Samson Ruzhentsev affirms CSKA Moscow can compete in EuroLeague after FIBA lifts ban

FIBA has officially lifted the suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes, coaches, and referees, opening the door for Russian basketball to return to the international stage. In this context, 25-year-old CSKA Moscow guard/forward Samson Ruzhentsev made confident statements about the team's ability to compete in the EuroLeague if readmitted. Ruzhentsev, who is in his prime at age 25, told MATCH! TV: 'It's hard to say for sure, but I believe we could look quite decent in the EuroLeague, despite the long absence. Last season, we twice beat EuroLeague teams: 98-97 against Dubai in a preseason friendly, and 89-67 against Crvena Zvezda in the VTB Super Cup. These results show our level.' However, both wins came in friendly or cup settings, not official EuroLeague games. A 22-point win over Crvena Zvezda is a positive signal, but a close win over Dubai – a non-EuroLeague club – shows the sample size is too small to confirm sustainable strength. Ruzhentsev admitted: 'National teams are next, but it's not yet known when.' Tactically, no data in the interview proves CSKA's system capability at EuroLeague level. The club has been suspended from EuroLeague since March 2026, losing broadcast revenue, gate receipts, and sponsors. Reintegration depends not only on FIBA but also on the EuroLeague Commercial Assets (ECA) – a separate governing body. FIBA lifts individual bans, but clubs face a more complex political and commercial process. Ruzhentsev also claimed the VTB United League is 'one of the three best leagues in Europe, judging by the level of the first four teams.' However, this argument focuses only on top teams (CSKA, UNICS, Lokomotiv-Kuban, Zenit) and ignores league depth. In contrast, EuroLeague features 18 clubs, most capable of beating each other, creating far greater competitive pressure than VTB. At 25, Ruzhentsev is entering his physical prime for a guard/forward. He previously played NCAA before returning to Russia, giving him cross-system perspective. But no specific performance stats were provided to assess his actual impact. His statements carry a deliberate optimistic tone but lack quantitative evidence. From an industry perspective, FIBA's decision is a major signal for the Russian and Belarusian player market: they can re-enter the European ecosystem, increasing labor supply. However, club-level EuroLeague reintegration remains a low-probability short-term political ball. If CSKA is accepted, they will need to rebuild a EuroLeague-caliber roster with a potentially constrained budget after three years of isolation. Ruzhentsev is confident, but the truth is we still don't know how strong CSKA really is until they play official games again. In summary, this interview is a deliberate narrative to prepare fans and media for a possible return. But the competitive evidence Ruzhentsev offers – two friendlies – is too weak to be conclusive. The biggest risk lies in EuroLeague's decision, which is beyond the player's and club's control. Wait for signals from ECA and official competitions before making final judgments. From my experience tracking basketball transfers and finances, I believe while Ruzhentsev has reasons to be optimistic, CSKA can only truly be assessed when they step into a full EuroLeague season. This story is far from over.