View source for Sasha Kaun

{{Short description|Russian former professional basketball player (born 1985)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{family name hatnote|Olegovich|Kaun|lang=Eastern Slavic}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Sasha Kaun
| image = Sasha Kaun at all-star PBL game 2011 (1).JPG
| caption = Kaun at the 2011 PBL All-Star Game
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 11
| weight_lb = 260
| nationality = Russian
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|5|8}}
| birth_place = [[Tomsk]], [[Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic|Russian SFSR]], [[Soviet Union]]
| highschool = [[Florida Air Academy]]<br>([[Melbourne, Florida]])
| college = [[Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball|Kansas]] (2004–2008)
| draft_year = 2008
| draft_round = 2
| draft_pick = 56
| draft_team = [[Seattle SuperSonics]]
| career_start = 2008
| career_end = 2016
| career_position = [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| career_number = 24, 14
| years1 = 2008–2015
| team1 = [[PBC CSKA Moscow|CSKA Moscow]]
| years2 = {{nbay|2015|full=y}}
| team2 = [[Cleveland Cavaliers]]
| years3 = 2016
| team3 = [[Canton Charge]]
| highlights = 
* [[List of NBA champions|NBA champion]] ([[2016 NBA Finals|2016]])
* 5× [[VTB United League]] champion ([[2009–10 VTB United League|2010]], [[2011–12 VTB United League|2012]]–[[2014–15 VTB United League|2015]])
* 5× [[Russian Professional Basketball League|Russian Professional League]] champion (2009–2013)
* [[Russian Basketball Cup|Russian Cup]] winner (2010)
* [[VTB United League Defensive Player of the Year]] ([[2013–14 VTB United League|2014]])
* 2× [[VTB United League|All-VTB United League First Team]] ([[2009–10 VTB United League#All Tournament Team|2010]], [[2013–14 VTB United League|2014]])
* [[List of NCAA Men's Division I Basketball champions|NCAA champion]] ([[2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament|2008]])
| bbr = kaunsa01
| medaltemplates = 
{{MedalSport | Men's [[Basketball]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{RUS}}}}
{{MedalOlympic}}
{{MedalBronze| [[2012 Summer Olympics|2012 London]]| [[Basketball at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|Team]]}}
}}
'''Alexander "Sasha" Olegovich Kaun''' ({{langx|ru|Александр Олегович Каун}}, born May 8, 1985) is a Russian former professional [[basketball]] player. He played [[college basketball]] in the United States for the [[University of Kansas]] for four seasons, where he won an NCAA championship in [[2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament|2008]] before being selected with the 56th overall pick by the [[Seattle SuperSonics]] in the [[2008 NBA draft]]. He played seven seasons in Russia for [[PBC CSKA Moscow|CSKA Moscow]]. In 2015, he returned to the United States and played his only [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] season with the [[Cleveland Cavaliers]], where he won an [[2016 NBA Finals|NBA championship]] in 2015–16. Kaun became one of the first Russians, along with [[Timofey Mozgov]], in NBA history to win an NBA championship. He also represented [[Russia men's national basketball team|Russia]] in the [[2012 Summer Olympics]].

==High school==
In high school at the [[Florida Air Academy]], Kaun averaged 13.0 points, 7.0 [[Rebound (basketball)|rebounds]], and 2.0 [[Block (basketball)|blocks]] per game as a junior and 15.3 points and 12.6 rebounds per game as a senior. He led his team to a 23–0 record and to the Florida state championships.

==College career==
During the fall of 2003, Kaun committed to the [[University of Kansas]]. He also received offers from [[Duke Blue Devils men's basketball|Duke]] and [[Michigan State Spartans men's basketball|Michigan State]].

During his freshman season with the [[Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball|Kansas Jayhawks]], he played in 27 games, starting twice. In his sophomore season he helped the Jayhawks to an 80–68 win against the [[Texas Longhorns]], which made the Jayhawks the 2006 [[Big 12 Conference]] champions. During his senior year, he was the starting center for the Jayhawks and with them he won the [[2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament|2008 NCAA Championship]]. He graduated with a degree in computer science and was selected to the Academic All Big 12 Basketball Team three times, in 2006, 2007, and 2008.

==Professional career==
===CSKA Moscow (2008–2015)===
Kaun was drafted 56th overall in the [[2008 NBA draft]] by the [[Seattle SuperSonics]]. He was the final draft pick in Sonics history, before the franchise moved to [[Oklahoma City Thunder|Oklahoma City]]. His NBA draft rights were then traded to the [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] for cash considerations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/arthur_kaun_080626.html|title=Cavaliers Acquire Draft Rights to Darnell Jackson and Sasha Kaun|date=June 26, 2008|work=NBA.com|access-date=September 9, 2015}}</ref>

He signed a three-year contract worth [[Euro sign|€]]2,700,000 with the Russian team [[PBC CSKA Moscow|CSKA Moscow]] in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/33301/180/cska-signs-terence-morris-sasha-kaun |title=CSKA signs Terence Morris, Sasha Kaun |publisher=Euroleague.net |date=June 22, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://kuathletics.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/062408aaa.html |title=Kaun signs with CSKA |publisher=Kuathletics.cstv.com |date=June 24, 2008 }}</ref> On May 23, 2012, Kaun re-signed his contract with CSKA, staying three more seasons with the team.<ref>{{cite web|title=CSKA re-signs Alexander Kaun|url=http://www.cskabasket.com/news/?id=11189&lang=en|work=cskabasket.com|access-date=August 15, 2013}}</ref>

In the 2014–15 season, CSKA Moscow has managed to advance to the [[2015 Euroleague Final Four|Euroleague Final Four]] for fourth straight season, after eliminating [[Panathinaikos B.C.|Panathinaikos]] for the second straight season in the [[2014–15 Euroleague Quarter-finals|quarter-final]] series, 3–1.<ref>{{cite news|title=CSKA Moscow routs Panathinaikos to claim Final Four berth|url=http://www.euroleague.net/main/results/showgame?gamecode=246&seasoncode=E2014#!report|access-date=May 18, 2015|work=euroleague.net|date=April 22, 2015}}</ref> However, in the semifinal game, despite being dubbed by media as an absolute favorite to advance, once again lost to [[Olympiacos B.C.|Olympiacos]]. The final score was 70–68, after an Olympiacos comeback in 4th quarter, led by [[Vassilis Spanoulis]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Spanoulis comes through again as Olympiacos stuns CSKA|url=http://www.euroleague.net/main/results/showgame?gamecode=249&seasoncode=E2014#!report|access-date=May 18, 2015|work=euroleague.net|date=May 15, 2015}}</ref> CSKA Moscow eventually won the third place after defeating [[Fenerbahçe Men's Basketball|Fenerbahçe]] with 86–80.<ref>{{cite news|title=CSKA Moscow beats Fenerbahce in third-place game|url=http://www.euroleague.net/main/results/showgame?gamecode=250&seasoncode=E2014#!report|access-date=May 18, 2015|work=eurolague.net|date=May 17, 2015}}</ref> In his "contract year", Kaun had the best season since coming in the club, starting in all 30 games played in the Euroleague and averaging a career-high 9.9 points and 4.5 rebounds on 69.1% shooting from the field.

After winning his fifth [[2014–15 VTB United League|VTB United League]] championship with CSKA, there were some reports that Kaun had retired from professional basketball.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/university-of-kansas/article23546938.html|title=Former Kansas center Sasha Kaun retires from pro basketball at the age of 30|publisher=The Kansas City Star|date=June 8, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Sasha Kaun anuncia su retirada|url=http://www.acb.com/redaccion.php?id=113872|access-date=June 9, 2015|work=acb.com|date=June 8, 2015|language=es}}</ref> A day later, Kaun denied these reports, adding that he was, however, done playing basketball in Europe.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bedore|first1=Gary|title=Former KU center Sasha Kaun has not retired from professional basketball|url=http://www2.kusports.com/news/2015/jun/09/former-ku-center-sasha-kaun-has-not-retired-profes/?mens_basketball|access-date=June 9, 2015|work=kusports.com|date=June 9, 2015}}</ref>

===Cleveland Cavaliers (2015–2016)===
On September 9, 2015, Kaun signed with the [[Cleveland Cavaliers]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/releases/kaun-signing-2015|title=Cavs Sign Center Sasha Kaun|work=NBA.com|date=September 9, 2015|access-date=September 9, 2015}}</ref> He made his debut for the Cavaliers on October 28, recording one rebound, one assist, one steal and one block in a 106–76 win over the [[Memphis Grizzlies]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20151028/CLEMEM/gameinfo.html|title=Love leads Cavaliers past Grizzlies 106-76|work=NBA.com|date=October 28, 2015|access-date=February 21, 2016}}</ref> Over the first half of the [[2015–16 NBA season|2015–16 season]], Kaun appeared in just nine games for the Cavaliers, scoring a season-high four points on two occasions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/kaunsa01/gamelog/2016/|title=Sasha Kaun 2015-16 Game Log|work=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=February 21, 2016}}</ref> On April 11, 2016, Kaun was assigned to the [[Canton Charge]], the Cavaliers' [[NBA Development League|D-League]] affiliate,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/releases/kaun-assign-160411|title=Cavs Assign Sasha Kaun to Canton Charge|work=NBA.com|date=April 11, 2016|access-date=April 11, 2016}}</ref> for a day of training.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/releases/recall-kaun-mcrae-160411|title=Cavs Recall Kaun and McRae|work=NBA.com|date=April 11, 2016|access-date=April 11, 2016}}</ref> He was reassigned to Canton the next day to help the team in Game 1 of the D-League Eastern Conference Finals against the [[Sioux Falls Skyforce]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/releases/kaun-mcrae-assign-160411|title=Cavaliers Assign Kaun and McRae to Canton Charge|work=NBA.com|date=April 12, 2016|access-date=April 12, 2016}}</ref> The next day, he was recalled by the Cavaliers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/releases/recall-kaun-mcrae-160413|title=Cavs Recall Kaun and McRae - April 13, 2016|work=NBA.com|date=April 13, 2016|access-date=April 13, 2016}}</ref> Kaun did not play a single game for the Cavaliers during their playoff run, a run that ended with the Cavaliers defeating the [[Golden State Warriors]] 4–3 in the [[2016 NBA Finals]] to win the championship. Kaun and his teammate, [[Timofey Mozgov]], became the first Russians to win an NBA championship.

On July 15, 2016, Kaun was traded, along with cash considerations, to the [[Philadelphia 76ers]] in exchange for the rights to [[Chukwudiebere Maduabum]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/sixers/sixers-complete-trade-cleveland|title=Sixers Complete Trade With Cleveland|work=NBA.com|date=July 15, 2016|access-date=July 15, 2016}}</ref> He was waived by the 76ers on July 17,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/sports/sixers/Sixers-waive-Sasha-Kaun.html|title=Sixers waive Sasha Kaun|work=philly.com|publisher=Philadelphia Media Network|date=July 17, 2016|access-date=July 17, 2016}}</ref> and six days later, he announced his retirement from professional basketball.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bedore|first=Gary|url=http://www2.kusports.com/news/2016/jul/23/former-jayhawk-kaun-reveals-retirement/|title=Former Jayhawk Kaun reveals retirement|work=kusports.com|date=July 23, 2016|access-date=July 25, 2016}}</ref>

==Russian national team==
Kaun was a member of the senior [[Russia national basketball team|Russian national basketball team]], and was part of the team that won the bronze medal at the [[2012 Summer Olympics]].

==Personal life==
Kaun is married to Taylor Kaun ([[née]] Blue), a former soccer player at the [[University of Kansas]].<ref>Pluto, Terry. [http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/index.ssf/2015/08/cleveland_cavaliers_can_thank.html#incart_related_stories Cleveland Cavaliers can thank Danny Ferry for the addition of Sasha Kaun -- Terry Pluto], [[The Plain Dealer|Cleveland Plain Dealer]], August 25, 2015.</ref>

==Career statistics==
{{Euroleague player statistics legend}}

===NBA===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
| style="background:#AFE6BA; width:3em;"|†
|Denotes season in which Kaun won the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]]
|}

====Regular season====
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#AFE6BA;"| {{nbay|2015}}†
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2015–16 Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland]]
| 25 || 0 || 3.8 || .529 || .000 || .455 || 1.0 || .1 || .2 || .2 || .9
|- 
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career 
| 25 || 0 || 3.8 || .529 || .000 || .455 || 1.0 || .1 || .2 || .2 || .9
{{end}}

===Euroleague===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
| style="background:#CFECEC; width:1em"|*
| Led the league
|}

{{Euroleague player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2008–09 Euroleague|2008–09]]
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="6"| [[PBC CSKA Moscow|CSKA Moscow]]
| 10 || 0 || 5.1 || .429 || {{sort|-|—}} || .417 || 1.5 || .1 || {{sort|-|—}} || .3 || 1.1 || 1.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2009–10 Euroleague|2009–10]]
| 21 || 17 || '''22.4''' || style="background:#CFECEC;"|.713* || {{sort|-|—}} || .569 || '''4.6''' || '''.6''' || .4 || 1.0 || 9.1 || 11.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2011–12 Euroleague|2011–12]]
| 21 || 4 || 11.4 || style="background:#CFECEC;"|.712* || {{sort|-|—}} || .516 || 2.0 || .1 || .4 || .2 || 4.3 || 4.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2012–13 Euroleague|2012–13]]
| '''30''' || 27 || 20.8 || style="background:#CFECEC;"|'''.716'''* || {{sort|-|—}} || .520 || 4.0 || .5 || .4 || '''1.2''' || 8.1 || 10.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2013–14 Euroleague|2013–14]]
| '''30''' || 16 || 18.4 || .701 || {{sort|-|—}} || .590 || 3.5 || .5 || '''.8''' || .8 || 8.4 || 11.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2014–15 Euroleague|2014–15]]
| style="background:#CFECEC;"|'''30'''* || style="background:#CFECEC;"|'''30'''* || 20.1 || .691 || {{sort|-|—}} || '''.673''' || 4.5 || .5 || .4 || .9 || '''9.9''' || '''13.7'''
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan=2|Career
| 142 || 94 || 17.9 || .702 || {{sort|-|—}} || .581 || 3.6 || .4 || .5 || .8 || 7.6 || 9.8
{{end}}

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Portal bar|Sports}}
{{commons category|Sasha Kaun}}
{{basketballstats|nba=201619|bbr=k/kaunsa01}}
* [http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?pcode=001228 Sasha Kaun] at euroleague.net
* [http://www.kuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3768 Sasha Kaun] at kuathletics.com
* [http://www.vtb-league.com/en/player/alexander-kaun.htm?sid=89632 Sasha Kaun] at vtb-league.com

{{Navboxes|list1=
{{2008 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball navbox}}
{{2008 NBA draft}}
{{Cleveland Cavaliers 2015–16 NBA champions}}
{{Russia Men Basketball Squad 2012 Summer Olympics}}
{{VTB United League Defensive Player of the Year}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kaun, Sasha}}
[[Category:1985 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:2010 FIBA World Championship players]]
[[Category:Basketball players at the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Canton Charge players]]
[[Category:Centers (basketball)]]
[[Category:Cleveland Cavaliers players]]
[[Category:Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:NBA players from Russia]]
[[Category:Olympic basketball players for Russia]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for Russia]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in basketball]]
[[Category:PBC CSKA Moscow players]]
[[Category:Russian expatriate basketball people in the United States]]
[[Category:Russian men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Seattle SuperSonics draft picks]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Tomsk]]
[[Category:21st-century Russian sportsmen]]