Grigorij Khizhnyak

Grigorij Khizhnyak
Personal information
Born	July 16, 1974; Mykolaiv, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
Died	October 5, 2018 (aged 44)
Nationality	Ukrainian
Listed height	7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)
Listed weight	260 lb (118 kg)
Career information
Playing career	1994–2010
Position	Center
Career history
1994–1995	Mykolaiv
1995–1998	Budivelnyk
1998–1999	Avtodor Saratov
1999–2000	Kyiv
2000–2001	Žalgiris Kaunas
2001	Shabab Al Ahli
2001–2002	Žalgiris Kaunas
2002	Kyiv
2003	Pamesa Valencia
2003–2004	Peristeri
2004–2005	Makedonikos
2005–2006	Dynamo St. Petersburg
2006	Azovmash Mariupol
2006–2007	Kyiv
2007–2009	Dnipro
2009–2010	Budivelnyk
Career highlights and awards
	2× EuroLeague Blocks Leader (2001, 2002); Lithuanian League champion (2001); 2× Lithuanian All-Star (2001, 2002); Lithuanian All-Star Game MVP (2001); 4× Ukrainian Super League League champion (1996, 1997, 2000, 2006); 2× Ukrainian Cup winner (2006, 2007);

Grigorij Khizhnyak (alternate spelling: Grygorii Khizhniak, Ukrainian: Григорій Хижняк; July 16, 1974 – October 5, 2018) was a Ukrainian professional basketball player.^[1] Standing at a height of 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m), he played at the center position. He was the EuroLeague's leader in blocked shots in two consecutive seasons, in 2000–01 and 2001–02.

Professional career

Khizhnyak, who was a dominant defensive force in the paint, led the EuroLeague in blocks per game for two consecutive years (2001, 2002), while playing with the Lithuanian League club Žalgiris Kaunas. Among his greatest career achievements, was his participation in the ULEB Cup (EuroCup)'s 2005 Final, while he was a member of the Greek League club Makedonikos.

National team career

Khizhnyak was a regular member of the senior men's Ukrainian national basketball team. With Ukraine, he played at the 1997 EuroBasket, and the 2003 EuroBasket.

Death

Khizhnyak died of a heart attack on 5 October, 2018, at the age of 44.^[2]^[3]

EuroLeague career statistics

Legend
GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	PIR	Performance Index Rating
Bold	Career high

	Led the league


Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG	PIR
2000–01	Žalgiris Kaunas	12	12	29.8	.539	.000	.840	7.2	.8	.7	3.2	12.1	18.8
2001–02	Žalgiris Kaunas	14	14	32.2	.508	.333	.888	8.1	1.4	.9	3.2	14.4	21.6
Career		26	26	31.1	.520	.167	.865	7.7	1.2	.8	3.2	13.3	20.3

References

^ "Помер знаменитий український баскетболіст Григорій Хижняк". ukr.segodnya.ua (in Ukrainian). October 5, 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
^ Euroleague Basketball mourns Khizhnyak.
^ Grigorij Khizhnyak passed away at age 44.

External links

[1] "Помер знаменитий український баскетболіст Григорій Хижняк". ukr.segodnya.ua (in Ukrainian). October 5, 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2018.

[2] Euroleague Basketball mourns Khizhnyak.

[3] Grigorij Khizhnyak passed away at age 44.

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