Utah Jazz: Fesenko's agent disputes any national-team tantrum

Recent claims that a disgruntled Kyrylo Fesenko quit the Ukraine national team and had a feud with his federation might have been a little mistranslated between Europe and the U.S.

According to his agent, the media reports were at the very least "a little misreported."

Fesenko's agent, Stu Lash, disputes published allegations that his client left the Ukraine national team in the middle of a tournament earlier this month because the center was disgruntled or had a disagreement with the country's coach.

In fact, Lash insists Fesenko's European experience — which he chose to pursue over being on the Utah Jazz's summer-league team — was still sweet even if shortened for a family obligation.

And the agent believes Fesenko's summer stint was good for the 7-foot-1 center and will be for the Jazz this NBA season as well.

"It was positive," Lash said of the Ukrainian's brief national-team time. "I think one thing it gave him was an opportunity to be back home and play and build his confidence up more than anything. … (It was) all in all a good experience for him."

Some, however, wondered if the opposite was the case from perusing box scores and viewing the situation from the outside — especially considering Fesenko didn't exactly tear it up against mostly non-NBA talent.

Fesenko only ended up getting action in three of his country's six European relegation games. He played 20-plus minutes in the first two games, but his participation quickly diminished. He logged only nine minutes in the third game, didn't get off the bench in the fourth contest and wasn't even with the team for the final outings against Estonia and the Czech Republic.

Asked if Fesenko had a dispute with his national team or if he bolted after being benched, the agent responded: "No, not at all." Rather, Lash claimed the real reason for Fesenko's early exit from Ukraine's team wasn't hastily made in the heat of the moment.

"He had a family thing to attend to and the team was playing some younger players, so it was kind of mutually agreed upon," Lash said. "... And just with his schedule, wanting to get back here and getting ready for the (NBA) season, it was something we had kind of spoken about ahead of time."

Though he missed the summer league and didn't exactly shine with Ukraine — aside from a 13-point, seven-rebound outing against Hungary — Lash believes Jazz brass and fans should be encouraged about Fesenko's future.