national under-18 basketball team
• Armenia men's national under-16 basketball team
• Armenia women's national basketball team
• Sport in Armenia

References

1. "FIBA Ranking Presented by Nike". FIBA. 15 August 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
2. "Armenia wins 2016 FIBA European Championship For Small Countries". armradio.am. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
3. "Armenia surprise in World Cup European Pre-Qualifiers". Retrieved 6 August 2017.
4. "Armenia during the 2019 FIBA World Cup European Pre-Qualifiers". Retrieved 19 August 2017.
5. "Armenia during the EuroBasket 2022 Pre-Qualifiers". Retrieved 28 June 2018.
6. "Cyprus to replace Armenia in FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Pre-Qualifiers Second Round". Retrieved 2 August 2018.
7. "Armenia Defeats Malta 84-68 to Win European Championship for Small Countries". massispost.com. 3 July 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
8. "Armenia at the 2016 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries". Retrieved 3 July 2016.
9. "Armenia at the 2022 FIBA European Championship for Small Countries". Retrieved 3 July 2022.

External links

• Official website (in Armenian and English)
• Armenia FIBA profile
• Armenia National Team – Men at Eurobasket.com