Michigan draft prospect Vladislav Goldin: 'I just want to play in the NBA. That's all I want'

CHICAGO — Michigan Wolverines basketball center Vladislav Goldin earned an NBA Draft Combine invite and has been impressed with the scope of the event. A native of Voronezh, Russia, Goldin came to the United States for prep school in 2019. He spent five years in college basketball — one at Texas Tech (2020-21), three at Florida Atlantic (2021-24) and one at Michigan (2024-25) — and has risen all the way to being a potential draft pick.

“It’s awesome, to be honest,” Goldin said of his journey. “I was talking to some of my friends from back home. And I wasn’t living in a basketball city, so it’s kind of crazy how life can change if you just stay the course and keep working even when it doesn’t go well. Sometimes, you lose. Sometimes, you think, ‘Why would I do this?’ But if you keep working, it can lead you to some great things.”

Goldin was named first-team All-Big Ten last season, showing his game translated from mid-major to high-major, averaging 16.6 points, 7 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Now, he’ll look to make the jump to the most competitive league in the world and he’s “still learning” how exactly his game will translate.

“There are a little bit different roles,” Goldin noted. “It’s different basketball compared to college, the spacing. I’m excited for how much more physical it is playing on this kind of stage. I’m still learning.”

There’s no question he put himself in better position after one season at Michigan. Playing in the Big Ten will help evaluators check some more boxes.

“Talking to people who give me their opinion on the NBA, they say you have to play in a top league, I have to play against more physical teams,” Goldin said. “And that’s kinda Michigan. The Big Ten is the most physical league, so it definitely helped me to understand what it takes to play on this stage.”

While a big question for big men is how they’ll be able to move to a 24-second shot clock in the NBA, Goldin isn’t concerned.

“I’ve played most of my life for 24 seconds, so now I just have to go back to what I did for 15 years before [college],” Goldin said.

Goldin measured in at 7-foot-0 barefoot with a 7’5 and 1/4″ wingspan and has gone through testing and scrimmages. He scored 4 points on 2-of-3 shooting from the field with 4 rebounds on Thursday, after a 3-point showing on 1-of-6 shooting from the field during Wednesday’s scrimmage.

“Obviously as a player, you want to do better than what you did,” Goldin said Wednesday of how his week is going. “But I try not to focus on the result, because if you live by the result, you get upset, you get worried, you get all the different things. So, I’m trying to do as best as I can, and if it works, it works. If it doesn’t, I’ll take it.”

The Michigan product has loads of experience playing in important games, and he was a star for years at the college level.

“That I know how to play basketball,” Goldin said of what he’s trying to show teams. “I know it may sound silly, but I try to play the right way, no matter where it is, no matter what I have to do on the court.

“I take pride in communication on defense, offense, and trying to be vocal on the court. That’s something that I learned from watching the NBA, how they talk to everybody, and I’m trying to bring that.”

He’s not worried about which team selects him if he’s fortunate enough to be drafted, either.

“That’s probably a better question for the agents,” Goldin said on if there are specific teams he’s targeting. “I just want to play in the NBA. That’s all I want. I’ll take anything.”

Unsure of whether or not his parents, who live in Russia, will ever move to the United States, Goldin was asked if he’s thought about continuing his professional career overseas if he has to one day.

“I don’t really think about that,” the Michigan standout said. “If I have to, I guess that’s what I am gonna [do]. I’m definitely gonna play professionally no matter what. It’s just a question where. Hopefully, NBA.”

Goldin has a shot, and will more than likely be in the league next year in some capacity.