Lakers’ Len Seeks Hope Amid Political Turmoil in Ukraine

LOS ANGELES, CA — Lakers center Alex Len expressed hope that a recent political clash between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky might help draw renewed attention to the war in Ukraine. Len, who is one of two Ukrainian players currently in the NBA, shared his thoughts during a press interview on March 3, 2025.

In the wake of last week’s Oval Office confrontation, Len reflected on the former support for Ukraine’s combat against Russian forces, noting that public and media interest has ebbed over time. “At the end of the day, we all want just one thing — for the war to stop and for everybody to feel safe again,” Len told The Times. “People just want to live a normal life. Like my friends and family that I talked to back home, everybody wants that. We’re tired of the war. We want to come back to normal life,” he added.

Len’s hometown of Antratsyt was impacted more than ten years ago when Russian-backed troops began seizing territory. He has not returned to Ukraine since 2018 when he was part of the national basketball team, yet he still hears distressing reports from those remaining in his home country. “It’s been tough,” Len said. “I know a lot of friends that have fought in the war, and I have some who didn’t make it. The whole situation is heartbreaking.”

In response to the war’s toll, Len and fellow NBA player Svi Mykhailiuk established the Hoop For Ukraine Fund in 2022 shortly after the invasion began. Len stated, “It is difficult. All the stuff that’s going on back home has just affected everybody’s lives.”

Discussing the implications of the political showdown, Len conveyed that Ukraine needs more than mere assurances of a ceasefire. “They responded very emotionally,” he remarked regarding the remarks from Trump and Zelensky. “But hopefully they’ll be able to come up with a solution to finally stop the war and in a way that Ukraine is protected.”

Len underscored the urgency for a reliable resolution, noting that previous ceasefires had been repeatedly violated. He quoted Zelensky’s insistence that Ukraine requires security assurances beyond just a ceasefire. “What’s the purpose of a ceasefire?” Len queried, reiterating the historical issues faced by his homeland.

Len’s hope is that the Oval Office incident will spark renewed focus on the ongoing crisis. “Help as much as you can. Help Ukrainian people to fight for democracy, for our country,” he urged. “Because I think, like Zelensky said, I feel like with Putin, if we lose this war, he’s not going to stop there. He’s going to go to the Baltics probably.”

This sentiment highlights a wider concern that the conflict in Ukraine could have far-reaching effects beyond its borders, making international support all the more crucial. “It’s going to affect everybody,” Len concluded, expressing his desire for an end to the violence as he continues to represent his community on the basketball court.