Dmytro Skapintsev unable to go home to Ukraine, so he focuses on earning a spot with Knicks
Dmytro Skapintsev of the Knicks shoots during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 23, 2023. Credit: Errol Anderson
LAS VEGAS — On the court, Dmytro Skapintsev is a force. He's 7-1 and 260 pounds and trying to bang around in the paint. But after the game, he answers a few questions about the game and then adds a reminder to not forget about what he has left home.
Skapintsev, who is trying for the second season to earn a spot with the Knicks, has not been home in more than two years, having left his hometown of Cherkasy, Ukraine at the start of the war that has ripped apart his country.
“There is the war, the hard times for Ukraine,” he said. “That’s is a reminder to don’t forget about it.”
He played professionally overseas for six seasons in Ukraine and Lithuania and was training with the Ukrainian National team in February, 2022, when the bombings began. He was in Spain, playing a World Cup qualifier and never was able to step foot in his home since.
“I played right until the big war, the big invasion war,” Skapintsev said. “My family is there. That’s tough, but there is nothing I can do. Just get used to it and just praying for them to be safe and do my job. That’s really helped them to stay positive when they see how I am playing here.”
He relocated to the United States after a Knicks scout saw him play in an international game and Skapintsev enrolled in Cal State-Northridge. But he never played collegiately, instead he signed with the Knicks G League squad in Westchester where he spent most of last season. He earned a two-way contract and appeared in two games with the Knicks when injuries knocked Mitchell Robinson and Jericho Sims out of the lineup.
There is an opening on the Knicks for a big man now with the departure of Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency and even with the time spent with the franchise he is still a long shot. The Knicks have been scouring the free agent market and trade possibilities and they drafted Ariel Hukporti in the second round this year. They started Hukporti in both of Las Vegas Summer League games so far.
Skapintsev played 17 minutes against the Nets Tuesday afternoon, scoring 19 points on 6-for-7 shooting, including a game-tying three-point field goal in the final minutes. He also grabbed nine rebounds, blocked one shot and had three steals.
He brings the physicality to the game,” Knicks summer league coach Dice Yoshimoto said. “He’s skilled. He can shoot a little bit. He can pass. And “he brings the rebounding. He had nine today. Those are the things we need from him.”
In the Knicks’ Vegas opener Saturday he had nine points and seven rebounds in 20 minutes. As the Knicks weigh the play of the three rookies on the squad, Skapintsev feels the comfort of having been through Summer League play already and having spent time with the organization.
“It’s a big difference,” he said. “I think I got better this summer. Everything, physical condition, rebounds, some pick and roll defense. A little bit of everything. That was very good experience for me. [It was] my first time to be with an NBA team [and] to have some meaningful playing time. That means a lot for me.”
But he’s trying to ignore the big picture of his goal here and focus on the task in front of him.
“I’m not really thinking about it right now,” he said when asked about the opening on the Knicks roster. “I’m concentrating on my game. That’s a very important part for me right now.”
Notes & quotes: The Knicks fell to 0-2 and lost Jacob Toppin in the third quarter as he went to the locker room with the training staff. The team called it a sore hip and he did he not return to the bench . . . Duane Washington Jr. led the Knicks with 21 points and first-round pick Pacome Dadiet added 11.
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
