A 7’1 freshman stood on the University of Maryland campus, wide-eyed and overwhelmed. He was nervous—and with good reason. The then-18-year-old had just arrived in the States with little to no understanding of English. How was he ever going to live in a strange country when he couldn’t even order a meal? Of course, this was back in 2011. Fast forward to now, and anyone who has heard Alex Len (or Oleksii Yuriyovych Len, for those nuts about details) in post-game pressers knows this: the once-nervous teen has become a confident NBA veteran who’s not just fluent in English—he’s fluent in basketball.

But long before Alex found himself speaking in front of cameras or playing in front of packed NBA arenas, he was just a kid with big dreams in a far-off country. His journey from a small mining town to the biggest basketball stage in the world wasn’t exactly conventional. In fact, it started with a surprising twist—one that involved leotards and balance beams before it ever included basketballs.

What is Alex Len’s nationality? Where is the Kings star from?

Born in Antratsyt, Luhansk on June 16, 1993, Alex Len’s nationality is Ukrainian. Like many professional athletes, he began his journey in sports at an early age. Interestingly enough, before pursuing basketball as a career, Len was a gymnast. And he has Jackie Chan to thank for his interest in the sport. A huge fan of the Chinese Kung Fu legend and action-comedy icon, his movies were enough inspiration for him to be committed to the sport.

How serious was he? Alexei Stepanenko, the same coach who trained 12x gold medalist and International Gymnastics Hall of Famer Igor Korobchinsky, also trained a young Len in his childhood. But his growing frame didn’t exactly allow him to pursue his first choice of sport. Despite being invested in gymnastics, like many kids in Europe, Alex, too, was an avid NBA fan.

His two favorite players? Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett. And perhaps it was this interest that made the transition to basketball easier. When Len was 13 years old, he made the life-changing switch to basketball, and the rest, as they say, is history.

In 2011, he moved to the US and began playing collegiate basketball at the University of Maryland, which turned out to be a pivotal moment in his life. And from there on, it has been a steady growth. Being selected 5th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns, the veteran center remains grounded, his experiences shaping him into the player we see today.

Has Alex Len played for the Ukrainian National team?

Absolutely. Len has proudly represented Ukraine on the international stage. He suited up for the U16 National Team in the 2009 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship and later for the U18 National Team at the 2010 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship.

Those tournaments weren’t just an opportunity to play for his country—they were a window into what his future could be. Competing against Europe’s best young talent helped Len develop skills and confidence. It wasn’t long before the lanky kid from Luhansk caught the attention of American colleges—and even NBA scouts. Former Suns General Manager Ryan McDonough, then with the Boston Celtics, first saw Len as a 16-year-old prospect in Lithuania. After scouting him repeatedly from 2010 to the 2013 NBA Draft, McDonough was convinced “The sky is the limit” for the 7’1 center.

Today, Len is a seasoned NBA veteran with plenty of stories to tell. His path may have started with gymnastics and Kung Fu movies, but it’s clear his true calling was always basketball. And though he’s far from that small mining town in Ukraine, you can still see hints of his journey in every graceful block and every steady rebound.

Turns out, those early lessons in balance and agility weren’t wasted after all.