10 tallest players in VTB United League history

Players that fit the classic center role are hard to come by. And if they tower a full head above their opponents, then they've got every chance of forming the cornerstone to your club’s offense and defense.

VTB-League.com runs down the tallest centers in VTB United League history.

League Giants. Top 10

10. Kosta Perovic – 217 cm

Club: Enisey (Russia)
Season: 2013/14 (active League player)
Stats: Five games (13.2 minutes) – 2.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 0.2 blocks, 1.8 efficiency rating
After an unsuccessful attempt to make it in the NBA, the Serbian center spent five seasons in the Spanish league, before signing a contract with Enisey this July to move into 10th place in our rankings. Kosta is still getting comfortable with his new conditions and league, but when he’s on the floor you can only pity his opponents under the basket.

9. Adam Lapeta – 217 cm

Club: Asseco Prokom (Poland)
Seasons: 2010/11, 2011/12
Stats: 26 games (16.1 minutes) – 4.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 0.9 blocks, 6.9 efficiency rating
Adam Lapeta joined the League alongside Prokom in 2010. The Polish club left the competition after two seasons, with the center logging 26 games in the VTB United League during that time. He’s remembered for having the highest field-goal percentage on the team (61.7%).

8. Bamba Fall – 217 cm

Club: Kalev (Estonia)
Season: 2011/12 – 2013/14 (active League player)
Stats: 34 games (21.4 minutes) – 8.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, 0.5 steals, 12.7 efficiency rating
The Senegalese center with an American education may be one of the VTB United League’s most colorful players. Bamba Fall signed a contract with Kalev in 2011 and has been a regular starter ever since. In three seasons, he’s reset the League record for blocks several times, with the mark currently at seven.

7. Konstantin Anikienko – 218 cm

Club: Budivelnik (Ukraine)
Season: 2011/12
Stats: Five games (5.3 minutes) – 2.0 points, 1.6 rebounds, 0.2 blocks, 2.0 efficiency rating
The Ukrainian team gave their 19-year-old a chance in 2011 – Konstantin Anikienko took the court in five games. At the end of the season, Budivelnik said goodbye to the League, taking with them one of the tallest players in League history. Now he's playing at Dnepr-Azot on loan.

6. Martynas Andriuskevicius – 218 cm

Club: Neptunas (Lithuania)
Season: 2012/13
Stats: Seven games (16.2 minutes) – 3.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 0.9 blocks, 0.4 assists, 4.9 efficiency rating
Brought up in the Zalgiris Kaunas system, he’s been all over the place, including getting drafted 44th in the 2005 NBA Draft. Last season, Martynas Andruskevicius returned to his homeland, signing a contract with Neptunas. He saw the court in seven League games. He didn’t live up to expectations, however, and Neptunas chose not to bring him back this season.

5. Mirza Begic – 220 cm

Club: Zalgiris (Lithuania)
Season: 2009/10, 2010/11
Stats: 11 games (17.5 minutes) – 5.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, 0.5 assists, 0.5 steals, 7.5 efficiency rating
Another Balkan representative, Slovenian Mirza Begic played two seasons for Zalgiris, starting most games he played in. He set the record for blocks (six) in a game against VEF on October 31, 2010, which would only be broken two years later by Bamba Fall.

Bruno Sundov – 221 cm

Club: Donetsk (Ukraine)
Season: 2009/10
Stats: Two games (17.0 minutes) – 9.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.5 blocks, 13.0 efficiency rating
The Croatian center’s career has been a wild one. He was drafted in the NBA at age 18, then spent the next 15 seasons playing for an incredible 23 teams. Among his stops – VTB United League club, Donetsk (Ukraine).

3. Boban Marjanovic – 222 cm

Clubs: CSKA (Russia), Zalgiris (Lithuania), Nizhny Novgorod (Russia)
Seasons: 2010/11, 2011/12
Stats: nine games (13.3 minutes) – 5.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 0.7 blocks, 8.0 efficiency rating
The Serbian giant signed a contract with CSKA in July 2010, but didn’t impress. After half a year, he was shipped out on loan to Zalgiris, before ending up with another Russian club, Nizhny Novgorod, the following season. Once again, he couldn’t find the right fit. As a result – three teams, nine games in the VTB United League and a return to his Serbian homeland.

2. Martin Miklosik – 225 cm

Club: Nymburk (Czech Republic)
Season: 2011/12
Stats: Didn’t play
This Slovakian center played for Nymburk in the 2011/12 season, but never took the floor in VTB United League competition, though he did feature in the Czech League and Eurocup. But he still goes down as the second-tallest player in League history.

1. Slavko Vranes – 229 cm

Club: UNICS (Russia)
Season: 2010/11
Stats: nine games (12.4 minutes) – 5.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, 6.0 efficiency rating
The Montenegrin big man, one of the tallest basketball players on the planet, began his career in Serbia, signed his first professional contract in Turkey, then got selected in the 2003 NBA Draft. In 2010, Slavko Vranes spent some time in the VTB United League. He didn’t last long, however, playing just nine games for UNICS before moving on.