Vitaly Potapenko
Quick Facts
Biography
Vitaly Nikolaevich Potapenko (Ukrainian: Віталій Миколайович Потапенко, pronounced vee-TAH-lee poe-TAH-pen-koe, born March 21, 1975) is a Ukrainian former professional basketball player. He played college basketball at Wright State University and was selected 12th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1996 NBA draft. Nicknamed "The Ukraine Train", he played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Boston Celtics, the Seattle SuperSonics, and the Sacramento Kings of the NBA, as well as MMT Estudiantes in the Spanish ACB.
Since retiring as a player, Potapenko has served as an assistant coach with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the Indiana Pacers, the Dakota Wizards, and the Santa Cruz Warriors. In June 2013, it was confirmed that Potapenko would become the assistant director of player development for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Three years later, Potapenko would help the Cavaliers win their first ever NBA Finals championship.
NBA transactions
- September 27, 1995 – 1996 first-round draft pick that was eventually used to draft him traded by the Washington Bullets to the Cavaliers for Mark Price.
- March 11, 1999 – Traded by the Cavaliers to the Boston Celtics for Andrew DeClercq and a 1999 first-round draft pick (used on Andre Miller).
- July 22, 2002 – Traded by the Celtics with Kenny Anderson and Joseph Forte to the Seattle SuperSonics for Vin Baker and Shammond Williams.
- February 23, 2006 – In a four-team, nine-player trade; traded to the Sacramento Kings; the SuperSonics acquired Earl Watson, Bryon Russell, a 2008 second-round pick (used on DeVon Hardin) and cash from the Denver Nuggets, Nuggets also acquired Ruben Patterson from the Trail Blazers, Trail Blazers acquired Voshon Lenard from the Nuggets and Brian Skinner from the Kings; Kings also acquired Sergei Monia from the Trail Blazers.